"While the festive season's most famous workers are the elves of the North Pole and their sleigh-riding courier, there are many more that keep things running over the final weeks of the year. For some living in Europe, the blessings come in the form of paid public holidays. Others might be graced with additional holidays throughout the year in return for fewer days off during the festive period."
"Malta, for example, has 14 national holidays during the year, two of which are in the Christmas-New Year period. Compare that to Cyprus, Slovakia and Romania, which have 15 national holidays, a third of which happen during this festive period. Without doubt it's the Lithuanians who have the most generous public holidays 16 in total, including four between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day."
Many Europeans have between two and five public holidays between December 24 and January 6. Some countries concentrate a large share of annual holidays in this festive window, such as Cyprus, Slovakia and Romania, where about a third of national holidays fall then. Malta records 14 national holidays annually, with two in the Christmas-New Year period. Lithuania provides 16 national holidays in total, including four between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day. Essential services, hospitality, retail and logistics often require staff to work during the holidays. A study by the Hans Böckler Foundation found nearly one in ten German workers still work after 2:00pm on Christmas Eve. Eastern Germans are more likely to be called in and often the same workers cover duties repeatedly. For states that require shops to close at 2:00pm on December 24, residents must plan supplies through December 27. Some workers will be opening their bank balances.
Read at www.dw.com
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