Påsklov

Easter has come and gone for another year. Like most holidays I take, I was quite glad when it came time to go back to work again. Holidays always look so inviting from a distance. Rest, relaxation, and all that. Why is it then, that I seem to end up doing more work during a holiday period than I do during a normal working day ? Of course, it might just be that I'm a lazy arse at work. But I'm pretty sure that's not it. Påsk, in Sweden, begins officially on Friday, and ends on Monday. As in most countries. Sweden seems to have an enormous number of public holidays. One of their more endearing qualities. It doesn't even really need to be anything specifically Sweden related either, it would seem. I reckon they would have a public holiday to celebrate Venusuela Independance Day, if they thought they could get away with it. What amuses me the most, is how they deal with the day BEFORE a public holiday. Public holidays are known as Red Days, as that's the colour they are on the calendar. Simple enough. Being the socially concious people that they are, Sweden has decided that Swedes need to have a holiday BEFORE the holiday. So that they can get ready for the actual holiday day itself. Follow ? So, on the day BEFORE a Red Day, most Swedish businesses work just a 5 hour day. Closing generally at 2pm. 5 hours would actually be until 1pm, but naturally we need to stop for a one hour lunch break in the middle. And, of course, what's the point of working for just 5 hours ? Better to take the whole day off. So the Thurday before Easter is generally written off. As is the whole of the following and preceding weeks. What's the point of working for just 4 days ? The end result is that Easter in Sweden starts some time in early March, and finishes in late May. Just in time for the summer holidays.