Adding Muslim holidays to Philly calendar comes down to cost, Kenney says

Philadelphia officials are considering adding two Muslim holidays to the official calendar for government and schools.  

But cost will be the deciding factor, said Mayor Jim Kenney, adding that he understands why Philadelphia Muslims need to have their main religious holidays also be city holidays.

“There’s a lot of feeling of being left out on religious holidays when other people’s religious holidays are paid attention to and not yours,” he said.

Still, the financial question must be considered.

“We have to look at some costs, and we have some discussions on Council,” he said. “But we’ll get there.”

City Council has passed a nonbinding resolution urging the city and school district add the holidays of Eid al-Fitr, celebrated after the monthlong observance of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, celebrated at the conclusion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.