When, in the late 1960s, the standard working week in Finland was reduced to 40 hours by an act of Parliament, it also meant that all Saturdays became a sort of de facto public holidays, though not official ones.
Several Christian holidays traditionally falling on working days or on fixed dates have been moved to Saturdays and Sundays.
They hold this de facto status partly due to some statements in legislation but also because most employment contracts provides for these days as full holidays.
A number of the less important main holidays are also preceded by de facto half days, meaning that in some (but not all) offices working hours are then shorter than normally.
Some minor observances are also denoted in the Finnish calendar, though they have not been judged worthy of either holiday or flag flying day status.