Seasonal Cheer Spread by ‘USA: Muslim’s Day’ : Celebrations: Coming Dec. 16, the holiday is not based on religion or culture. An Islamic group created it to offer an alternative observance.

There’s Hanukkah. There’s Christmas. There’s Kwanzaa.

Now add “USA: Muslim’s Day” to an increasingly crowded December holiday calendar.

USA: Muslim’s Day is the 11-year-old creation of the New York-based National Council on Islamic Affairs. The holiday falls on the third Friday--the Muslim sabbath--of December, which this year is Dec. 16.

While the day is still largely unknown, two New York banking giants--Chase Manhattan and Citibank--have included references to the celebration in seasonal holiday displays at their main offices. “We’re not endorsing anything, but we do want to be inclusive,” said John M. Morris, Citibank’s media relations director.

USA: Muslim’s Day has no basis in Islamic theology or culture. Rather, said Mohammad T. Mehdi, secretary general of the National Council on Islamic Affairs, it is an unabashed attempt to gain acceptance for American Muslims, while giving their children an Islamic alternative to Christian Christmas, Jewish Hanukkah and African-American Kwanzaa.

“American Muslims, like previous immigrants, are now demanding our share of the equal rights enjoyed by others. If there is a Christmas tree and a Hanukkah menorah in a display, why not the crescent and star?” asked Mehdi, referring to the symbols of Islam. “Remove them all or, in an open society like America, include everyone’s symbol.”

Mehdi said Muslim groups in various U.S. cities will celebrate USA: Muslim’s Day with parties for young people, at which presents will be distributed, the Koran will be read and Muslim stories will be told.

Mehdi admitted that--just as with some Christians and Jews--not all Muslims are happy about a public display of a symbol of their faith. Some object on church-state separation grounds, while others are uncomfortable with a crescent and star appearing next to a Christian cross or Jewish star.

Still, he predicted that within a decade, USA: Muslim’s Day will be widely celebrated within the steadily growing American Muslim community and will be familiar to the nation’s non-Muslims as well.

“Whoever heard of Kwanzaa until recently?” he said. “Public displays of menorahs are a new thing. So it will be with the crescent and star and USA: Muslim’s Day.”