Ymprydio Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol

-Subtitles

-February is a month to look ahead.

-Days get longer

-and spring is in the air.

-It's also a time for Lent

-in the Christian calendar...

-..a time for contemplation and

-fasting in the lead up to Easter.

-In tonight's programme

-we hear about fasting...

-..amongst other religions in Wales.

-Welcome to Bangor. Welcome

-to Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol.

-As we approach Lent,

-we learn more about this period...

-..from Canon Robert Townsend.

-And what is it like to fast

-in the Muslim community in Wales?

-The city of Bangor,

-one of Wales' smallest cities.

-It's home to one

-of its oldest diocese.

-Back in the sixth century, St

-Deiniol established a monastery...

-..on the site

-of the present cathedral.

-Bangor became

-an important Christian centre.

-When the Penrhyn slate quarry

-was opened in the 18th century...

-..and when the modern day A5

-was opened...

-..a town grew around the cathedral

-and it became...

-..a busy commercial, cultural

-and social town in North-west Wales.

-Our congregational singing comes

-from the multi-faith Emaus church.

-It's located near the university.

-We begin with an appreciation

-of Jesus Christ's reign.

-Canon Robert Townsend

-is communications director...

-..for the Bangor diocese.

-The work the Church does

-during this time...

-..helps many people locally.

-Lent is a period

-of 40 days and 40 nights.

-Christians prepare for Easter...

-..celebrate the highlight

-of the year...

-..and relive the events of Jerusalem

-during the first Easter...

-..Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and

-the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

-A lot of people like to fast

-or stop doing something...

-..during the period of Lent.

-They live without something

-to try and make a difference.

-Sacrifice in the material world

-is difficult.

-Yes, we all know how difficult it is

-to live without phones, devices...

-..and our iThingies.

-It is difficult

-but it's not impossible.

-Is fasting as popular now

-in the modern world?

-Everyone likes giving up

-chocolate, bread...

-..or Liquorice Allsorts in my case.

-I love Liquorice Allsorts.

-Living without them for 40 days

-is very difficult for me.

-It's very difficult!

-It's not the giving something up,

-the fasting, that counts...

-..but trying to find something else

-in its place.

-If you're fasting

-and you give up chocolate...

-..the money you save in doing so,

-you need to do something with it.

-We're in Bangor now,

-in the cathedral.

-Here, there's a foodbank.

-Often, people give something up...

-..put the money to one side...

-..and spend that money

-on food for the foodbank.

-That helps people in our community.

-Whatever the colour of our skin,

-whatever our beliefs...

-..as a Christian,

-it's a privilege to help others...

-..especially during Lent

-as we look ahead to Easter.

-Lent is a time for contemplation...

-..and Christians fast

-for 40 days until Easter.

-Fasting is also

-an important part of Islam.

-During Ramadan, Muslims fast

-from the break of dawn...

-..until sunset every day.

-Sara Yassine

-can tell us more about it.

-Islam means a lot to me,

-it gives me a direction in life.

-It reminds me of what

-I should be doing every day...

-..and to do kind acts.

-I can't think of a life without it.

-It's gives me a purpose in life.

-It gives me a great boost.

-I like coming here.

-It gives me an opportunity to think.

-It's a peaceful place to visit.

-My family and friends come here.

-There's a nice community here.

-Ramadan is a month

-in the Islam calendar...

-..when Muslims fast

-from the break of dawn until sunset.

-We don't drink, we don't eat.

-We use the time

-to bring us closer to God.

-We read the Quran, we pray more.

-We try and do more kind acts...

-..such as helping people

-and stuff like that.

-Throughout the year,

-Muslims might not do enough...

-..or might not do

-what they should do.

-It's time to recharge

-and it makes me feel very peaceful.

-We believe that everything we do

-during Ramadan is more valuable.

-It's a time

-when we return to Islam...

-..and rediscover what we

-should be doing all year round.

-Our family wakes up at about 3.00am.

-Mam makes food and we all eat.

-Then we pray and go back to sleep.

-If there's school, we go to school,

-the same with work.

-We then return home

-and pray together.

-We eat and break the fast together.

-Ramadan is difficult but it gets

-easier as the month progresses.

-It's difficult at the start

-when you're not used to it.

-After a few days, it's easier.

-By the end of the day,

-I don't feel like eating a lot...

-..because I'm used to not eating.

-People continue

-with their everyday lives.

-We don't let it affect our lives.

-It's just something extra

-that we do during the month.

-In the future, I hope that more

-Muslims do more for their community.

-We do a lot now but in the future,

-I believe we'll do even more.

-It's strengthened me as a person.

-It's Saturday morning but

-this primary school is still open.

-Local children come here to learn

-about their religion, Islam.

-When night has entered,

-we do our Isha prayers.

-Shereen Williams,

-originally from Singapore...

-..is one of the teachers responsible

-for an Islam school in Newport...

-..every Saturday morning.

-The school teaches children about

-the prophets and their faith...

-..and offers them advice

-about the course of life.

-How much of a challenge

-is it to run this school...

-..and teach children about Islam?

-It's difficult

-but it's important to the families.

-We live in a multi-cultural Wales.

-It's important to teach respect.

-We want to teach them

-to become good Welsh Muslims.

-We're going to count.

-Shereen's children learn about their

-religion and the Welsh language.

-Flowers.

-Well done.

-I'm Iesu and I speak three languages

-- Malay, English and Welsh.

-Ramadan is important to us.

-We don't eat for 16 hours.

-It can make you very hungry.

-To keep the family going

-during the fasting period...

-..between daybreak and sunset,

-they eat healthy, nutritious food.

-We're cooking mosque porridge -

-broth with meat, spices and carrots.

-Delicious.

-We've got a very special guest,

-Iesu's Dad.

-Owain, Iesu's father,

-came from a Christian family.

-At the age of 17,

-after a visit to the mosque...

-..he decided to join

-the Islam faith.

-After meeting Shereen,

-they married in 2005.

-People often ask me...

-..whether I'm Welsh or Muslim.

-I'm glad to say I'm a Welsh Muslim.

-Things weren't that simple

-during his youth.

-When I was a kid, I was nasty

-to other Muslim kids at my school.

-Yeah - boo, hiss!

-Unfortunately, there's too much

-hatred in the world today.

-I welcome something that helps

-people to understand each other.

-I hope this Saturday school

-can do that work.

-Unless you were a Muslim, Ramadan

-comes and go and you don't notice.

-We try and make sure the house

-is decorated...

-..using Christmas decorations,

-tinsel and everything else.

-It's important to learn why we fast.

-When they're older and they

-can take part in the fasting...

-..then they'll understand.

-Ramadan is a wonderful month.

-It's an opportunity for us

-to come closer together...

-..and appreciate God.

-As our visit to Bangor

-draws to a close...

-..despite the hustle and bustle

-of life...

-..I hope we can find a moment

-to contemplate.

-We hope you can join us again

-next week.

-From Bangor, goodnight.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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