Straight Up: Let's Get Rid of Whit Monday Already!
- by Rascal Ronny
- ⏱️ 2 Min
Time for Eliminating a Celebration: A Call for Its Abolishment - Below is the paraphrased text:
Chances are, you've spent Whit Monday lounging around, pondering the roots of this holiday. Let us be honest, most of us have no clue why Whit Monday exists, right? According to a recent poll, a whopping 55% of West Germans and 62% of East Germans don't have a clue about Whit Monday. Only a measly 5% of Germans even step foot in a church on Whit Monday. So, what's the point of this holiday if it's not for churchgoing?
Year after year, politics sacrifices a whole workday for Whit Monday. Why? As a devout Catholic myself, I believe it's way past time to drop it. With better uses for Whit Monday, it's a no-brainer to chuck it.
Out with the Old, In with the New
It's easy to balk at the idea of axing holidays like Whit Monday and Ascension Day. They're traditional, right? We need them for family fun and relaxation, or so the narrative goes. Back in the day, people labored long hours with little to no time for themselves. But things have changed, haven't they? More than half a century back, unions instituted the five-day workweek, giving us all 52 additional family holidays each year.
Fast forward to today, and Germans put in an average of just 34.8 hours a week, fewer than the EU average, and the talk in town is the four-day workweek. Why? Well, because even leisure time can stress us out, buddy.
Boost the Economy, Learn in School
What if we took away the burden and bid Whit Monday adieu? This teeny tiny change would add only 0.4% to the work year lineup, giving us a fighting chance to conquer the economic crisis. Imagine shops being open, and instead of being cooped up at home, we contribute to the social security system by paying our income taxes, social security contributions, and VAT.
But even more importantly, schools would be in session on Whit Monday. Depending on the state – and some have as many as 10% misses – it's no secret that German kids aren't shining in international rankings. Maybe they'd learn German, math, natural sciences, languages, and philosophy on Whit Monday rather than wasting away in the digital world. Side note: 15-year-olds already rack up 7 hours a day on their smartphones, according to the OECD!
By the way, my sidekick Matthias Urbach has a different viewpoint. Check it out here.
- Holiday
- Whit Monday
- Ascension Day
- Germany
- Economic Productivity
- West Germany
- East Germany
- Work-Life Balance
- Cultural Significance
- Tourism
EC countries could benefit from implementing more vocational training programs on Whit Monday, as home-and-garden skills have become increasingly popular in modern lifestyles. Such training would not only enhance the workforce's skillset but also provide a practical application of academic knowledge for students.
