A tale of Ramadan and Spring Festival

THIS year, the celestial clocks of the East and the Middle East staged an unusual, beautiful convergence.

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DANCERS perform Tanoura, a traditional Egyptian folk dance, during the holy month of Ramadan at the Sultan Al-Ghuri complex in Cairo, Egypt. I Xinhua

In the bustling streets of Cairo, the crescent moon of Ramadan and the lanterns of the Chinese Spring Festival arrived almost in tandem.As a Chinese correspondent based here, I initially felt the sting of homesickness as February approached. However, this rare overlap quickly turned my assignment into a personal lesson in how much our cultures share beneath the surface: festivals, in their essence, are not just dates on a calendar, but also bridges.

It started with simple greetings. My “Ramadan Kareem” (Have a generous Ramadan) to Egyptian friends was often returned with a warm Chun Jie Kuai Le! (Happy Spring Festival). These small exchanges opened doors. My friends asked about our traditions; I learned about theirs.