Hungarian Parliament considers December 24 as public holiday

The Hungarian Parliament has discussed a proposal to declare December 24 as a public holiday. The initiative, introduced by István Hantosi of the Tisza Party, aims to ensure that Christmas Eve can be celebrated as a major holiday for all citizens.

Under the proposal, most businesses would close, with exceptions granted only to specific sectors including hospitality, catering, flower and confectionery shops, gas stations, and retail outlets located within airports, bus stations, or train stations. Employees in essential services such as healthcare, public administration, and transportation who must work on this day would receive compensation and bonuses in accordance with existing regulations for public holidays.

Social and Family Minister Vilmos Kátai-Németh noted that while similar proposals had been brought before Parliament approximately 15 times in previous government cycles, they were never implemented. He stated that the fiscal impact on the state budget would be negligible, while the positive impact on social welfare would be significant, potentially benefiting over 1.5 million people who previously worked on that day.