California just made Eid official.
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 2017, formally recognizing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays. The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney alongside Muslim communities and organizations, with the aim of making it easier for Muslims across the state to observe Eid without having to choose between their faith, work or school.
“California is home to one of the largest and most vibrant Muslim communities in the country, and their traditions deserve recognition and respect,” Haney said.
But what does that actually mean?
So, Do Californians Get Eid Off?
Not exactly.
The law doesn’t give everyone two new paid days off. Instead, eligible state and public-school employees can use existing holiday credits, vacation, annual leave or compensating time off to observe Eid.
Schools and community colleges can also close for Eid through local arrangements, while students can have their Eid absences recognized.
Basically, it’s less “California shuts down for Eid” and more “Eid is officially recognized, and institutions now have a framework to make room for it.”
Is California The First?
Nope. Washington got there first in 2025, becoming the first U.S. state to officially recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays.
Like California, Washington’s law wasn’t about automatically giving everyone two extra paid days off. It was about formally recognizing the holidays and making space for Muslim employees and students to observe them.
So, Why Now?
For California, the answer is partly demographic. According to World Population Review, California has the second-largest Muslim population in the U.S., after New York.
For Washington, the push came alongside growing conversations around Muslim visibility, religious freedom and discrimination. A 2024 report found that more than 82% of Muslims surveyed in Washington said they had experienced Islamophobia in the previous year.
California’s recognition also comes amid a broader rise in incidents targeting mosques and Islamic centers, with CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a U.S. Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, reporting a 183% increase between May and July 2026 compared with the same period the year before.
A Date On The Calendar, But More Than That
Eid was already being celebrated by millions of Americans. What changed is that two states have now formally acknowledged it.
And sometimes, recognition starts with something as simple as putting a holiday on the calendar.
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