Why isn't Easter a national holiday celebrated on Monday as others that fall on Sunday are?

[returntosender]

2023Easter Monday, which falls on April 9,, 2023, is not considered a federal holiday in the US. All federal holidays with time off are non-religious, with the exception of Christmas Day. Easter is a Christian tradition that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and marks the end of Lent."

Why don't Americans get Good Friday or Easter Monday off as a holiday ...​

"Why don't Americans get Good Friday or Easter Monday off as a holiday, when you guys are much more religious than Europe or Canada who both get those days off? I just recently found out that Americans don't get Good Friday off, or Easter Monday, and in some cases not even the Easter Sunday for businesses that are open on

 

[eleos1954]

easter is celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ .... not everybody believes that

 

[returntosender]

easter is celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ .... not everybody believes that

Not everyone believes in the other holidays but they celebrate them. It's a lot more important then most of the others. Actually, good Friday should be off on Friday. State workers get a few hours off to go to church.

 

[eleos1954]

Not everyone believes in the other holidays but they celebrate them. It's a lot more important then most of the others. Actually, good Friday should be off on Friday. State workers get a few hours off to go to church.

well ... if an employer is giving people time off to go to church .... then they should also allow the same time off for people who do not go to church.

What holidays are celebrated .. or not celebrated is up to the person. Good Friday has no meaning to people unless they are christians and believe in the resurrection of Jesus.

 

[FireDragon76]

Traditionally, many Protestants in the US did not commemorate Good Friday, let alone Easter Monday. Early America was settled by Puritans, Baptist separatists, and Presbyterians who didn't follow much of a church calendar.

That's changing of course, especially as the ecumenical liturgical reform movement has had alot of impact, and older generations pass on. The local UCC church I go to is in a denomination descended from Puritans and German Reformed Christians, has Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday services, and has done so for some time.

 

[Hazelelponi]

Not everyone believes in the other holidays but they celebrate them. It's a lot more important then most of the others. Actually, good Friday should be off on Friday. State workers get a few hours off to go to church.

I think because it can't be commercialized much. They have tried commercializing it but haven't ever really gotten it done, and actual practicing Christians really are a minority in America - have been all my life.

Until more people than just Christians want to celebrate Easter etc it won't be a federalized holiday.

 

[PsaltiChrysostom]

And what about those of us that celebrate the Resurrection on a different day? Orthodox Pascha can be on the same day as Western Easter, one week behind (like this year), or five weeks after like next year. Western Easter falls on March 31, while Orthodox Pascha falls on May 5.

 

[eleos1954]

Not everyone believes in the other holidays but they celebrate them. It's a lot more important then most of the others. Actually, good Friday should be off on Friday. State workers get a few hours off to go to church.

All I'm saying is if an employer is giving time off to a group of people (for whatever reason, in this case church) they should give time off for everyone ... not saying the exact day ... but same amount of time to use how they see fit .... and .... why just state workers?

 

[Hazelelponi]

All I'm saying is if an employer is giving time off to a group of people (for whatever reason, in this case church) they should give time off for everyone ... not saying the exact day ... but same amount of time to use how they see fit .... and .... why just state workers?

Federal workers have an employee compensation package that includes a list of paid holidays (that their employer - in this case the Federal government - feels the majority of their employees need off) as well as paid vacation time and also a number of sick days every year.

If you work for the Federal government, that is all part of your employee benefit package.

Not every employer has the same compensation package. If you work in a restaurant, for instance, or a hospital, you will likely never see a holiday with your family.

Things like what you do for a living and who your employer is all affects what kind of employee compensation package you get - if you get any at all.

If your employer is Muslim, your probably going to have a little more time off during Ramadan instead of Christmas and you may end up with Fridays off instead of Sunday.

It all depends upon who your employer is.

The Federal government compensation package and days off is set up to celebrate holidays that are important to the Federal government - like Martin Luther King Day and Veterans Day - along with Holidays that are important to the majority of their employees - such as Christmas.

