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Pentecost Celebrations Spotlight Push to Cut Pfingstmontag Holiday

Some economists believe eliminating Pfingstmontag could lift Germany’s GDP, with churches and unions cautioning that it would erode a cherished social tradition.

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Ein Mann tippt einem Büro auf einer Tastatur.

Overview

  • Pfingsten’s observances on June 8-9 ranged from church services to regional folk customs, underscoring its status as a major Christian festival.
  • Pfingstsonntag is legally recognized only in Brandenburg, while Pfingstmontag remains a statutory holiday in all 16 German states.
  • Economists at the Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft and the Ifo Institute estimate that scrapping Pfingstmontag could boost annual GDP by around €8.6 billion.
  • The German Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Deutsche Gewerkschaftsbund argue that removing public holidays would damage social cohesion and fail to address underlying productivity issues.
  • Political leaders in Berlin and the Länder have shown little appetite for changing holiday laws, leaving any reform of Pfingstmontag unlikely.