Jinan Chehade remembers as a child thinking of Ramadan as “the other” holiday because it wasn’t celebrated as widely as some American holidays.
That feeling for Chehade, 26, has begun to change in recent years, and Friday — the first night of Ramadan — was a momentous turning point for the Islamic holy month’s celebration in her hometown of suburban Bridgeview.
Crescent moons, stars and lanterns illuminate the light poles along Harlem Avenue in a vibrant area of Bridgeview known as Little Palestine. It’s the first time Ramadan lights have been displayed publicly in the southwest suburb — home to a large Muslim population and the largest Palestinian population in the U.S.
“Having the lights up and having the kids here to celebrate in the middle of Bridgeview kind of shows them that they have a place here, too, and that this is their community, this is their city, and that Ramadan is welcomed by all,” Chehade said. “It’s not like ‘the other’ for them, but Ramadan is almost like a part of their life now in this community.”…