If you don't celebrate Christmas and you get that day off - enjoy the day however you like. You aren't required to celebrate the holiday, but most of the workforce will refuse to come to work (they will call in sick) if they aren't given the day off.

If you know in advance your not going to get your employees in on certain days, it's just easier, and makes you as an employer appear more sympathetic, to close shop on that day.

 

[Hank77]

All federal holidays with time off are non-religious, with the exception of Christmas Day.

As many secular people celebrate gift-giving on Christmas as Christians celebrate Christ and gifts. So in a sense, it has also become a secular holiday. Easter has become the same but not Good Friday.

Why don't Americans get Good Friday or Easter Monday off as a holiday, when you guys are much more religious than Europe or Canada who both get those days off?

If every Christian holiday was a national holiday then every group's religious holidays would also have to be.
We live in a democracy where no one religion has legal favor over another.

 

[eleos1954]

Federal workers have an employee compensation package that includes a list of paid holidays (that their employer - in this case the Federal government - feels the majority of their employees need off) as well as paid vacation time and also a number of sick days every year.

If you work for the Federal government, that is all part of your employee benefit package.

Not every employer has the same compensation package. If you work in a restaurant, for instance, or a hospital, you will likely never see a holiday with your family.

Things like what you do for a living and who your employer is all affects what kind of employee compensation package you get - if you get any at all.

If your employer is Muslim, your probably going to have a little more time off during Ramadan instead of Christmas and you may end up with Fridays off instead of Sunday.

It all depends upon who your employer is.

The Federal government compensation package and days off is set up to celebrate holidays that are important to the Federal government - like Martin Luther King Day and Veterans Day - along with Holidays that are important to the majority of their employees - such as Christmas.

If you don't celebrate Christmas and you get that day off - enjoy the day however you like. You aren't required to celebrate the holiday, but most of the workforce will refuse to come to work (they will call in sick) if they aren't given the day off.

If you know in advance your not going to get your employees in on certain days, it's just easier, and makes you as an employer appear more sympathetic, to close shop on that day.

We (Americans) don't have control over holidays in other countries .... nor should we. Yes, people celebrate designated holidays (or not) how they wish .... all I'm saying if there is a designated holiday by the state or feds .... then people should be given equal time off ... not necessarily the particular day .... perhaps added to their vacation .... I dunno.

Federal workers have an employee compensation package that includes a list of paid holidays (that their employer - in this case the Federal government - feels the majority of their employees need off) as well as paid vacation time and also a number of sick days every year.

If you work for the Federal government, that is all part of your employee benefit package.

Not every employer has the same compensation package. If you work in a restaurant, for instance, or a hospital, you will likely never see a holiday with your family.

Things like what you do for a living and who your employer is all affects what kind of employee compensation package you get - if you get any at all.

If your employer is Muslim, your probably going to have a little more time off during Ramadan instead of Christmas and you may end up with Fridays off instead of Sunday.

It all depends upon who your employer is.

The Federal government compensation package and days off is set up to celebrate holidays that are important to the Federal government - like Martin Luther King Day and Veterans Day - along with Holidays that are important to the majority of their employees - such as Christmas.

If you don't celebrate Christmas and you get that day off - enjoy the day however you like. You aren't required to celebrate the holiday, but most of the workforce will refuse to come to work (they will call in sick) if they aren't given the day off.

If you know in advance your not going to get your employees in on certain days, it's just easier, and makes you as an employer appear more sympathetic, to close shop on that day.

 

[eleos1954]

Federal workers have an employee compensation package that includes a list of paid holidays (that their employer - in this case the Federal government - feels the majority of their employees need off) as well as paid vacation time and also a number of sick days every year.

If you work for the Federal government, that is all part of your employee benefit package.

