Holiday Alert: May 21 In Austria

Austria is a country that takes pride in its rich history and cultural heritage, and its holidays are a great way to experience this culture. Austrians celebrate important historical events, religious occasions, and traditions that are still significant today. There are 13 public holidays celebrated nationwide in Austria each year, including New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Christmas Day, and St. Stephen's Day. In addition, there are regional holidays, which are only celebrated in certain regions or states. So, is May 21 one of these holidays?

Upcoming Austrian holidays include Whit Sunday and Whit Monday in June

May 21 is not a holiday in Austria. However, the country does have several upcoming holidays, including Whit Sunday and Whit Monday in June.

Whit Sunday, also known as Pentecost, is a Christian holiday commemorating the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the disciples of Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament. It is observed fifty days or seven weeks after Easter Sunday and ten days after Ascension Day. In 2025, Whit Sunday falls on June 8. The day after Whit Sunday is Whit Monday, also known as Pentecost Monday. It is a public holiday in Austria, with schools and most businesses closed. In 2025, Whit Monday will be observed on June 9.

The name "Whit Sunday" is attributed to the white garments worn by candidates for baptism during the feast. The day is considered the birth of the Church, as the Holy Spirit allowed the apostles to speak in other languages, leading to the conversion and baptism of 3,000 people.

In medieval times, Whit Sunday and the following weekdays were as prominent in the calendar as Easter or Christmas. The custom allowed the Lord of the Manor to give his serfs a week's rest, and this practice persisted in parts of Europe through the Industrial Revolution. While the holiday is no longer as prominent, it remains a public holiday in several countries, including Austria.

There are 13 public holidays in Austria each year

There are 13 public holidays observed nationwide in Austria each year. These are regulated by the Federal Act Regulating Weekly Rest Periods and Public Holidays of 2010. The holidays are as follows:

• New Year's Day, which commemorates the Christian acknowledgement of Jesus as God. Children dress up as the three wise men from the Bible story.
• Epiphany, celebrated on January 6th.
• Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are also often celebrated as holidays, although Good Friday is only a national holiday for the Protestant religion.
• Austrian State Holiday, held on the first Thursday after Easter Sunday.
• Ascension Day, acknowledging the day Christians believe Jesus ascended to heaven.
• Whit Sunday and Whit Monday, marking the end of the Easter cycle.
• Corpus Christi.
• Assumption Day.
• Austrian National Day, celebrating political advancements made in Austria after World War II.
• All Saints' Day.
• Immaculate Conception, a Christian holiday acknowledging the belief that Jesus was born of a virgin.
• Christmas Day.
• St. Stephen's Day, acknowledging St. Stephen, considered the first Christian martyr.

In addition to these federal public holidays, each province has a national holiday for their patron saint that is only celebrated within their province. These are also national paid holidays. There are also other important dates in Austria, such as Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day, which are observed but are not public holidays.

Each Austrian province has a national holiday for its patron saint

May 21 is not a holiday in Austria. However, each Austrian province has a national holiday for its patron saint, which is only celebrated within that province. These are national paid holidays, but they are only recognized in their specific area.

For example, in Carinthia, Styria, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg, Tag der Volksabstimmung is observed. In Lower Austria and Vienna, this day is recognized as a bank holiday but not a federal public holiday.

St. Florian is a popular saint in Austria. He was a third-century Roman citizen who held a prestigious position in the army in Noricum, overseeing brigades for firefighting and military battle.

The Federal Act Regulating Weekly Rest Periods and Public Holidays of 2010 is very specific about national holidays, and employers should familiarize themselves with this Act. For instance, according to Chapter 3, Section 13a, no employer can require an employee to work on December 8, and employees who choose to work that day will receive additional holiday pay.

Good Friday is a national holiday for the Protestant religion

May 21 is not a holiday in Austria. However, Good Friday is a national holiday for the Protestant religion. In Austria, there are 13 public holidays celebrated nationwide. These include religious and cultural holidays, with the country being predominantly Christian.

Good Friday, or Karfreitag in Austrian, is one of the most significant religious holidays in the country. It is observed two days before Easter Sunday and is a public holiday for all citizens, guaranteed by law for the Protestant religion. Many towns and villages hold Easter markets, selling traditional Easter eggs and other seasonal goods. One unique tradition is the burning of a straw effigy of Judas Iscariot, symbolising his betrayal of Jesus.

Good Friday is an important day for the Protestant community in Austria, as it commemorates Jesus Christ's crucifixion and death. It is a day of reflection and solemn observance, often including church services and family gatherings. As a national holiday, most businesses are closed, and employees are entitled to a day off with pay.

Austria also has regional holidays celebrated only in certain states or provinces. Each province has a national holiday dedicated to its patron saint, recognised as a paid holiday within that specific province. These regional holidays add to the cultural diversity of the country, with each area celebrating its unique traditions and heritage.

Overall, Good Friday holds significant religious value for Austrian Protestants, and its recognition as a national holiday allows the community to observe and commemorate the day with the wider Christian population.

German Unification Day is a public holiday in Austria

German Unity Day, or the Day of German Unity, is a public holiday in Germany, not Austria. It is celebrated annually on the 3rd of October and commemorates the reunification of Germany in 1990. This was when the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) joined the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), creating a single German state for the first time since 1945.

The day is marked by celebrations across Germany, including a three-day festival in Berlin around Platz der Republik, Straße des 17. Juni, and the Brandenburg Gate. Various stages host live bands, and stands sell food, drinks, and sweets. Musicians, comedians, poetry slammers, and actors also present their art at the festival.

German Unity Day replaced the former national holiday, also called "German Unity Day", which was celebrated on the 17th of June. This date commemorated the East German uprising of 1953.

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