Good Friday to Become a Czech National Holiday?

Proposed amendment will add another public holiday to the Czech calendar

Dave Park

Written by Dave Park Published on 22.06.2015 14:26:04 (updated on 22.06.2015) Reading time: 1 minute

The Czech Republic is set to add another public holiday to their calendar after a recent amendment has gained preliminary support, reports Reflex.cz.

Good Friday could become the newest national holiday in the Czech Republic. Combined with Easter Monday, it will mean a 4-day weekend for most office workers – the only one that is guaranteed to mean time off, as other public holidays can fall on weekends.

Lawmakers from all parties except KSČM have signed the amendment. Those who support the amendment include Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, Finance Minister Andrej Babiš, Karel Schwarzenberg, and others.

The addition of Good Friday to the calendar would bring the total number of public (bank) holidays in the Czech Republic to 14. 

Good Friday, which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, might be seen as an unusual choice for a national holiday in one of the most atheistic countries in the world.

Still, it is a public holiday in many Western countries, including neighboring Germany, Austria, and Slovakia.

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