Great Prayer Day could return as a public holiday in Denmark in 2030, but a debate has emerged over whether it should keep its traditional spring date or move to autumn.
Several bishops in the Church of Denmark (Folkekirken) are open to moving the holiday, according to DR. Most are willing to reconsider its place in the calendar, although some want it to remain where it has traditionally fallen.
Why Great Prayer Day might move to autumn
The holiday, known in Danish as Store bededag, was traditionally observed on the fourth Friday after Easter. Henrik Stubkjær, the bishop of Viborg, told DR that it had become closely associated with confirmation ceremonies. While he sees value in that tradition, he believes it has sometimes drawn attention away from the day’s religious meaning.
“It is a good idea to restore this prayer day in its own right, so we can really focus on reflection.”
Stubkjær believes that moving it to autumn would help make room for prayer and reflection. The proposal also raises a practical question about how Denmark’s public holidays are distributed through the year, with several falling in spring.
In interviews in Holstebro, some residents told DR they would welcome an autumn day off, while others preferred to preserve the familiar spring date. Those views illustrate the disagreement, rather than establishing a wider public consensus.
A centuries-old tradition, and a return still to be approved
Great Prayer Day was introduced in 1686 as a day devoted to prayer, repentance and fasting. Over time, it also became associated with eating warm wheat buns, known as varme hveder, on the evening before the holiday.
Parliament abolished its status as a public holiday in 2023, with the change taking effect in 2024. The government at the time said that increasing the number of working days would help support public finances and higher defence spending.
The current government’s coalition programme proposes restoring the holiday in 2030, provided that additional employment growth offsets the effect of its removal. Legislation is planned for 2027, but the restoration has not yet been approved by Parliament.
Church representatives are expected to take part in the process. For now, it remains unclear whether the restored holiday would fall in spring as before or be given a new place in the autumn calendar.
