Believe It or Not! No Government Holiday on ‘Good Friday’ in America?

Believe It or Not! No Government Holiday on ‘Good Friday’ in America?

Mangaluru: Believe it or not- The United States of America (USA) which has the most Christian population in the world, with about 85% of Americans are Christians don’t get a Federal Holiday on Good Friday nor Easter Sunday, while in India where the majority are Hindus and the Christian population is around 2.8% has holiday on Good Friday. Even in Muslims dominated country, Pakistan, Good Friday is a government holiday. I cannot believe Good Friday is not a federal holiday in US. It is among the most important holiday for Christians, in some ways more important than Christmas Day. It is the day Jesus Christ was crucified. In all Christian majority nation, and even some non-Christians-Good Friday is a public/federal holiday, while in the U.S. it isn’t. This is ridiculous!

Sadly, today being Good Friday, many Indian Christians who have migrated to Unites States or those naturalized as Indian American citizens have no choice than to work on this important Christian religious day. When I was employed in US for nearly two decades, and if my schedule was to work on Good Friday or Easter, and as a firm believer in my faith since my younger days in India, I always took two personal days off to attend the church services, and also to celebrate Easter with my family folks there. But many a times I was forced to work on these two religious days, depending on the seniority at the work place.

While comparing the large number of holidays that we have in India, just look at the list of 2018 Federal Holidays in USA -there are only 10 Fed holidays in US this year, namely: Monday, January 1 New Year’s Day; Monday, January 15 Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr; Monday, February 19 Washington’s Birthday; Monday, May 28 Memorial Day; Wednesday, July 4 Independence Day; Monday, September 3 Labor Day; Monday, October 8 Columbus Day; Monday, November 12 Veterans Day; Thursday, November 22 Thanksgiving Day; Tuesday, and December 25 Christmas Day

It’s hard to believe American Christians who are the majority in the country have to work on Good Friday, banks, postal offices and other places remaining open. It is very very sad! People won’t work on Christmas and Thanksgiving but do work on Good Friday. The Stock Market is closed, and some schools, but the majority businesses and things remain open like any other Friday. But Good Friday is a state holiday in only eleven U.S. State and local government offices and courts are closed, as well as some banks and postal offices in these states…Over 135 countries commemorate Good Friday as a National Holiday. However, in the United States, Good Friday is not a Government holiday at the Federal level, although individual states and municipalities may observe the holiday. Private businesses and certain other institutions may close or not for Good Friday, according to their preferences.

The U.S. observe non-sense holidays such as Martin Luther King and Presidents Day, but not Good Friday and Easter. Yes, I understand Easter falls on a Sunday, but is should be on the list of federal holidays too. I understand that not everybody observe the day, or are Christians, but 78% of Americans are, and it should be a holiday as for Christmas. To be honest – I am very surprised that even Christmas is a holiday. Very sad!

Good Friday is the day when Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox. This is an important event in Christianity, as it represents the sacrifices and suffering in Jesus’ life. The crucifixion was the culmination of a number of events in Holy Week, including the triumphal return of Jesus to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday; the washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus; and the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday. Some churches organize a prayer vigil on Good Friday for various causes, such as for cancer patients or for the American troops who have been sent to the middle-east.

Easter is on a Sunday while Thanksgiving is a Thursday and Christmas can be any day of the week. Nobody gets off work for Easter since most people don’t work on Sundays anyway. Easter is a more religious holiday than even Christmas so many people do not observe. But Christmas has a national feel of family, dinner, gifts, basketball or football. Thanksgiving day is a secular holiday with religious overtones. Easter is the most religious of the 3 holidays and therefore leaves out Jews/ Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, etc.

We should know that in some European countries, Easter is a big deal and they get off for Easter Monday. Even though there had been many representations by Christian organizations in US to make Good Friday and Easter Sunday a Federal Holiday, but until now there has been no changes. Seems like Atheists have all the power over this issue. And for that matter, US President Donald Trump doesn’t give a damn about it either. So, Good Friday and Easter Sunday – NO HOLIDAYS in AMERICA! PERIOD?