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NYC public schools add 2 Muslim holidays to calendar

By Aileen Graef
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday city schools will add two Muslim holidays to their schedule. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday city schools will add two Muslim holidays to their schedule. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

NEW YORK, March 4 (UPI) -- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday the city's public schools will be adding the Muslim holidays Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr to their calendar.

An estimated 10 percent of students in New York City public schools are observant Muslims. The schools currently break for Christmas, Easter, Passover and Rosh Hashanah.

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Eid al-Adha is known as the Festival of the Sacrifice, in reference to the Abraham shared with Christianity and Judaism, who was willing to sacrifice his son to God. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of fasting for the holy month of Ramadan.

De Blasio called it necessary to respect the diversity of the city.

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