Commemorating Eid
U.S. postage stamps commemorate everything from Elvis to Christmas to wild ducks.
This week, the U.S. Postal Service announced that beginning in 2001, it will print a stamp to honor the Muslim Holiday Eid.
"There are 6 million Muslims in America today. I think it's really great how they have decided to try and spread awareness of the Muslim religion with this," said Yahya Fouz, vice president of the Muslim Student Organization.
The new stamp will honor the Muslim religious holiday Eid, which takes place at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset. At the end of the month, there are three days of festivities. This year, the festival will fall in late December, although the month of Ramadan varies annually because it follows a lunar calendar.
The second celebration within Eid takes place after hajj - the annual pilgrimage Muslims make to Mecca in Saudi Arabia some time during their lives.
"It's basically a party after all that hard work," Fouz said.
Fouz, who has made the pilgrimage himself, says that the journey was extremely difficult.
"It was very hot in the desert and you had to do difficult things like walking for miles while praying," he said.
Fouz said that the Postal Service's decision to design the stamp comes on the heels of efforts of several Arab lobbying groups, such as the Counsel on American and Islamic Relations.
Many of these groups have been pushing for wider recognition of the Muslim faith in the U.S. Fouz said the stamp is a step in the right direction.
"Little things like this make a difference," he said.
Compiled by Christa Dierksheide
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