Shops closed for Easter - isn't it long overdue a change?

Forums › Off topic › Shops closed for Easter - isn't it long overdue a change?

1 | ... | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

openmedia

3449 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 878

Trusted

#3479533 9-Apr-2026 15:08

Earbanean:

Probably just me, but personally I find evangelical atheists just as annoying as evangelical Christians, Muslims, etc

I've yet to have an evangelical atheists knock on my door or approach me in the street to try and convert me.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

TwoSeven

1712 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 304

Subscriber

#3479572 9-Apr-2026 19:00

MikeAqua:

Interesting about Passover, I didn't realise it aligns with Easter every year, given one is calculated from the Hebrew lunar calendar and the other from an ecclesiastical full moon in the Gregorian calendar.

I support religious freedom (although I don't see religion as freeing), from a pragmatic standpoint because attempts to curb it end in disorder and violence. But one particular religion doesn't need to be codified in public holidays. The most accurate way to describe the religious disposition of NZ is majority-non-religious, followed closely by pluralist (Source: 2023 census).

With or without public holidays religious people are still free to do religious things on religious days. They would just need to take time off to do so or do their thing before or after work.

My argument for removing holidays in favour of more annual leave is about choice and also demand smoothing (transport, hospitality, traffic etc).

In Israel from memory, it is currently the month of Nisan (the month of redemption) the 7th month of the civil year, but the first month of the ecclesiastical year. It is also the year 5786 - which started on the 1st of Tishri (sep 23rd). The months are lunar months, and the day starts in the evening (dusk to dusk). The next month is Lyar (month of healing).

Freedom in the terms of passover while a religious observance, is also a kind of historical experience. I believe it refers to being slaves in Egypt back in the day and the constraints and denials people had to live under.

After the exodus, people became free of those constraints and denials and could make their own choices on how they might live. Today, one considers all of the constraints one may still have, reflects on all of the different types of freedoms one may have, as well as considering those that may not yet have them.

To me, In the context of removing holidays (remembering the effort of those that went before to get them) it replaces the given freedom to choose what to do with ones own time (the purpose of a stat holiday), with the constraints of having to ask an employer for some of their time (to be granted annual leave), both creating the dependency on the employer, and requiring a choice (what must one give up to have that time) - also if the leave request is denied what then?

In terms of demand smoothing, one may find society is elastic to a degree.

Software Engineer
(the practice of real science, engineering and management)
A.I. (Automation rebranded)
Gender Neutral
(a person who believes in equality and who does not believe in/use stereotypes. Examples such as gender, binary, nonbinary, male/female etc.)

...they/their/them...

cddt

1967 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1904

#3479612 10-Apr-2026 06:03

MikeAqua:

With or without public holidays religious people are still free to do religious things on religious days. They would just need to take time off to do so or do their thing before or after work.

And if all your staff need to take the same day off...?

MikeAqua

8024 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3818

#3479639 10-Apr-2026 08:05

cddt:

And if all your staff need to take the same day off...?

Depending on the type of business ... they can't. Same as happens now for Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus .... and presumably Jedi. If all you employees want to go trout fishing on opening day, ... same thing. Adhering to a religion is a choice, just like a hobby.

Mike

mudguard

2327 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1250

#3479658 10-Apr-2026 09:07

cddt:

MikeAqua:

With or without public holidays religious people are still free to do religious things on religious days. They would just need to take time off to do so or do their thing before or after work.

And if all your staff need to take the same day off...?

The first serious job I had in the finance industry traded seven days a week. Xmas and New Year was a complete nightmare to take off, I think I was there five years before working weekdays and getting a sniff of leave over that period.

roobarb

705 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 656

Trusted

#3479847 10-Apr-2026 12:55

openmedia:

I've yet to have an evangelical atheists knock on my door

Hang on, I'll be right round. I can leave some Richard Dawkins books...

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

openmedia

3449 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 878

Trusted

#3479849 10-Apr-2026 13:06

roobarb:

openmedia:

I've yet to have an evangelical atheists knock on my door

Hang on, I'll be right round. I can leave some Richard Dawkins books...

Great.. I'll pass them on at my regular weekly visit from the Mormons or Jehovah witnesses.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

SaltyNZ

8865 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9545

Trusted

2degrees

Lifetime subscriber

#3479851 10-Apr-2026 13:14

openmedia:

Hang on, I'll be right round. I can leave some Richard Dawkins books...

Great.. I'll pass them on at my regular weekly visit from the Mormons or Jehovah witnesses.

Surely there are more humane methods of torture than a Richard Dawkins book. Are we animals?

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

MikeAqua

8024 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3818

#3479862 10-Apr-2026 14:49

SaltyNZ:

Surely there are more humane methods of torture than a Richard Dawkins book. Are we animals?

I thought The Selfish Gene wasn't a bad read.

Mike

lxsw20

3689 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2174

Subscriber

#3479865 10-Apr-2026 15:12

MikeAqua:

cddt:

And if all your staff need to take the same day off...?

Depending on the type of business ... they can't. Same as happens now for Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus .... and presumably Jedi. If all you employees want to go trout fishing on opening day, ... same thing. Adhering to a religion is a choice, just like a hobby.

Ever been to the likes of B&H Photo in New York? You'll find they are not open after about 2pm on Friday or at all on Saturday to observe Shabbat

cddt

1967 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1904

#3479961 11-Apr-2026 06:49

MikeAqua:

Depending on the type of business ... they can't. Same as happens now for Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus .... and presumably Jedi. If all you employees want to go trout fishing on opening day, ... same thing. Adhering to a religion is a choice, just like a hobby.

Interesting thought. Permission to perform religious observance (or lack thereof) will become a feature of employment negotiations!

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

richms

29099 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10210

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3479989 11-Apr-2026 11:10

cddt:

Interesting thought. Permission to perform religious observance (or lack thereof) will become a feature of employment negotiations!

I know someone that made it a condition of their employment they were able to go to a sporting event that they were quite good at, so not like its not a thing that happens already.

Richard rich.ms

Handle9

11925 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9675

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3479993 11-Apr-2026 11:26

richms:

cddt:

Interesting thought. Permission to perform religious observance (or lack thereof) will become a feature of employment negotiations!

I know someone that made it a condition of their employment they were able to go to a sporting event that they were quite good at, so not like its not a thing that happens already.

It’s fine for people with skills in demand. The difficulty is for people who have no leverage over their employer. They will be told take it or leave it

1 | ... | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8