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Should Christmas Eve in Hungary Become a New National Holiday?

• 13 Nov 2024 12:27 PM

Jobbik MP Péter Balassa has submitted an amendment motion, for the fifth consecutive year, to have Christmas Eve declared a national holiday, Portfolio reports.

Balassa argues that Hungary has 11 days off each year due to holidays, below the EU average, while elsewhere in the region Romania and Slovakia have 15 days off, Croatia 14, Austria 13, and Ukraine 12.

Balassa also pointed out that several retail chains closed their stores on December 24 last year and this is expected to happen this year, too, as Lidl has already announced that it will not open on that day.

He believes that most Hungarians would support his proposal.

It is unlikely that he will succeed this year as Fidesz has consistently voted down similar proposals, HVG remarks.

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