The term may also be used to distinguish between days that may be celebrated as secular holidays rather than religious holidays such as the celebration of New Year's Day on January 1 (Gregorian calendar) and January 14 (Julian Calendar) in certain eastern Orthodox Christian countries such as Russia.
[2] In England and Wales, Good Friday and Christmas Day are known as common law holidays, as they have been celebrated by custom since time immemorial.
This co-ordination has costs, such as congestion and overcrowding (in leisure facilities, on transport systems) and benefits (easier for people to arrange social occasions).
[8] Public holidays in Italy are established by the Italian parliament and, with the exception of city or community patronal days, apply nationwide.
If a worker works on a public holiday, they are to be paid 1.5 times their regular rate of pay and be given another alternate day off.
For example, in the United States a federal holiday commemorates explorer Christopher Columbus, who is said to have discovered the Americas by Europeans.
This has also led to protests, with some Australians seeing the date as a symbol of the beginning of European oppression towards the indigenous population.