Public holidays in Norway, 1998

How Norway public holidays work in 1998

Norway has ten statutory public holidays under the Lov om helligdager og helligdagsfred of 1995. The list is fully Lutheran by historical inheritance: New Year's Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Ascension, Whit Sunday, Whit Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Labour Day on 1 May and Constitution Day on 17 May are not strictly helligdager but offentlige høytidsdager (public solemn days) under a separate 1947 statute and are nonetheless paid days off across the economy. Constitution Day commemorates the 1814 Eidsvoll constitution and is the most visibly celebrated day, with children's parades nationwide.

Working days in Norway

Norwegian working time under the Arbeidsmiljøloven sets a 40-hour standard week, reduced to 37.5 by collective agreement across most of the labour market. The standard private-sector week is Monday to Friday with banks operating Monday to Friday. The Tvisteloven and Domstolloven roll procedural deadlines falling on a Saturday, Sunday or helligdag to the next working day. Settlement of Norwegian krone transactions runs on Norges Bank's NBO settlement system, which observes the statutory ten-day list plus 1 May and 17 May, plus Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from noon as half days under banking sector practice.