- Frankfurt is Germany’s first city to hang up Ramadan lights
- The lights will cost between 50,000 and 100,000 euros
- The lights were blocked by the CDU last year
Frankfurt has become Germany’s first city to hang up lights to celebrate Ramadan, with city officials citing London’s bright display in Piccadilly Circus last year as inspiration.
The city has begun hanging the lights near the Alte Oper concert hall in the centre of the city, and will keep them up for the month of Ramadan.
Bild reported that since Monday, workers have been unpacking lights in the shape of stars and crescent moons and connecting them to the grid in preparation for the start of Ramadan on March 10.
The lights, which read ‘Happy Ramadan’ were blocked last year by the CDU, but the Greens, who run Frankfurt, managed to push the motion through.
The Green Party’s application states: ‘By decorating during Ramadan, the city of Frankfurt is sending an important signal for Muslim life and thereby appreciating the people of the Muslim faith in this city.’
The city has begun hanging the lights near the Alte Oper concert hall in the centre of the city, and will keep them up for the month of Ramadan
Frankfurt’s lights were inspired by London hanging up Ramadan lights last year
Frankfurt’s mayor Nargess Eskandari-Grünberg said: ‘They are lights of togetherness, against reservations, against discrimination, against anti-Muslim racism and also against anti-Semitism.’
The lights will be hung across five steel cables at a cost of between 50,000 and 100,000 euros.
Up to 150,000 Muslims live in Frankfurt, making up roughly 15% of the city’s population.
Last year, Sadiq Khan switched on the Ramadan lights in Piccadilly Circus.
It was the first time a European city had hung up lights in celebration of the Islamic celebration.
The London lights were spearheaded by Ramadan Lights UK, which pushed for the display to be set up through donations.
The group’s founder Aisha Desai, said at the time: ‘As a child, a trip into central London to see the festive lights was an annual treat.
‘My sister and I would lie in the back of the car looking at the lights through the sunroof. It was magical.
‘As a proud Muslim, I wanted to bring some of that magic to my community … And three years ago, that journey began with Ramadan Lights.
‘And our generous donors have helped us go from strength to strength.’
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