Every year, on January 7th, Coptic Orthodox Christians celebrate their Christmas, also know as “Little Christmas.” This is a day reserved for those who celebrate to connect with their family, friends, and share the joy of the holiday spirit and mainly the birth of Christ. This may be expressed through gatherings, attending church, or generally quality time bonding people together through love.
Christmas on December 25th also puts great focus on the birth of Christ and spending time during this the holiday with those you love, but for other branches of Christianity. 
Yes, it is true that the Coptic Orthodox Christians who celebrate the birth of Christ on January 7th are permitted an excused absence from school on this day, however, how is this beneficial, if all one may be able to think about is their upcoming tests the following day, & all the homework that is due the instant they get back? Speaking for myself and others in this situation, only stress is brought upon us with ample time to even consider enjoying a portion of time with our loved ones on this day of great importance. 
I am asking an honest question — What makes Coptic Orthodox Christians different from every other religious group? What makes this Christmas different from Christmas on December 25th, let alone any other holiday or religious feast/celebration of any other religious group? 
Especially as I’ve gotten older, as I’m positive most would agree, the feeling piled on when even a mere one day of school is missed is a feeling within itself that is compiled with incredibly overwhelming stress that their is absolutely no room for the Coptic Orthodox Christmas—our Christmas—to be taken into the proper and very much necessary respect. 
Therefore I kindly ask Governor Andrew Cuomo to take into consideration the Coptic Orthodox Christian Rights when making a decision in terms of schooling on January 7th — we need the schools of at the very least New York State to commemorate and mark this day of importance to many of this faith down as an official holiday on the calendar in which schools are closed officially. However, I cannot be in this alone. We must unite to support this cause because it represents something bigger than itself—the acknowledgement that there are various, yet equally important branches to the classic and more well-known beliefs.