California Recognises Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha as State Holidays
SACRAMENTO, UNITED STATES — WEB DESK: California has formally recognised Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in state law after Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation covering Islam’s two major religious festivals.
Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2017 (AB 2017) on September 27, adding the two Eid celebrations to California law and creating new provisions for their observance.
The legislation was authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney and provides greater flexibility for Muslim employees and students who want to observe the religious holidays.
Under the new law, eligible state and school employees may observe Eid by using existing personal holiday credit or available leave rather than receiving an automatic additional paid holiday.
The legislation also allows K-12 public schools and community colleges to close for Eid under locally negotiated agreements.
This means the recognition does not automatically require every school, government office or private business across California to close on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Instead, the law establishes formal statewide recognition while providing mechanisms through which employees and educational institutions can accommodate the celebrations.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, while Eid al-Adha is observed during the annual Hajj season and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice in obedience to God.
The legislation has been welcomed by Muslim community organisations in California, which have argued that many Muslim employees and students have historically faced difficulties balancing religious observance with work and school obligations.
California is home to a large and diverse Muslim population, making the legislation particularly significant for communities across the state.
The measure reflects growing formal recognition of major religious and cultural celebrations across the United States while leaving practical arrangements for closures and employee leave subject to applicable workplace, school and local rules.
