PA Lawmaker Proposes Plan To Add Additional State Holiday

HARRISBURG, PA — A Pennsylvania legislator and former gubernatorial nominee is planning to introduce legislation that would add another official state holiday to the calendar.

Sen. Doug Mastriano, an Adams County Republican who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022 against Josh Shapiro, wants Good Friday to be designated as the state's newest holiday.

"This effort is about acknowledging and honoring the deep-rooted Christian beliefs and traditions that shaped Pennsylvania’s moral and cultural fabric—from William Penn’s founding vision," Mastriano said in a memo to colleagues seeking support for the measure.

"Establishing Good Friday as a state holiday will provide families and communities across Pennsylvania with the opportunity to gather, reflect, and worship without conflict with work or school obligations—just as we support and honor observances of other faith traditions."

Good Friday is not a federal holiday, but according to Federal Times it is recognized as a holiday in 12 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana,New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Texas, and Tennessee. In those states, state offices and courts are closed for the day.

Mastriano believes Pennsylvania should join them because approximately 73 percent of Pennsylvanians are Christians, including Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Orthodox Christians and the Amish and Mennonite communities.

"For many, Good Friday is a day of fasting, reflection, worship, and reverence," he stated in the memo. "Recognizing this day as a holiday would reflect our respect for the values and beliefs held by a majority of our Commonwealth’s residents."

Mastriano also noted that Holy Week days are so important to the state that paintings of Jesus' arrest and crucifixion (Good Friday) and resurrection (Easter Sunday) adorn the Senate wall.

Good Friday occurs on April 18 this year.