Finland to enjoy ten weekdays off in 2025, including Independence Day holiday

In 2025, Finland will enjoy a full complement of ten weekdays off, similar to this year. The only public holiday that falls on a weekend next year is Independence Day, which will be celebrated on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Although there are 11 potential weekdays for public holidays in the Finnish calendar, 1 to 4 of these typically coincide with weekends.

Asko Palviainen, a special planner at the University of Helsinki’s Almanac Office, clarified that in normal years, there can be 7 to 10 weekdays off, and during leap years, between 8 and 10. “Due to the division of our calendar weeks, not all 11 potential public holidays will occur on a weekday in the same year,” Palviainen explained in a statement.

The holidays calculated to potentially fall on weekdays include New Year’s Day, Epiphany, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension Day, May Day, Midsummer Eve, Independence Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and St. Stephen’s Day.

In 2026, there will be nine weekdays off, dropping to eight in 2027, and returning to nine in 2028.

Next year will start with short workweeks, as the first two weeks will feature four-day workweeks. The first weekday off will be New Year’s Day on Wednesday, January 1, followed by Epiphany on Monday, January 6. The subsequent holidays will be celebrated in April, with Good Friday on April 18 and Easter Monday on April 21. May will also feature two holidays: May Day on May 1 and Ascension Day on May 29. Midsummer Eve will be observed on Friday, June 20, which is a public holiday for most. Christmas festivities will take place on Wednesday, December 24, followed by Christmas Day on Thursday and St. Stephen’s Day on Friday.