Will Eid al-Fitr become an official holiday in Vienna?
As the Vienna municipal elections approach, the "Soziales Österreich der Zukunft (SÖZ)" party, which translates to "Social Austria for the Future," has called for Eid al-Fitr (Zuckerfest) to be made an official holiday in the country and for a large public celebration to be organized in Rathausplatz (Vienna's City Hall Square) to mark the end of Ramadan. Sali Attia, a prominent candidate from the party, explained that holding a public festival for Eid al-Fitr would be a clear signal of the capital's openness and diversity. She added, "Vienna can be a model for successful coexistence."
The party pointed out that more than 800,000 Muslim men and women live in Austria and actively contribute to society, so it is fair for them to have a national public holiday for Eid al-Fitr.
Hakan Gördü, the party leader, emphasized the importance of representing Islamic occasions in the official calendar, stating: "Vienna is a multicultural city – and it is time for the calendar to reflect this reality. Muslims are part of this city, and their holidays should be recognized just like Christmas and Easter."
The party suggested that Eid al-Fitr be a social occasion similar to Christmas markets, where Islamic culture is highlighted and doors are opened for exchange and understanding.
In fact, some schools in Vienna have already started to incorporate Eid al-Fitr into their activities. In the Leopoldstadt area, one primary school celebrates the holiday with all students, reflecting the spirit of community in the city. For his part, Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig (from the SPÖ party) expressed his congratulations on Facebook, saying: "Happy Eid! I wish you an evening filled with joy and peace."