Hesse and Berlin: Left empty-handed on Reformation Day! Holiday debate is simmering!

Hesse and Berlin: Left empty-handed on Reformation Day! Holiday debate is simmering!

Hesse is once again the big loser! On Reformation Day and All Saints Day, the state remains empty - despite burning questions from citizens. The state government is unimpressed and sees no reason for changes. The Hessians look enviously at their neighboring countries, which can enjoy two consecutive holidays!

This year we are experiencing a holiday scandal - while North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria celebrate twice, Hesse and Berlin have to work on these days. The Hessian government has made the situation clear: Why should they introduce Reformation Day as a public holiday when only 35 percent of the population is Protestant? A clear sign that the holiday discussion in Hesse is long overdue! However, the question of a way out of the holiday misery remains unanswered!

Scandal about holiday sharing

All Saints' Day was abolished as early as 1952 in order to treat all citizens equally - what a specious argument! While other federal states are making bold adjustments to their holiday calendars, Hesse will remain silent in 2023. May 8th was proposed as the anniversary of the liberation from National Socialism, but the government found no “Hesse connection”. Even Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser had called for a new holiday – December 1st as “Democracy Day”. But the CDU waves it off and sees no need! Is this really the end of the holiday debate in Hesse?

The critics are getting louder, the citizens are pushing for changes! Will anything change? This holiday frustration remains a hot topic and could soon lead to turbulent discussions. While Hesse is sinking into the holiday desert, political actors must act quickly to finally offer citizens the recognized days off that they so desperately want!