Ramadan, the holy Muslim month of reflection and daytime fasting, started yesterday. (This was not acknowledged during my Fox & Friends debate about the “Ground Zero Mosque” — perhaps I should have snuck in a cheerful “Ramadan Kareem” greeting to any Muslim viewers, instead of just raising my eyebrows in astonishment, after Pamela Geller’s attempt to equate Islam with the KKK!)

The Muslim calendar shifts a bit earlier every year, and I always feel sorry for Muslims whenever this holiday falls during summer’s longer daylight hours — NPR reports that Egypt is actually turning its clock back an hour to help, this year. Then again, having it come during winter was no picnic for one of my college roommates, who had to fast during some important exams… as Stephen Prothero reports over at CNN’s Belief Blog, thirsty was the hardest part.

As with any annual holiday, it’s a challenge for religion reporters to come up with fresh angles to cover each year. One of my old colleagues, Aman Ali, has even made himself part of the story, trying to attend 30 mosques in 30 states in 30 days this year. (Last year he went to 30 mosques in 30 days, just around New York City.)

Here’s some examples of interesting features I’ve seen so far:

• Vikings safety Husain Abdullah awaits Ramadan fast (AP)
• Observing Ramadan? There’s an app for that (AP)
• Ramadan fast a challenge for pregnant, nursing women (Religion News Service)
• Obama, N.Y. pols, Jewish groups show Ramadan hospitality with iftar dinners (USA Today)
• International Muslim leaders join Ramadan webcasts on Mohammed (CNN)
• For many Muslims, start of Ramadan stirs up centuries-old debate between science and doctrine (Washington Post)

Share your thoughts, and links to any other interesting stories you’ve come across, in the Comments section below.

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