In the countries of the former Soviet Union, it is customary to move public holidays that fall on weekends. For example, February 23 – in 2016 it is a Tuesday – is a public holiday in Russia. To give people three consecutive days off so they can rest well, Saturday is moved to Monday. In March, Russians will have four consecutive days off: from March 5 to March 8, because the holiday that fell on Sunday, January 3, has been moved to Monday, March 7. Thus, a holiday in Russia never "disappears".
Germans are not so lucky in this regard. If a holiday falls on a weekend, it is not moved anywhere, no additional days off are introduced. For example, this year, May 1 – which is a public holiday in Germany – falls on a Sunday. Workers only get Saturday and Sunday off.
This situation is accepted as a given. A German generally does not understand the logic of Russians: the holiday is on May 1, so it should be celebrated on May 1, and the fact that it fell on a Sunday – well, next year it will fall on a Monday.
Nevertheless, many employees of German companies try to optimize the "unfair" schedule and take long weekends, or, as they are called in Germany, "bridge days" – Brückentage (Brücke – "bridge" and Tage – "days"). Brückentage are working days that fall between weekends and holidays. Accordingly, if you take a day off on such a day, you can stretch your rest time and save vacation days (with a five-day workweek, the minimum number of vacation days in Germany by law is 20).
For example, the Catholic Church celebrates Ascension Day this year on Thursday, May 5. In Germany, this is a public holiday. If you take one day off (Friday, May 6), you can forget about work for four whole days. By acting this way, you can almost double your annual vacation.
Problems in German companies begin when suddenly all employees want to rationalize their work schedule and stretch their weekends. And then each employer decides for themselves what rules to set.
If business allows, the office may not work at all on such days. Brückentage can then be taken either as vacation or the working hours on "bridge days" will be spread over the other days. However, for example, medical staff or those in production will have to negotiate with management and colleagues: everyone cannot rest at the same time.