Two faiths fast together 'in solidarity'
BBCFaith leaders have said they are fasting "in solidarity", as Christians mark Ash Wednesday and Muslims observe the first full day of Ramadan.
A joint event is being held at Sunderland University at the start of both Lent and Ramadan.
Both religious holidays take place on different dates every year and it is believed to be the first time they have coincided.
The university's chaplain said the event celebrated "real genuine learning and sharing, and mutual love and understanding".
What is Lent?
Lent is the period of six weeks (40 days not including Sundays) leading up to Easter, the most important festival in the Christian calendar, allowing Christians to remember Jesus's fasting in the desert.
It is a time of giving things up and a test of self-discipline.
Some Christians do not eat certain food during Lent, such as meat and fish, however others simply give up something they find tempting, like chocolate.
The day before Ash Wednesday, Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Day), is a day to feast before the so-called fast.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan remembers the month the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
During the month of Ramadan (30 days), Muslims will not eat or drink during the hours of daylight.
Like Lent, it is a period of prayer, reflection and self-discipline.
Why do Lent and Ramadan not fall on the same date every year?
Both Lent and Ramadan take place at different dates each year.
The first day of Lent - Ash Wednesday - is determined by when Easter falls, the first Sunday after the first ecclesiastical full moon that follows the spring equinox.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
The exact dates of Ramadan change every year because Islam uses a calendar based on the cycles of the Moon.
As the dates of both religious holidays vary so much, this is why, in recorded history, they have not previously begun on the same day.
At the University of Sunderland, Christians and Muslims came together before daybreak to mark this unique event.
Imam Yusus Meah led the morning prayer, called the "fajr", with a group of students, while other faith leaders looked on and then observed their own traditions.
University Chaplain the Reverend Chris Howson brought ash to mark a cross on the foreheads of willing participants.
"Fasting and prayer is important to all our faith traditions," he said.
"We thought we'd try and celebrate it together by all being in solidarity, by all fasting this day."
He added that as well as fasting for the day, he will be reducing screen time and giving up alcohol during the period of Lent, and aims to write a daily prayer.
For the university's Muslim Chaplain Imam Yusuf Meah, fasting is all about disclipline, empathy and a connection to God.
"You're sacfricing your food - something you take for granted," he said.
Marwan Ahmed and Mahmoud Elfishawi both moved to Sunderland last year from Canada to study pharmacy.
Originally from Egypt, they were happy to find a welcoming Muslim community at the university.
Ahmed said as well as fasting, during Ramadan he likes to focus on reading the Quran and "making sure every minute is spent doing something significant".
Elfishawi added: "Ramadan teaches us that we have that power of discipline and we should carry on this discipline throughout our whole life."
Howson, who is also part of the Sunderland Interfaith Forum, has relished in being able to talk about the shared customs of each faith and to deepen his and others' understanding.
"Genuinely people are learning from each other, real genuine learning and sharing, and mutual love and understanding," he said.
"That's a great way to start Lent."
