Is December 31 a public holiday or a work day?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

New Year in our country is truly a long-awaited holiday. It portends an active long vacation, excellent cuisine, the opportunity to go on a trip for ten days, forgetting about everyday problems. During this period, the whole country lives an almost unreal, even fabulous life. And on the eve of the New Year, Russians are traditionally in the sweet expectation of miracles. Weekends usually start on January 1st and continue through Christmas. But what about December 31, should it be considered a holiday or work day?

Pre-holiday fuss

Preparation for the celebrations usually begins long before the New Year. Many people have been thinking about the various nuances of the holiday since the end of September. In the languid expectation of a significant day, they prepare gifts for relatives and colleagues, trying to impress them with something unusual. Russians buy tickets for Christmas trees for children, plan competitions and quizzes, order Santa Clauses and Snow Maidens so that kids continue to believe in miracles, and adults do not forget that they are still inlives happen, though most often they have to be created by their own hands.

In the last weeks of the outgoing year, everyone is especially interested in the festive table. Hostesses learn new recipes and remember traditional dishes to please family members and guests. Most Russians prefer to stock up on groceries in advance. The final stage of preparation takes place on the eve or on the working day of December 31, which, unfortunately, is not a holiday in Russia. But there is always a reason to congratulate colleagues and colleagues, rejoicing with them on the New Year. However, everyone’s mood is already non-working, so I really want to stay at home on this day and devote myself to pleasant preparations and chores!

Happy coincidences happen

But exceptions, fortunately, happen, and on the last day of the outgoing year, sometimes there is a chance to relax. It all depends on whether December 31 will be a holiday, that is, whether it falls on the calendar in this particular year on Saturday or Sunday. The outgoing 2017 is a clear confirmation of this. It gives the opportunity to prepare for the holiday without fuss and daily hassle for those who work on a schedule five or six days a week. The last day of 2017 is Sunday, so it makes no sense to wonder: "Is December 31 officially a holiday or a work day?". The last month of the old year gave the workers ten days off. Exactly the same number of Russians have to rest in a row on New Year's holidays. And only January 9 will be the first working day expected fromlooking forward to 2018.

When will this happen again?

Whether December 31 is a holiday or a workday, the calendar can tell. The next time Sunday this day will be only in 2023, and in the previous 2022 the last day will be Saturday, which may also be a pleasant surprise for most. Further, on Sunday, the eve of the New Year will become only in 2028. The specified year will turn out to be a leap year, for this reason there will be a shift, because the previous 2027 will end on Friday. On Saturday, this day after 2022 will not fall soon. Such a coincidence will happen only in 2033, and in the next 2034 the last day will again be Sunday.

Who works on the night of miracles?

It is clear that many professions are so important and irreplaceable that their representatives simply will not be able to suspend their activities, so a holiday or a working day on December 31 is not important for them. They are always at their post. These heroes of labor include, first of all, doctors, policemen, security guards and rescuers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. They will have to ensure peace and protect the he alth of people on the eve of the holiday and New Year's Eve. The same applies to drivers of vehicles and catering workers, as well as employees of enterprises and institutions who do not have the opportunity to suspend their activities. And, of course, store sellers will work, whose revenue on December 31 on a holiday or working day, as you know, is unchangedfantastically high.

Labor code on holidays

Weekend work is prohibited and should only be done in exceptional cases. This provision is enshrined in the Labor Code. In addition, coming to work on weekends and holidays is possible only with the consent of the employee or in situations where the further work of the company really depends on it, that is, in force majeure and emergency circumstances.

In this regard, whether according to the law December 31 is a holiday or a working day, it is considered a matter of principle, because an employee deprived of rest on this day has every right to count on compensation. It can be provided in the form of an additional day off. But in this situation, the employee loses the chance for additional pay. Otherwise, the employee is en titled to monetary compensation. Thus, whether December 31 turns out to be a holiday or a work day, this fact is of decisive importance for payroll, since work on a day off must be paid double.

From the history of the holiday

Until 1700, the New Year in Russia was not celebrated at all in January. The celebration took place in March. And only with the onset of spring and the arrival of heat, the countdown of the first day in the coming year was started.

This situation changed only with the accession to the throne of Peter I. And our favorite holiday began to be celebrated, as now, on January 1st. True, the celebrations were held according to the Julian calendar, or, as it is now customary to express it, according to the oldstyle. Therefore, in 1700, the holiday came 10 days later than in Europe, because the Russian calendar was so late in those days compared to the Gregorian one. This chronology was introduced in our country only after the revolution (in 1918) by decree of the new government. Modern Russians owe this event to another widely celebrated and traditional holiday called "Old New Year", which comes 13 days later, but is no longer considered a day off.

Celebration of the New Year for the last 100 years

From 1929 to 1935 In Russia, it was not customary to celebrate New Year's dates at all. Moreover, the holiday was among the banned ones, as many associated it with Orthodox Christmas. But soon the prohibitions were over, and the brightly decorated New Year tree again became the favorite entertainment of the children. Was December 31 a holiday or work day? In those days, not only the eve of the holiday, but also January 1 were considered the most ordinary days, which were officially declared days off only in 1947. But January 2 was considered a working day. This situation changed only in 1992.

Since then, the number of holidays (winter holidays, as they are now called) has increased significantly. Since 2005, the New Year festivities have been extended until January 5, and taking into account the Christmas celebrations, they were 10 days long. True, in 2013 the holidays slightly decreased and now they usually continue until January 8.