Four in ten Danes want Great Prayer Day reinstated by new government

The recent poll showing a strong desire among Danes to reinstate Great Prayer Day (Store Bededag) highlights the lingering public discontent over the previous government's decision to abolish it. This move, justified by the need to bolster defense spending in light of the war in Ukraine, proved deeply unpopular, with many feeling blindsided as it wasn't a key election promise.

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We propose abolishing a holiday, and it will most likely be Great Prayer Day.

As reported by Berlingske, the SVM government's rationale for removing the holiday—to increase the labor supply and generate over three billion kroner annually for the state—failed to resonate with the public. The subsequent drop in the government's popularity and the significant public outcry, including a large petition and a demonstration, underscore the cultural and social importance Danes place on this particular holiday.

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I think it is relatively cheap for a country with a war on its own continent to be able to do more of what we need to do for our defense alliance and for the security of Danes by abolishing a holiday. So we do it with a very straight back and with very open eyes.

The desire for its return, even voiced by political parties like SF, suggests that the debate over Great Prayer Day is far from over. From a Danish perspective, this isn't just about an extra day off; it touches upon national identity, tradition, and the perceived fairness of government decisions, especially when justified by external geopolitical events. The public's clear signal in this poll indicates a desire for the new government to address this issue and potentially reverse a decision that many felt was imposed rather than agreed upon.

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Bevar store bededag