The Washington times., 1921-10-12
Turkeys Big Holiday List.

Turkeys Big Holiday List.
Turkey has twenty,six major holi.
days, TO say nothing OF minor local
ones. Brazil has twenty-eight of one
kind or another. and each state adds
ono or two or three extra for good
measure.
Egypt has twenty-three big holi-
days, and the natives revel In a great
many more. China also observes
twenty-three national holidays, and
excuses are found in different parts
for additional local celebrations.
Mexico and Italy each has nineteen
holidays, the former also has many
local holidays. Argentina has twenty
one, and Rumania squeezed in no
fewer than two dozen.
In contrast with these, England
has only half dozen national holi-
days, while Scotland really observes
only three general holidays in addi-
tion to a local holiday fixed by each
community 10 suit its own convent
ence.
Including bank holidays. Britain's
total reaches ten. But bank holidays
are little observed by the ordinary
people outside of London Hard
working Denmark gets along with ten
holidays. as does Norway. Switzer-
land officially casts aside work only
seven adys In the year. Sweden has
nine holidays and four half holidays.
Belgium has nine official holi-
days. France INDUCES in fifteen. as
also does Japan, Canada contrives
to get along with nine days off, but
Quebec adds a number of religious
holidays. Germany's stock exchanges
close only eight days every year, but ,
there are quite a number of addi-
tional religious holidays celebrated in
Catholic Germany, making a total of
nineteen altogether.
How About the u. So
How about our own country?
There are no national legal holidays
In the United States, each State fix
ing by law what days shall be legal |
holidays.
The average, taking all States, is
ten every year. but of late years |
increase the number.
Take New York State. Not so |
long ago it had only eight holidays,
but first Lincoln's birthday was |
added dn 1909. and now Columbus |
Day, October IL, has been tagged |
on.
And agitation is growing to add |
two more nationwide holidays, name |
ly, Armistice Day and Roosevelt |
Day. Judging from the present |
temper of the people, the chances
are that these extra days will be |
recognized before very long.
District Heads List.
The District of Columbia heads |
the list with eighteen-eclipsing |
Panama's fifteen and Porto Ricos |
thirteen. Alabama takes fourteen |
days off, and several Southern States
treat themselves to round dozen,
including Florida, Maryland and |
L Louisiana Wisconsin and Oklahoma |
knock off only seven days year.
Iowa, South Dakota and Maine get |
along with eight holidays. Quite "A
number of States take nine days off.
a number ten, and quite few
eleven.
The temptation to lengthen the
list OF public holidays has usually |
proved irresistible when nation
has attained position OF great |
power and wealth and extravaganza.
The ancients INDUCED in no end
Of holidays to celebrate notable
triumphs over enemies, to honor
great heroes or rulers and so forth.
A super-abuhdance. of holidays
usually marked the beginning and
spread of national decadence. Also,
wherever the ecclesiastics gained
religious feasts and fasts
were ordained in bewildering num-
ber.
Apparently the nations that work
hardest vote themselves the fewest
holidays. Peoples who lose ambition
find excuses for introducing an
bundance of holidays.
Are we OF this country entering
on the wrong track I'm injecting
more and more holidays into our
Have you not noticed that public
appeal far more to indif-
ferent and mediocre employees than
ested i'm their work and In making
eadway in the world?
OF course, the be.all and end-all
pf life Is not work or business, but
living. But do n plethora of public
holidays tend to enrich our lives
nd strengthen our characters, or
have they an unsettling influence
IN us? Remember that when our
named few--a very few
public holidays, vacations of one
week to one month for the people
we're totally unknown. Personally Il
7 believe IN vacations. But I doubt
the wisdom Of vieing with Turkey
md China and Egypt In the matter
n finding excuscs for more and