World Hijab Day is a holiday observed annually on the 1st of February. It recognizes the importance of the hijab and the millions of Muslim women who choose to wear one. As many people already know, a hijab is a head and chest veil worn by many Muslim women when they are around males who are not part of their immediate family or when they are out in public.

Although many people think of them as always being black, the modern hijab actually comes in a variety of styles and colors. Anyone wishing to observe this holiday can do so by checking out some of these hijab colors and styles on this day.

The History of World Hijab Day

This holiday was first declared by Nazma Khan on February 1st, 2013. She is a Muslim woman from New York who hoped to promote religious tolerance and understanding by encouraging all women to wear a hijab for a day.

She did this because she received a lot of prejudice when she wore her headscarf to school in New York, particularly in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

It was her sincere hope that creating this holiday would end this type of discrimination and allow Muslim women to wear the hijab without fear. Since this holiday’s creation, it has been observed in over 190 countries around the globe. This holiday was made official in New York State in 2017.

Some Quick Facts About the Hijab

To continue with our discussion of World Hijab Day, we thought it would be great to take a few moments to talk about the subject of this holiday: the hijab. We uncovered the following facts about the hijab while we were doing research for this holiday.

• The hijab is an Islamic expression of religious devotion and modesty.
• There are different types of hijabs that serve different purposes.
• Muslim women wear hijabs for a variety of reasons — from religious modesty to fashion.

Observing World Hijab Day

Although no one is required to wear a hijab on this day, some people are going to want to for one reason or another. While some Muslim women will be wearing a hijab, women of other faiths may also want to wear one in solidarity with them.

It’s also a good day for everyone to learn more about why the hijab is worn and/or learn more about Islam. People can also show their support on this day by using the hashtag #WorldHijabDay on social media.