Public Holidays in Greece for 2019
It is imperative to learn more about Greece and the public holidays it celebrates or observes to plan for business arrangements and employee coordination. As a devoted country, the Greeks faithfully celebrate or commemorate public holidays in the Orthodox way.
Celebrating the Religion
Being a birthplace of Western civilisation and democracy, Greece continues to be deeply rooted in religion. This can be seen when they are celebrating their public holidays or National holidays as known by the government of Greece. Modernisation may have made its way into our lives inevitably, but religious traditions are here to stay in Greece. Businesses operating in Greece must take note of these designated public holidays and do as the locals do for ease of business as well as granting time off for employees. Foreign business owners can take time off to unwind in the many beautiful landscapes Greece has to offer.
The following contains the public holidays for Greece in 2019. However, these dates may change according to official announcements.
Dates of the Greece Public Holiday 2019
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 1 January | Tuesday | New Year’s Day |
| 6 January | Sunday | Epiphany |
| 11 March | Monday | Orthodox Ash Monday |
| 25 March | Monday | Independence Day |
| 26 April | Friday | Orthodox Good Friday |
| 28 April | Sunday | Orthodox Easter Sunday |
| 29 April | Monday | Orthodox Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Wednesday | Labour Day |
| 16 June | Sunday | Orthodox Whit Sunday |
| 17 June | Monday | Orthodox Whit Monday |
| 15 August | Thursday | Assumption Day |
| 28 October | Monday | Ochi Day |
| 25 December | Wednesday | Christmas Day |
| 26 December | Thursday | 2nd Day of Christmas |
Click here for more information from https://gr.usembassy.gov original release which U.S Embassy and Consulate in Greece has published.
Only in Greece
According to Greek law, all Sundays throughout the year is a public holiday. In other words, no work should be done on a Sunday. For national holidays that fall on a Sunday, it will not be moved to any other day. Greece also celebrates the change of seasons such as March Equinox, June Solstice, September Equinox and December Solstice. These are merely celebrations and not designated national holidays. Most of the time, employers do grant employees leave with pay for these observances.
More During Holidays
Should the nature of the job requires an employee to work on a public holiday, including a Sunday, an employer must compensate based on a regular salary with an additional 75%. Such a law is only applicable to employees below the managerial levels. For the latter level and essential professional employees, it is up to the provisions of the employment contract and the discretion of the employer.
Doing Business in Greece
As the sun shines brightly in Greece, so are the factors that make Greece an ideal business spot to invest and set up a business. After hosting the Olympics, Greece has improved its infrastructure and enabled investments from every corner of the world. Enterprises and start-ups in Greece are thriving thanks to being an excellent gateway to more than millions of consumers in Europe and the Mediterranean. Entrepreneurs can learn more on business in Greece to make a firm decision before setting up base there.
