In the world of American holidays, the question of whether or not to add another federal holiday to the calendar can spark quite a debate. This time, all eyes are on Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt, who is proposing to make Easter Monday a national holiday. Now, this could be a dream come true for those who believe their Easter celebrations—or should we say marathons—leave them too exhausted to face the dreaded Monday morning. Apparently, more than four out of five Americans celebrate Easter, which raises the question: Is it time for us to replicate what some other countries have already implemented?
When wandering through the streets, it’s funny to see the parade of passionate opinions on this issue. Many Americans seem to firmly believe that overlaying joyous moments with family should come with a freebie day of recovery. Meanwhile, some say that if the Monday after the Super Bowl deserves some serious consideration (after all the nation’s party), it shouldn’t come as a shocker that Easter Monday is being put in the spotlight. After all, Easter is a significant day of celebration that more than 80% of the population participates in.
The tales of other countries come next, with people passionately recounting how nations like Canada and Denmark already enjoy the luxury of Easter Monday. The blend of admiration and envy is apparent, but it also raises the question—should the U.S. create a collection of holidays that mirror international calendars? While the idea of a day off might appeal to the lazy bone in all of us, perhaps the idea should also be taken with a grain of salt.
With the idea of Easter Monday as a federal holiday, some commentators bring up an interesting twist: why not adopt a “give one, take one” approach like in the case of regulatory changes suggested during the Trump administration? It appears the average American calendar is stuffed with holidays already. There’s a balance that needs to be maintained between the need for downtime and ensuring society keeps on ticking. Are we asking for just too many days off?
Finally, there’s the economic angle to consider. While it’s proposed that taking Easter Monday off could indeed inject a shot of economic activity into the economy, critics counter with concerns about productivity loss. So, do we value a potential $2 billion boost to economic activity enough to make it a reality? Or does the potential hit to business productivity send us crawling back into the workweek after our Easter feasts as though nothing happened? This debate, like many, has its rightful place in American discourse where work and play – or rest days – are perpetually teetering on a delicate balance.
