U.S. senator introduces legislation to make Easter Monday a federal holiday
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Missouri Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt at the CPAC D.C. conference at the Gaylord National Resort in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. / Credit: DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty ImagesWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 14, 2025 / 17:42 pm (CNA).U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, announced that he is introducing new legislation to make Easter a federal holiday so families are able to spend "the holiest day in Christianity" together.In a thread of posts on X, Schmitt explained why the day should be federally recognized, starting with the fact that "81% of Americans celebrate Easter." "But," he continued, "our current holiday schedule makes it way too difficult for families to celebrate together."81% of Americans celebrate Easter.But our current holiday schedule makes it way too difficult for families to celebrate together.Easter falls on the longest unbroken work stretch of the calendar. (March and April are the only back-to-back months without a federal ...
Missouri Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt at the CPAC D.C. conference at the Gaylord National Resort in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. / Credit: DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 14, 2025 / 17:42 pm (CNA).
U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, announced that he is introducing new legislation to make Easter a federal holiday so families are able to spend "the holiest day in Christianity" together.
In a thread of posts on X, Schmitt explained why the day should be federally recognized, starting with the fact that "81% of Americans celebrate Easter."
"But," he continued, "our current holiday schedule makes it way too difficult for families to celebrate together."
The new bill is in the earliest stage of the legislation process but states its intent is "to designate Easter Monday as a legal public holiday," which Schmitt said "isn't a radical idea."
"It's a federal recognition of a tradition that is central to Western civilization — a tradition that's already recognized as a public holiday in nations across (and beyond!) the West, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Western Europe," Schmitt said.
"It isn't even novel in America," Schmitt continued. "We already have a 'National Day of Prayer,' signed into law by Missouri's own President [Harry] Truman. A federal Easter Monday holiday allows Americans to celebrate the most extraordinary day in world history, Easter — the day of Christ's resurrection."
Schmitt said that Easter is not a "micro-holiday" but rather a day that "unites more than three-quarters of Americans."
"For generations, many American school calendars gave students the day off for Good Friday and Easter Monday," he continued.
Schmitt explained that aside from religious elements, the day off would also create a break when "workers and families need it most."
"Easter is a floating holiday, it can fall from March 22 to April 25. The only two-month gap in our federal holiday calendar is April-May. An Easter Monday holiday fills the gap."
Schmitt said federal recognition of the holiday is "Pro-worker. Pro-family. Pro-faith."
"There are plenty of practical arguments for it, too," Schmitt said. "Easter weekend already generates around $15 billion for our economy. Making it a three-day weekend could boost that by an estimated 10%-15%, adding up to $2 billion in economic activity while strengthening American families."
"Our holidays and traditions are part of the story we tell about ourselves. This is not partisan. It's not a 'Republican' or 'Democrat' holiday. It's an American holiday, allowing a fuller celebration of the defining moment of the faith that shaped our nation and civilization," Schmitt said.
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An activist protests on Capitol Hill July 22, 2015 in Washington, DC. Members of the San Carlos Apache Nation and other activists gathered to protest the a section of the National Defense Authorization Act that would turn over parts of Oak Flat that are sacred to the Apache to a foreign copper mining company. / Credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty ImagesCNA Newsroom, May 10, 2025 / 11:45 am (CNA).An effort backed by the U.S. bishops to protect a centuries-old Native American religious site from destruction scored a win in federal court on Friday when a district judge blocked the sale of the location while the matter is considered by the U.S. Supreme Court.U.S. District Judge Steven Logan said in the Friday order that the federal government would be prohibited from selling the Oak Flat site in Arizona while the coalition group Apache Stronghold waits for the Supreme Court to potentially consider its case.The federal government several years ago moved to transfer Oak Flat to ...
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Americans gather in St. Peter's Square on May 8, 2025, to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States. / Credit: Courtney Mares/CNAVatican City, May 9, 2025 / 18:28 pm (CNA).Americans gathered in St. Peter's Square on May 8 to celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from the United States. Born Robert Francis Prevost on Chicago's South Side, the 69-year-old Augustinian friar was chosen by the College of Cardinals after just two days of conclave. While American flags were scarce among the sea of international banners, those present from the U.S. lingered in the square long after the Holy Father appeared out on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time. They shared prayers, chants, and reflections on the unprecedented moment. "Never in a million years did I think that the Holy Spirit would send us a beautiful cardinal from Chicago," said Deacon Steven Marcus, a Maronite Catholic from Florida. "You ...
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At a leper colony in the Kon Tum area in Vietnam in April 2025, Pontifical Missions Society USA President Monsignor Roger Landry celebrated Mass, brought Communion to people, and distributed food and sandals. / Credit: The Pontifical Mission Societies/Margaret MurrayWashington, D.C. Newsroom, May 9, 2025 / 11:47 am (CNA).The American arm of the worldwide Pontifical Mission Societies (TPMS) is celebrating yesterday's election of Pope Leo XIV. "The Pontifical Mission Societies in the USA rejoices in the historic election of the first pontiff from the United States of America, Leo XIV, Chicago native Robert Cardinal Prevost, a missionary at heart who served for many years as a priest and bishop bringing Christ and his Gospel to the people in rural Peru," said Monsignor Roger Landry, the organization's national director since January. "Together with all of our fellow American Catholics and citizens, and with all those served in the 1,124 missionary dioceses an...