We Need a New Holiday
If we took a holiday
Took some time to celebrate
Just one day out of life
It would be, it would be so nice
-Madonna
Tomorrow, lots of people will be off work and school for Martin Luther King Day. I'm not one of them, but I don't begrudge them their good fortune. After all, I just had days off for Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Right now, I don't really need a holiday.
But then I look at the calendar and see that we don't have any paid holidays until Memorial Day. That's almost six months. That's a hell of a long time. Students get a spring break, but the working stiffs don't get anything. Unless we're using vacation time, we have nothing to look forward to.
That has to change. I propose that we, the American people, just decide to make up a holiday for this dark period. Here's my idea: we establish "March Madness Days" (or whatever, it doesn't matter what we call it, after all, we're just making this crap up) for mid-March. Many offices basically shut down during the first round of the NCAA basketball tourney anyway, so why even pretend to work anymore? We'll just close 'em up on that Thursday & Friday. Sports fans can relax, gather together and monitor their brackets. Nonfans can help retail sales by using some of this time to shop for a new spring wardrobe. Come Monday, everyone's back in the office refreshed and cheerful. It's a win for everyone.
Well actually, not everyone. I can't imagine any greeting card or gift opportunities around March Madness Days. Maybe we save the dates, but change the name to something that will also help the greeting card & party supply industries. Any ideas?
Posted by at January 16, 2005 10:56 AM
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Comments
| # March 7th, 2005 6:48 PM Converted_Comment | |
what offices are you referring to? I've worked for 4 different companies in the past 15 years, and I don't remember any less work, other than the occasional extra coffee/smoke break in order to catch up on some highlights but I do agree with your idea, Kris.. how about calling it something quasi-minority sounding, in order to prevent the ACLU from boycotting it out of principle.. perhaps Cinco de Marcho? |
| # March 7th, 2005 6:48 PM Converted_Comment | |
Remember "Easter"...? People would be off for "Holy Thursday" and "Good Friday"...? Oh, wait. That's religious. IT'S CHRISTIAN!!! Forget it, I'll just put in another 10-hour day. And give 33% of my earnings to ACLU-loving leftists who hate me for being white. |
| # March 7th, 2005 6:48 PM Converted_Comment | |
Of course Holy Thursday and Good Friday would fit the bill in almost every way. Except, that as ridiculous as "March Madness Days" is, it's still more likely to happen than another federal religious holiday. Unless it could be turned into some "celebrate all religions" days that just "happens" to be on Holy Thursday/Good Friday. Let's see, Jews celebrate Passover right around this time. Hindus celebrate Holi in the spring. Buddhists have O-Higan. Muslims really don't have anything, though. Muharram is too early and Mawlid an-Nabi is usually too late. But this could work. |
| # March 7th, 2005 6:48 PM Converted_Comment | |
The company I work for made up a holiday. They give everyone a floating day off on the founder's birthday to use whenever they would like. |