National days offer a study into the inner psyche of Europeans
Happy Europe Day!
Want to get anything done in Europe? Avoid May. The month kicks off with Workers’ Day, which is celebrated by not working. The end of the second world war on the continent (May 8th) warrants another day off in some places. The Christian festivals of Orthodox Easter, Ascension and Pentecost result in yet more long weekends. All this time off can have a paradoxical effect. Reportedly, the French government had planned a big conference this week on promoting the four-day work week—but then realised Wednesday and Thursday were jours fériés, days off which most people supplement with a pont (bridge) on Friday. The confab was postponed. Only in Europe would it be a struggle to get people to attend a meeting on working less.
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This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Celebration nations”
Europe May 11th 2024
- Ukraine’s defenders anxiously dig in for a looming Russian assault
- Dealers are selling war trophies to buy weapons for Ukraine
- Protests against a Russian-style law threaten Georgia’s government
- Romania’s hard right looks strong in a year of four elections
- Why Eurovision won’t boot out Israel
- National days offer a study into the inner psyche of Europeans
From the May 11th 2024 edition
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Marine Le Pen spooks the bond markets
She threatens to bring down the French government, but also faces a possible ban from politics
The maths of Europe’s military black hole
It needs to spend to defend, but voters may balk
Ukraine’s warriors brace for a Kremlin surge in the south
Vladimir Putin’s war machine is pushing harder and crushing Ukrainian morale
Vladimir Putin fires a new missile to amplify his nuclear threats
The attack on Ukraine is part of a new era of missile warfare
A rise in antisemitism puts Europe’s liberal values to the test
The return of Europe’s oldest scourge
Once dominant, Germany is now desperate
As an election looms its business model is breaking down