Arkipyhinän

Arkipyhä is a Finnish term referring to a public holiday that falls on a weekday other than a Saturday or Sunday. In Finland, these are days when most businesses and public services are closed, and people typically have the day off work. These holidays are often religious or historical in nature.

The concept of an arkipyhä is important for understanding Finnish work and holiday schedules. When a public holiday falls on a weekday, it creates a "red-day" in the calendar, meaning a day of rest. This can sometimes lead to a short week for many workers. If an arkipyhä occurs on a Friday or Monday, it creates a long weekend, which is a popular time for travel or relaxation.

Some of the most common arkipyhät in Finland include Epiphany (Trettondagen), Ascension Day (Helatorstai), Midsummer Eve (Juhannusaatto - though often observed on a Friday, the actual day can be an arkipyhä), All Saints' Day (Pyhäinpäivä - observed on a Saturday, so not an arkipyhä in the strict sense but a significant holiday), and Finnish Independence Day (Itsenäisyyspäivä). Religious holidays like Easter Monday (Paasiaismaanantai) and Whit Monday (Helluntaimaanantai) are also arkipyhät. The specific days can vary slightly year to year due to how they are calculated or observed.