Aziz's ABC Book of Celebrations and Festivals

Festivals and celebrations help humans mark ideals that have relevance in their lives. Religious holidays affirm one's faith. Ethnic festivals highlight one's cultural heritage, and national celebrations reinforce one's civic obligations and privilages. The United States is unique in that its citizens represent a variety of religious beliefs, and hail from diverse cultural backgrounds. The range of cultural and religious perspectives influences the country's character, and in turn creates a space for new interpertations of one's identity. This book is a snap shot of one eight-year-old's identity as he describes the celebrations and festivals that are important to him. Through what (and how) he celebrates, one gets a glimpse of an American Muslim's sense of identity in contemporary United States.