Geraldo Reyes Jr

I’m proud that Waterbury will officially recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as school holidays staring next year. The Waterbury Board of Education approved the measure in a 9-1 vote last week. The Muslim population has grown exponentially in recent years, and this move shows respect, acceptance, and tolerance in our community.

Waterbury Board of Education votes to recognize Eid holidays.

I have spoken to many advocates and Muslim families in Waterbury who are thrilled because they will get to spend some of the holiest days of the year together starting in 2024. This change was appropriate because according to Fahd Syed, the Vice Chair for the City of Waterbury’s Human Rights Commission, many Muslim students felt discriminated due to their faith.

“Recognizing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as holidays will increase respect and discourage bullying in our schools. The Muslim community is thrilled the Board of Education is backing its mission of diversity and taking proactive action,” said Fahd Syed.

Recognizing the holiday will also encourage people who are not Muslim to learn more about these Muslim holidays. Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, is a Muslim festival marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and commemorating the Abrahamic sacrifice narrative. Eid al-Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast, marks the culmination of the fasting in the month of Ramadan where Muslims fast, engage in spiritual reflection and congregate for the nightly vigil prayers (tarawih).