Should Easter Monday Be a Federal Holiday in the US? | The Big Weekend Show

Proposal for Easter Monday Holiday

• Missouri Senator Eric Schmidt has proposed a bill to make Easter Monday a national holiday in the United States.
• The proposal aims to provide an additional day off, especially for those who travel and spend significant time with family and friends on Easter Sunday.

Public Opinion in New York City

• Street interviews reveal a mixed but generally positive reception to the idea of Easter Monday as a federal holiday.
• Many believe that holidays falling on a Sunday should automatically grant the following Monday off, similar to the Super Bowl.
• Some individuals expressed a desire for rest after a busy Easter Sunday involving travel, church, and family gatherings.

International Comparisons

• Several countries already observe Easter Monday as a holiday, including Canada, Denmark, and Ireland.
• In France, a similar holiday is known as 'Lid the Back', allowing for a day off work or school.
• This international precedent is cited as a reason for the US to consider adopting the holiday.

Arguments For and Against

• Proponents argue that Easter is the holiest day for Christians, comparable to Christmas, and that over 80% of Americans celebrate it.
• An economic argument suggests that a federal holiday could boost economic activity by an estimated $2 billion through increased consumer spending.
• Counterarguments suggest the US already has sufficient holidays and that adding new ones should involve removing existing ones, or combining them like President's Day.
• Concerns are raised about potential reductions in corporate productivity despite potential consumer spending boosts.

Alternative Perspectives

• One perspective suggests that the need for recovery on Easter Monday might be overstated for many, questioning what activities on Easter Sunday necessitate a day off.
• A suggestion was made to move the Super Bowl to an earlier time on Sunday or to Saturday night to mitigate Monday recovery issues.
• The discussion touches on the idea of adapting policies like the Trump administration's approach to regulations, where adding a new holiday might require removing another.