American Muslims and national holidays

[Grace Seeker]

Yeah its evident he is looking for the opinions of deviant sects for his own personal satisfaction.

I don't know who you are talking about, but since I started the thread, and used the illustration of national holidays being celebrated in Turkey, I assume you are referencing me.

Well, I can assure you, that you are waaaay off base. I said in the thread why I had asked the question, if you had read it for more than just making rude comments you would realize that what you've actually done is call one of your brothers in Islam a member of a deviant sect. The friend I expressed "Happy Thanksgiving" to happens to be an American-born Sunni Muslim.

From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks and the use of musical instruments, as lawful. "

Since this was given to Muhammad, the followers would be followers of Islam. So you are admitting that there are deviant Muslims. Fine. I won't argue with you. Now, if you want to cast my question in terms of deviance, again even a casaul reading would have made it clear that I wasn't looking for anything to satisfy me personally -- I'm quite happy celebrating Thanskgiving, and a whole host of other holidays, without any regard to how Muslims view them one way or the other. Rather, I was seeking to learn whether the acknowledgement and/or celebration was considered acceptable or a deviation by American Muslims.

What else can one expect from someone who follows his own desires and abrogate his Lord's commandments

Off topic to the thread and just an example of rudeness on your part -- i.e. deviant and unIslamic behavior, since that seems to be your interest.

 

[Grace Seeker]

Here in the USA the 10 National Holidays are:

SOURCE

Although many Americans consider Christmas as being a religious holiday the Federal Government doesn't. Most employers now allow workers to take off 1 or 2 religious holidays of the workers choice each year. In Austin TX Muslim School children are permitted to take off the 2 Eids as Religious Holidays. I do not know if any other school districts do the same.

Thanks for the list Woodrow. Since most people do get Christmas off, I can see why some people think that we celebrate religious holidays in the USA. But Christmas is the only one that could be tied to Christianity and, as others have stated, for most people it is more of a cultural phenomena than a religious observance any more. As a matter of fact, as a pastor, I don't get it off specifically because we do seek to remind peopl to keep it as a religious observance and typically have services.

As for those who suggest that people celebrate Easter as a national holiday in this country, don't have a clue where they got that idea. But, they don't have their facts straight. Maybe they do in other countries, but certainly not in the USA.

Anyway, based on the answers I see in this thread. It seems like everyone is glad to have a day off of work, but not reality is that not everyone gets it. My niece had to work the weekend, because she is a nurse in a hospital, and that's just what nurses do. Being a holiday doesn't change things. Others may not be excited about the "reason" for the holiday, but will take advantage of the opportunity to get together with family and friends or do some other activitiy. And they are grateful for that even if they aren't celebrating "Thanksgiving" per se. So, unless I actually hear some objection, I'm going to continue to wish people (non-Muslim or Muslim) a "Happy Thanksgiving" and pray that they indeed have a happy day the fourth Thusday of November whether they spend it with or without a turkey.


But, just for Airforce, "Happy 329th day of the year."

What is the logic of setting aside a day e.g. “Thanks giving day” for this?

Thanksgiving is 24/7 365 days to my creator.

 

[جوري]

a "Happy Thanksgiving" and pray that they indeed have a happy day the fourth Thusday of November whether they spend it with or without a turkey

Isn't it funny that you celebrate and give thanks for eradicating or very nearly so a population of aborigines who offered you food in show of good will? -- Now that they're gone you do you even have a moment of remembrance for wiping them, and sending the rest into the path of casinos and reservations while you pig out literally on glazed ham?!
I think it is macabre really and unusual to commemorate a day of beneficence no thanks to your forefathers by eating instead of reflecting on those lives wiped out in the name of your superiority and your pagan gods--I mean even if people flatter you by returning the sentiment on the inside they're thinking ugh!

 

[titus]

Isn't it funny that you celebrate and give thanks for eradicating or very nearly so a population of aborigines who offered you food in show of good will?

I know you aren't that ignorant. Just trying to get a rise again, eh?

It is about as accurate as saying that Eid al-Adha is all about celebrating Muslims murdering their sons.

Regardless of its origins (which are not just from the Pilgrims) Thanksgiving is a day set aside to spend with family and give thanks for all the good things in your life. If you look upon that as a bad thing then I think that is more a reflection of your own character than mine or any other American that celebrates it.

When the christian holidays (easter, christmas) are given official national holiday status, I wonder why Muslim not given theirs.

As said before Christmas is the only holiday that may be considered religious in origin, and today it not celebrated mainly as a religious holiday, but more of a cultural one. I am not a Christian yet I celebrate and look forward to Christmas every year.

The obvious answer to your question, though, is that it is based on population. Christians have always made up, by far, the largest religious group in the US and therefore they had more influence on the making of a national holiday. That is also why you see no Jewish, Hindu or Shinto national holidays in the US.

