In a move that is already generating national attention, Washington state became the first in the nation to officially recognize the Islamic holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as unpaid state holidays.
Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson signed the legislation into law this month, celebrating the decision as a milestone for diversity and inclusion.
“Senate Bill 5106, sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma) and Rep. Osman Salahuddin (D-Redmond), adds both Eid holidays to a list of 20 other state-recognized observances,” Ferguson’s office proudly announced. “The new law does not make these holidays paid leave days, but places them alongside observances such as Lunar New Year and Billy Frank Jr. Day.”
Governor Ferguson hailed the bill as “historic,” highlighting the significance of Washington being the first state to take this step. His announcement on Facebook emphasized the state’s commitment to multicultural recognition, even as critics quickly pointed out that traditional Christian and Jewish holidays like Easter and Yom Kippur still do not hold official state holiday status.
Washington’s official roster of recognized observances is lengthy and eclectic, including everything from Purple Heart Recipient Recognition Day to Korean-American Day, but notably leaves off major religious holidays celebrated by vast portions of the American public. Instead, the list focuses on specific cultural, historical, and advocacy milestones, such as Blood Donor Day and Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.
The move to recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha reflects the growing influence of Washington’s Muslim community, particularly in cities like Seattle and Tacoma, where changing demographics are reshaping cultural and political priorities.
However, the absence of recognition for holidays like Easter — celebrated by millions of Americans nationwide — is already stoking questions about selective inclusion and the broader cultural direction of the state’s leadership.
Both Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, commemorating the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, are among the most significant holidays in Islam.
Their official recognition, even as unpaid holidays, symbolizes a deliberate push toward religious accommodation — but also places Washington squarely at the center of America’s ongoing debate over which traditions are honored in public life.
