Frankfurt first German city to decorate streets for Ramadan, followed by Cologne

(Patria) - During the month of fasting (from March 10 to April 9), Frankfurt received festive lighting, something Germans are only accustomed to during Christmas and New Year holidays.

Frankfurt's pedestrian street Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse, locally known as “Fressgass” or “food alley”, has been decorated with “Happy Ramadan” signs and light ornaments.

Ramadan decorations were blocked by some officials last year, but the city's ruling Green Party managed to “push through” the proposal this year.

“By decorating the streets during Ramadan, the city of Frankfurt sends an important signal to Muslims and values people of the Islamic faith in this city,” the Greens wrote.

Frankfurt's Mayor Nargess Eskandari-Grunberg, from the Greens, said: “They are lights of togetherness, against reservation, against discrimination, against anti-Muslim racism, and also against antisemitism.”

While Frankfurt taxpayers had to raise up to 100,000 euros for the lighting, Cologne's lantern counterpart is financed by donations.

Supporters of the “Ramadan Project” association, which decorated the city in cooperation with the energy company RheinEnergie, include dentists, a mobile phone shop, a jeweler, a ćevapi shop, other companies, and the International Islamic Foundation.