Good Friday In Austria: A Public Holiday?

Austria is a country that takes pride in its rich history and cultural heritage, and its public holidays are a great way to experience this culture. With 13 public holidays celebrated nationwide each year, Austria also has several regional holidays celebrated in certain regions or states. Good Friday, however, is not a day off in Austria, even though it is a holiday in most Christian countries. So, is Good Friday a public holiday in Austria?

Good Friday is a public holiday in Austria, but not a day off

Good Friday is observed on the third Friday of April in Austria. While it is a public holiday, it is not a day off for the general population. This is unlike other Christian holidays in the country, such as Easter Monday, which is a day off. Austria is a predominantly Christian country, with more than 55% of its population identifying as Catholic. Therefore, many of its holidays are based on religious observances.

Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus, was recognised as a holiday in Austria until 2019, but only for members of the Protestant and Old Catholic Church. If they had to work on this day, they were entitled to extra pay. However, those not belonging to these religious groups were not entitled to the day off or additional payment. This changed in 2019 when a Viennese man sued for holiday pay for working on Good Friday. The case went to the European Court of Justice, which ruled that granting the holiday to only a specific part of the population went against the European Union's equal treatment directive.

Since then, workers in Austria have been allowed to take "personal holidays". Under this regulation, employees can unilaterally determine when they want to take a day off once a year, choosing from the 30-36 holiday days they are entitled to annually. While the employer cannot refuse a personal holiday, if the employee agrees to work on that day, they will be entitled to holiday pay. This regulation allows people to take Good Friday off for religious reasons without violating equality directives, as everyone is entitled to it.

The issue of Good Friday has been a topic of debate in Austria, with several church representatives asking for it to be a holiday for all Austrians to end unequal treatment. Despite political signals indicating that this could change, no modifications have been implemented as of 2023.

Good Friday was delisted as a holiday in 2019

Good Friday in Austria has long been a contentious issue. While the country is predominantly Catholic, it also has a Protestant minority. Before 2019, Good Friday was a paid public holiday for three smaller denominations, including Protestants, but not for the rest of the population. This meant that members of these denominations were entitled to a day off work or extra pay if they worked on Good Friday.

In 2019, a Viennese man sued for a holiday salary for working on Good Friday. The case went to the European Court of Justice, which ruled that granting a holiday to only a specific part of the population was discriminatory and went against the European Union's equal treatment directive. As a result, Good Friday was delisted as a holiday for the Protestant and Old Catholic minorities, and workers in Austria were allowed to take "personal holidays".

The "personal holiday" regulation enables workers to choose unilaterally when they want to take a day off once a year, with advance notice of three months in writing. This day will be deducted from their annual leave entitlement. Importantly, employers cannot refuse a personal holiday request, although they may ask the employee not to take it. If an employee agrees to work on their personal holiday, they will receive holiday pay, but they will not be able to take another personal holiday that vacation year.

The ruling caused a headache for the Austrian government, which had to balance religious and cultural sensitivities with the economic impact of public holidays. The cost to the economy of making Good Friday a public holiday for all was estimated at 600 million euros ($680 million). One suggestion to mitigate this cost was to scrap the existing public holiday on Easter Monday and replace it with Good Friday.

The issue of Good Friday remains a subject of debate in Austria. While some call for it to be reinstated as a public holiday for all, others argue that it should only be delisted for certain faiths. In 2020, the Constitutional Court (VfGH) rejected an application from the Protestant and Old Catholic Churches to repeal the current regulation. With Easter being one of the most popular holidays in Austria, the debate around Good Friday is likely to persist.

Austrians celebrate Easter in traditional markets

Austrians celebrate Easter with traditional markets, which are an integral part of the season. These markets have been a tradition for hundreds of years, and they are especially popular in Vienna. Visitors can buy colourful, artistically decorated eggs, as well as other Easter decorations. The markets also offer traditional Austrian food, including Easter specialties like chocolate Easter bunnies, Easter loafs, and baked Easter lambs. There are also handicrafts and other arts and crafts from across Austria.

In addition to the markets, there are several other Easter traditions in Austria. One unique tradition is the practice of burning a straw effigy of Judas Iscariot, symbolising the betrayal of Jesus. Another tradition involves children getting up early on Holy Saturday to meet with their "glow pots" – little metal buckets with long handles filled with tinder – which are then blessed by a priest. The hot coals are placed into the buckets, and the children carry them from house to house.

Easter is a time when Austrians showcase their culture, customs, and cuisine. It is a holiday celebrated in style, with parades, markets, plays, and traditional delicacies. Coloured eggs are ubiquitous during Easter in Austria, and they are boiled, painted, and hidden for children to find. Some eggs are blown out and used for decorations.

Good Friday is a public holiday in Austria, but it is not a day off under the Working Hours Act. Easter Monday is also a public holiday. Many Austrians attend church services during Easter and spend time with their families.

Good Friday is a holiday for specific religious groups

Good Friday is a Christian holiday that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is observed by Christians through church services and traditions such as fasting. While Good Friday is a widely recognised public holiday in Western countries, it is not an official public holiday in Austria.

Austria, a predominantly Catholic country, has a series of Christian holidays. Good Friday was recognised as a holiday in the country until 2019, but only for members of the Protestant and Old Catholic Church. This meant that those who were not members of these religious institutions were expected to work and were not entitled to additional pay.

The exclusion of certain religious groups from observing Good Friday as a holiday led to a lawsuit in 2019. A Viennese man sued for holiday pay for working on Good Friday, arguing that restricting the holiday to specific religious groups violated the European Union's equal treatment directive. The European Court of Justice ruled in his favour, resulting in a change in Austrian law.

Currently, Good Friday is not a countrywide public holiday in Austria. However, workers are allowed to take "personal holidays", enabling them to unilaterally choose a day off once a year. This provision allows individuals to take Good Friday off for religious reasons while adhering to equality directives.

While Good Friday is not an official holiday in Austria, it is still recognised and observed by specific religious groups within the country. The "personal holiday" regulation ensures that individuals can take the day off for religious observance while maintaining equality among the diverse population.

Austrians are allowed to take personal holidays

Good Friday in Austria might not be a public holiday, but Austrians are allowed to take "personal holidays". This means that workers can choose to take the day off for religious reasons without going against equality directives. This is because, in 2019, a Viennese man sued for a holiday salary for working on Good Friday. The European Court of Justice ruled that having holidays only for specific religious groups was against the European Union's equal treatment directive.

The "personal holiday" regulation gives workers the right to choose when they want to take a day off, without needing permission from their employer. This is taken from the 30 or 36 holiday days they are entitled to annually. Although the employer can ask the employee not to take a particular day off, the employee has the final say in the matter. If the employee agrees to work on their chosen day off, they will be entitled to holiday pay.

Austrians celebrate Easter with traditional markets, where visitors can buy seasonal goods and take part in games and activities. Easter in Austria is a religious affair, with many towns and villages holding church services and observing traditions such as fasting.

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