Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, the two main Muslim religious festivals, have been added to the public holidays of the US state of California. Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2017, titled 'State holidays: Eid', on 27 September.

The bill was introduced by Matt Haney, a Democratic assembly member from San Francisco, on 17 February 2026, passed through several committees and was sent to the governor on 10 September.

The law fixes no Gregorian date. Following the Islamic lunar calendar, it recognises the first day of Shawwal as Eid al-Fitr and the 10th of Dhul Hijjah as Eid al-Adha, so the legal recognition follows the Hijri calendar even as the dates move each year.

Public schools may close on the two Eids but are not required to; the decision will be agreed between school governing boards and staff representatives, and the same applies to community colleges. Schools may also hold educational activities on the history and meaning of the two festivals. State employees may take holiday leave or holiday credit on Eid under the rules of their workplace.

That does not mean all state offices, courts, schools or private businesses must close on Eid; in particular, Eid has not been made a judicial holiday. The governor's office listed the law as 'State holidays: Eid' in its 27 September announcement. With it, the two Eids gain formal recognition in California's public holiday framework for the first time.

The report is by Our Islam's international desk.

Photo: BronzeAlphabet / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Source: Our Islam