 

[titus]

Thanksgiving is 24/7 365 days to my creator.

I have heard that one before also.

Yet you and other Muslims take part in Ramadan where you act just a little bit different than the rest of the year. Why is that? Because sometimes it is a good thing to set aside some time to concentrate on certain aspects of our lives.

So maybe you are thankful 24/7/365 (I highly doubt it though). It still doesn't hurt to set aside one day a year to revel in that thankfulness with your family.

 

[جوري]

I know you aren't that ignorant. Just trying to get a rise again, eh?

It is about as accurate as saying that Eid al-Adha is all about celebrating Muslims murdering their sons.

Regardless of its origins (which are not just from the Pilgrims) Thanksgiving is a day set aside to spend with family and give thanks for all the good things in your life. If you look upon that as a bad thing then I think that is more a reflection of your own character than mine or any other American that celebrates it.

I don't see any semblance or similitude nor truths in your analogy -- how you view the day or celebrate is utterly inconsequential to the facts of the matter.. those who offered you food in good will have been eradicated and you see fit to celebrate the day and ignore the deed!
There was no murder of sons on Eid, there was however murder of an entire population that took you in, in good will and fed you!

As said before Christmas is the only holiday that may be considered religious in origin, and today it not celebrated mainly as a religious holiday, but more of a cultural one. I am not a Christian yet I celebrate and look forward to Christmas every year.

Again what you do is utterly inconsequential. The fact of the matter is what the holiday represents the birth of God and funny enough coincides the pagan winter solstice and the pagan 'sun' god.. your celebration is nothing short of hypocrisy and giving into commercialism, let alone being at odds with your own professed beliefs or lack thereof!

The obvious answer to your question, though, is that it is based on population. Christians have always made up, by far, the largest religious group in the US and therefore they had more influence on the making of a national holiday. That is also why you see no Jewish, Hindu or Shinto national holidays in the US.

That is irrelevant!

sometimes it is better that you take a back seat than babble utter nonsense!

all the best

 

[B_M]

Regardless of its origins (which are not just from the Pilgrims) Thanksgiving is a day set aside to spend with family and give thanks for all the good things in your life. If you look upon that as a bad thing then I think that is more a reflection of your own character than mine or any other American that celebrates it.

Exactly.


Christmas has a Santa Clause. Easter has a Easter Bunny. So the celebrations have fallen far away from religion. You can look at as a commercial money make scheme, you can look at it as Christian celebrations with Pagan roots... but it's really simple. It's a time set aside to spend with family over a homecooked meal. It's a beautiful thing. No matter what creed or color or ethnicity, I think times like these spent in the ways they do, please God, personally.

 

[Grace Seeker]

Christmas has a Santa Clause. Easter has a Easter Bunny. So the celebrations have fallen far away from religion.

Sadly true. Personally, I could do with a little less bunny and elf, and a little more of the holy in my holidays. If that means that Christmas is no longer a national holiday, so be it. In defrence to the commercial establishments that depend on a holiday as an excuse to make money, I suggest Santamas which could be celebrated on December 6, the traditional day for recognizing St. Nicholas, and a day when gifts are often given to children in some other countries.

 

[سيف الله]

Salaam

Have to agree with you there Grace. Though I don't celebrate Christmas and Easter (obviously) I admit I do miss the Christian aspects of these celebrations. I remember at school they used to sing 'silent night' and many other songs/hyms. Used to enjoy it. Thats long gone.

Now its little more than an opportunity to sell commercialised pap, holds little interest for me. A shame really.

 

[S.Belle]

Im an american muslim I dont celebrate xmas but exchange gifts with family bc they are christians and I only give a gift back bc they gave me one not to celebrate anything but we do have a cookout for 4th of july we probably shouldnt but we are so use to it and its just...traditional in a way. For thanksgiving we just go to be with family and nothing more its more of their special day and we are the guests we respect them and they respect our holidays.

 

[Woodrow]

Although the word Holiday originally meant Holy-Day they are now 2 separate meanings. in America. Holiday in America now means a day off of work Holy-day is a religious celebration. It is more of a ruling of Labor Unions and not of any Religious Celebration that there are mandatory Federal Holidays. For those of us who spent much of our life in self Employment or in a professional field it often meant a loss of income if we took the day off. I really can not recall ever having a holiday off except during my School years. Just a bit of trivia: Thanksgiving did not become a Federal Holiday until 1942. Prior to then beginning in 1863 annually the President would proclaim a National Day of Thanksgiving generally on Nov 26. But it was not mandatory for employers to give workers the day off. Christmas became a Federal Holiday in 1870. Most of the other Federal Holidays did not come about until after the minimum wage laws came about in 1938.