Not every employer has the same compensation package. If you work in a restaurant, for instance, or a hospital, you will likely never see a holiday with your family.

Things like what you do for a living and who your employer is all affects what kind of employee compensation package you get - if you get any at all.

If your employer is Muslim, your probably going to have a little more time off during Ramadan instead of Christmas and you may end up with Fridays off instead of Sunday.

It all depends upon who your employer is.

The Federal government compensation package and days off is set up to celebrate holidays that are important to the Federal government - like Martin Luther King Day and Veterans Day - along with Holidays that are important to the majority of their employees - such as Christmas.

If you don't celebrate Christmas and you get that day off - enjoy the day however you like. You aren't required to celebrate the holiday, but most of the workforce will refuse to come to work (they will call in sick) if they aren't given the day off.

If you know in advance your not going to get your employees in on certain days, it's just easier, and makes you as an employer appear more sympathetic, to close shop on that day.

We (Americans) don't have control over holidays in other countries .... nor should we. Yes, people celebrate designated holidays (or not) how they wish .... all I'm saying if there is a designated holiday by the state or feds .... then people should be given equal time off ... not necessarily the particular day .... perhaps added to their vacation. If state designated .... everyone in the state ... if fed then that would be nationwide.

As it is now .... if a person deems good friday as being absolutely necessary for them to go to church ..... then they should use their vacation time .... many people don't consider it essential.

 

[Hazelelponi]

We (Americans) don't have control over holidays in other countries .... nor should we. Yes, people celebrate designated holidays (or not) how they wish .... all I'm saying if there is a designated holiday by the state or feds .... then people should be given equal time off ... not necessarily the particular day .... perhaps added to their vacation. If state designated .... everyone in the state ... if fed then that would be nationwide.

As it is now .... if a person deems good friday as being absolutely necessary for them to go to church ..... then they should use their vacation time .... many people don't consider it essential.

I don't think we do control the holidays in other countries - people in other countries don't work for the US government.

I'm not in control of what holidays the Federal government declares for their employees - neither are you.

I don't work for the Federal government, so as a non-employee I have zero say.

If you work for the government and wish, you could bring it up to whatever division is the equivalent of the HR department.

If you don't work in a government job, honestly what do you care what their holidays are?

 

[eleos1954]

I don't think we do control the holidays in other countries - people in other countries don't work for the US government.

I'm not in control of what holidays the Federal government declares for their employees - neither are you.

I don't work for the Federal government, so as a non-employee I have zero say.

If you work for the government and wish, you could bring it up to whatever division is the equivalent of the HR department.

If you don't work in a government job, honestly what do you care what their holidays are?

I did work for the government .... I took holidays (time off) according to how they were defined as such .... but because of the nature of my government employment it required 24-hour/7-day week presence of some employees ... within the individual departments .... they would try to accommodate (and this wasn't done through the HR department) .... even so .... all got the same amount of time off. With my particular government employment requiring 24-7, I knew I may or may not get a "specific holiday/day" off .... but did know I'd get equal time and use that time on another day.

It's not up to the HR department to schedule employees within the various governmental agencies in regard to days off ... No .... I don't care what holidays are or are not accepted ... whatever is accepted then equal time off should be available ... depending on the government agency one works for they may or may not get the exact designated holiday off .... but they will get equal time off. With 24-hour/7-day government agencies (and especially a "few hours" off ... it would be a scheduling nightmare.

 

[Hazelelponi]

I did work for the government .... I took holidays (time off) according to how they were defined as such .... but because of the nature of my government employment it required 24-hour/7-day week presence of some employees ... within the individual departments .... they would try to accommodate (and this wasn't done through the HR department) .... even so .... all got the same amount of time off. With my particular government employment requiring 24-7, I knew I may or may not get a "specific holiday/day" off .... but did know I'd get equal time and use that time on another day.

