On March 20, 2026, the global Islamic community observed the holiday of Eid Al-Fitr following the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan. On this holiday, Muslims gather and spend time with friends and family, eat great food, and pray together.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fasted for one month in an act of worship, while also teaching themselves self-discipline and humility. The month largely promotes one to strive to better themselves.
Despite the religious and cultural significance of Eid Al-Fitr, not all schools in the United States have allocated a day off for it as South Windsor Public Schools has.
“Honestly, it’s kind of frustrating that not all schools give time off for Eid,” SWHS junior Fatimah Majid said. “It’s a really important holiday, and having to worry about school on the same day takes away from being able to fully celebrate it with family.”
Majid was the student that, last year, went to a Board of Education meeting to advocate for the recognition of Eid Al-Fitr as a holiday. They were happy to oblige, setting aside one day in the school calendar for students to have off.
This change was received very positively by students, whether they were members of the Islamic community glad to have the holiday to spend with their families and celebrate, or just students who rejoiced in having another day off.
“I like Eid because it’s not just a small celebration, it turns into a big family thing,” Majid said. “We get to eat a lot of good food, dress nice, and visit some really beautiful mosques.”
While Majid is able to appreciate Eid on a higher level due to South Windsor Public Schools providing the day off, not all Muslims in Connecticut, or the United States, have that luxury.
According to a press release by the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Connecticut, just over twenty municipalities have adopted Eid as a school holiday, with the most recent as of January 29, 2026 being Farmington.
“Just like other religions and commmunites get to have a day off and participate in their celebrations, Muslims should also be treated the same way,” South Windsor High School junior Muhammad Bilal said.
In an age of growing calls for diversity and inclusion, the time could never be greater than now to advocate for more representation in schools. However, it should not end at just Eid, for if one group is underrepresented, all groups are underrepresented. For now though, it is incumbent upon us to sway the winds of change and breathe new life into our minority communities in schools.
