2025 Holidays - Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands Public Holiday Observance Rules

1. General Observance

Public holidays in the Faroe Islands are established by national law and published in the official holiday calendar. Holidays are observed on the specific calendar dates indicated in that calendar.

2. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Sunday

- The holiday is observed on that Sunday.

- There is no automatic substitution to the following Monday unless an official decree specifies an exception.

3. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Saturday

- The holiday is observed on that Saturday.

- There is no statutory provision to shift a Saturday holiday to another weekday unless stated in the official calendar.

4. Bridge Holidays (Long Weekends)

- The Faroe Islands do not have a statutory mechanism that automatically creates extra “bridge” days to extend a holiday into a long weekend.

- Any additional days off provided to extend the holiday are determined by specific government initiatives or offered at the discretion of individual employers.

5. Special Cases for Public Holidays

- Some holidays are designated by law to always fall on a particular weekday (for example, Sumardagurinn fyrsti is observed on the first Monday in August).

- Fixed-date holidays (such as New Year’s Day or Christmas Day) are observed on their calendar dates unless an official amendment or decree provides otherwise.

6. Additional Notes

- The official public holiday calendar is published annually by the government of the Faroe Islands and is the definitive guide for observance.

- Employers must follow the official calendar.

- Employees working on a public holiday are entitled to overtime pay or compensatory time off as prescribed by Faroese labor law.

- For the most current and detailed information, always consult the latest official holiday calendar and any recent legislative updates.