Springtime and Early Summer – A Season Full of Days Off

In Denmark, springtime and early summer come with a generous serving of public holidays – especially in May, which proudly holds the championship record for the month with most days off.

Ascension Day (Kristi Himmelfartsdag)

Ascension Day takes place 40 days after Easter and always lands on a Thursday.

Many young Danes celebrate their confirmation (or the more modern “nonfirmation”) on this day – marking the big step from childhood to adulthood. The celebration usually involves a gathering of family and friends, a nice meal, and of course, the traditional envelope with money.

If you’re not attending such festivities, you’ll probably spend the day visiting family, taking a trip, or simply relaxing. And even though the following Friday is technically a regular workday, many workplaces treat it as a “bridging day,” meaning employees often must use a vacation day. A small price for a having a long weekend.

Pentecost Sun Dance – “Se Pinsesolen Danse”

In the 1800s, Copenhageners partied all night in Frederiksberg and stayed out until sunrise, claiming the sun was dancing. Today, the phrase is used more humorously – usually when someone staggers home early Sunday morning after a long Saturday night. Blurry vision can make anything dance.

And in 2026, Aalborg Carnival is the day before Pentecost Sunday – so chances of seeing a “dancing sun” will be especially high.

Great Day of Prayer (Store Bededag)

Denmark used to have an extra public holiday in May, Store Bededag, until it was abolished on January 1st, 2024. However, an important tradition survived: eating warm wheat buns (“varme hveder”) the night before. Many Danes – especially the older generation – keep this custom alive. After all, who gives up an excuse to eat baked goods?

Other Important Days

Two other days in spring are not official holidays but often come with time off depending on agreements.

International Workers’ Day – May 1st

May 1st is not an official holiday, but many Danes get a full or half day off. The day is filled with speeches, union events, music, demonstrations, and usually a generous amount of draft beer – which is practically a tradition in itself.

Constitution Day – June 5th

Many people also have part of the day off here, and most shops keep their doors firmly shut. Constitution Day focuses on democracy, citizenship, and political visions. Party leaders travel around the country delivering tightly scheduled speeches – like a political Eurovision without the glitter.

Finally, we have the two most important days in Denmark to mention – Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday in May (between May 8th and 14th) and is the years busiest day for flower shops in Denmark – Usually prices increase significantly on that day, due to the fact, that many Danes find I required to have a bucket of flowers alongside the gift for the mom.

Father’s Day is on June 5th each year, coinciding with Danish Constitution Day. The fathers typically get beer, wine, chocolate, or tools they simply can’t live without for their DIY projects. And yes, all DIY stores are throwing power tools across the counter like it was a race.

A humorous Danish saying about those two days goes: “Do not forget those days unless you want to be disinherited – especially Mother’s Day.”

Written by: Carsten Christoffersen