It's not up to the HR department to schedule employees within the various governmental agencies in regard to days off ... No .... I don't care what holidays are or are not accepted ... whatever is accepted then equal time off should be available ... depending on the government agency one works for they may or may not get the exact designated holiday off .... but they will get equal time off. With 24-hour/7-day government agencies (and especially a "few hours" off ... it would be a scheduling nightmare.

It sounds like you could take your holiday time as you wanted for the most part, same as the rest of America.

So I'm not sure what the problem is? What is the complaint here?

With my husbands family there's a couple nurses and everyone has different schedules so we rarely celebrate holidays together as a family on the exact day, not even Christmas.

We just pick a day we can all make it according to everyone's schedule.

My mom was a banker after my dad died and she had ALL the holidays off... I used to be jealous of that. I mean, I would have liked to have Columbus Day off... Lol. I would have been like " yea! For Chris's bad sense of direction! Woot woot!

Hahaha but that's just jealousy really on my part.

 

[eleos1954]

It sounds like you could take your holiday time as you wanted for the most part, same as the rest of America.

So I'm not sure what the problem is? What is the complaint here?

With my husbands family there's a couple nurses and everyone has different schedules so we rarely celebrate holidays together as a family on the exact day, not even Christmas.

We just pick a day we can all make it according to everyone's schedule.

My mom was a banker after my dad died and she had ALL the holidays off... I used to be jealous of that. I mean, I would have liked to have Columbus Day off... Lol. I would have been like " yea! For Chris's bad sense of direction! Woot woot!

Hahaha but that's just jealousy really on my part.

With my employment ... Any Time off had to be scheduled in advanced ... period ... and that was done through a supervisor not the HR department.

The disagreement was because you stated making good friday a holiday in relation to federal holidays .... that's government and not all government agencies can/could give good friday off for everyone ... it would be a scheduling nightmare .... Likely a scheduling nightmare for most businesses as well. When you work for someone else they set your work schedule and that's what you adhere to (excluding sickness) and that may or may not include working federal and state designated holidays.

well a bank isn't a government entity.

With my husbands family there's a couple nurses and everyone has different schedules so we rarely celebrate holidays together as a family on the exact day, not even Christmas.

That's my point. With good friday .... it's always the day before easter sunday .... from a religious point of view it can't be rescheduled. From a non-religious view it's a scheduling nightmare.

 

[Hazelelponi]

With my employment ... Any Time off had to be scheduled in advanced ... period ... and that was done through a supervisor not the HR department.

The disagreement was because you stated making good friday a holiday in relation to federal holidays .... that's government and not all government agencies can/could give good friday off for everyone ... it would be a scheduling nightmare .... Likely a scheduling nightmare for most businesses as well. When you work for someone else they set your work schedule and that's what you adhere to (excluding sickness) and that may or may not include working federal and state designated holidays.

well a bank isn't a government entity.


That's my point. With good friday .... it's always the day before easter sunday .... from a religious point of view it can't be rescheduled. From a non-religious view it's a scheduling nightmare.

Ohhh... I'm sorry I guess my brain wasn't working... Lol

That makes sense. Good point...

 

[public hermit]

I don't like the idea of any part of Holy Week becoming a nationally recognized holiday. I don't think it's wise to get the celebrations of our faith too closely identified with our national identity. The too close identification of the two is already a problem in how many Christians in this country see themselves.

 

[returntosender]

All I'm saying is if an employer is giving time off to a group of people (for whatever reason, in this case church) they should give time off for everyone ... not saying the exact day ... but same amount of time to use how they see fit .... and .... why just state workers?

Interesting, as they put it. The people that take the few hours offered are on their honor to actually go to church. I only know of the state because i worked for them but i have heard of people given the whole day off.

 

[returntosender]

If you all are going to go so far to be against then why are the seculars celebrating Christmas right along with us?. Further i think Easter should be recognized as a holiday on Monday so there. More attention needed to be made of Jesus in this fallen world and for those that don't like it then they can go to work