California has officially added Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to the state’s list of recognized holidays, giving the two major Islamic holidays formal recognition under state law under Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Eid al-Adha is linked to the annual Hajj pilgrimage and commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. The recognition places California among the states that formally acknowledge the holidays on its state calendar.

Both observances follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so their dates shift each year relative to the Gregorian calendar used for most government scheduling. Muslims typically mark them with communal prayers, family gatherings, and charitable giving.

California has one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States, drawn from a wide range of ethnic and national backgrounds, with mosques and Islamic organizations operating throughout the state. Officials present the change as a reflection of that growing presence. The formal recognition does not alter the religious meaning of the holidays but establishes them as officially recognized state observances.

Critics of Newsom’s approach note that the decision arrives while the state continues to struggle with high taxes, homelessness, crime, and declining public services. The selective elevation of these particular religious holidays raises questions about consistency in how California chooses which cultural and religious observances receive official status. The dates will continue to vary annually because of the lunar calendar.