Poll Shows 56% of Danes Want Store Bededag Back

Frederikke Høye

February 13, 2026
9:00 am

A new poll shows 56 percent of Danes want the abolished Store Bededag public holiday reinstated, intensifying political pressure on government parties ahead of a 2026 election. The Social Democrats have opened the door to reconsidering the controversial decision, while opposition parties are preparing to campaign on bringing back the traditional day off.

Public Opinion Shifts Political Calculus

The debate over Store Bededag continues to roil Danish politics more than two years after the government eliminated the centuries old holiday. A Megafon poll conducted February 11 to 12, 2026, reveals that the majority of Danes support reinstating the day off, even if it reduces labor supply and government revenue.

The survey presented respondents with a statement acknowledging the economic tradeoffs of restoration. Despite this framing, 56 percent agreed it was a good idea to bring back the holiday. Only 26 percent disagreed, while 15 percent remained neutral.

Timing Amplifies the Debate

The polling comes as Denmark approaches what would have been Store Bededag on Friday, May 1, 2026. The date falls strategically before the weekend, making the absence of the traditional day off particularly noticeable to workers planning spring breaks.

The government abolished Store Bededag as a public holiday in 2024, though the decision was made by the coalition of Social Democrats, Venstre, and Moderates shortly after the 2022 election. The move aimed to increase work hours and generate billions of kroner for stronger defence strategy amid rising security concerns.

Political Parties Position for Election

Multiple opposition parties across the political spectrum now plan to campaign on restoring the holiday. The Socialist People’s Party recently declared reinstatement should be the first priority after the election if a red bloc government takes power.

SF leader Pia Olsen Dyhr told TV 2 on Wednesday that the holiday was taken away like a thief in the night. She argued that Danes who have fought for more leisure time throughout their lives deserve to have that balance protected by a red government.

Government Coalition Faces Internal Tensions

The governing parties initially defended the abolition but are now showing signs of flexibility as public opposition persists. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s government made the decision knowing it would be unpopular, citing economic necessity at the time.

Social Democrats Open Door to Compromise

Christian Rabjerg Madsen, the Social Democratic political spokesperson, indicated his party will not rule out reinstatement before the election. However, he emphasized that any restoration must be properly financed alongside other priorities like welfare improvements, pension reform, and defense spending.

The spokesperson acknowledged the poll results were unsurprising. He noted the decision was made with open eyes during a period when Denmark’s economy faced dark clouds and required difficult political choices.

Moderates Reverse Initial Rejection

The Moderates initially rejected any possibility of bringing back the holiday through political spokesperson Mohammad Rona. However, the party corrected itself Wednesday and opened a narrow door to reconsidering the issue, reflecting the political pressure building from public opinion.

Venstre’s employment spokesperson Kim Valentin maintained opposition to reinstatement. He warned that while getting Store Bededag back sounds pleasant, it would harm the economy by reducing the workforce by approximately 8,000 workers and decreasing business production.

Historical and Cultural Context

Store Bededag has deep roots in Danish religious tradition, dating back to 1686 when it became a nationwide observance. Bishop Hans Bagger originally established the day in Sjællands Stift, combining fasting and prayer traditions that eventually spread throughout the kingdom.

Echoes of Earlier Reforms

The 2024 abolition parallels earlier productivity driven reforms. In 1770, Denmark cut 10 of its 22 public holidays to increase work output, prioritizing useful activity over rest. The current government similarly justified the change as necessary for economic strength and national security.

The decision specifically targeted Store Bededag to fund increased defense expenditures outlined in the 2024 government platform. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine heightened security concerns across Europe, prompting Denmark to boost military spending contributions.

Religious and Secular Perspectives

Religious leaders criticized losing a day of spiritual rest at a time when many Danes seek calm amid modern pressures. Bishop Marianne Gaarden of Lolland-Falster joined unions in opposing the change, calling it the wrong path for Danish society.

Meanwhile, the Ateistisk Selskab’s Anders Stjernholm viewed the abolition as a small step toward secular equality. He argued it allows personal choice about free days rather than state imposed religious observance, despite Denmark remaining officially a Christian country.

Economic Arguments Under Scrutiny

The government originally presented the abolition as essential for generating state revenue and expanding the available workforce. The policy aimed to boost GDP through additional workdays while funding critical defense improvements.

Financing Debate Complicates Politics

The Social Democrats now face criticism for demanding that opposition proposals be fully financed while their own major campaign promise, the Lilleskole initiative for smaller class sizes, lacks specified funding. This inconsistency has drawn accusations of hypocrisy from political opponents.

Christian Rabjerg Madsen defended his party’s position by stating they will provide financing before the election. He argued there is no contradiction in requiring both their own proposals and opposition ideas to show how costs will be covered.

Current Holiday Structure

Denmark now maintains 12 official public holidays in 2026 after Store Bededag’s removal. These include religious observances like Easter and Christmas along with Constitution Day on June 5. However, actual days off vary by employment contracts in different sectors and regions.

Some employers continue to grant Store Bededag voluntarily despite its loss of official status. This patchwork approach creates inequality between workers whose companies maintain the tradition and those required to work. The situation underscores ongoing tensions between economic priorities and work life balance in Denmark.

Election Stakes Rise

Political analyst Hans Redder noted the poll clearly explains why the Social Democrats opened the door to reconsidering Store Bededag shortly before the campaign begins. The abolition remains unpopular even among the party’s own voter base more than three years later.

Strategic Calculations Shift

With multiple parties supporting reinstatement and polls showing potential majority support, refusing to reconsider would constitute political self harm for government parties. The issue could become a defining campaign flashpoint if opposition parties successfully mobilize voters around it.

Nevertheless, Redder cautioned that the polling numbers are not as decisive as debate sometimes suggests. Around 40 percent of respondents did not express support for bringing back the holiday, indicating continued division among the public.

Broader Policy Implications

The Store Bededag controversy illustrates fundamental tensions in Danish political economy. Balancing cultural traditions, worker welfare, fiscal responsibility, and security needs requires difficult tradeoffs that rarely satisfy all constituencies.

As the 2026 election approaches, voters will ultimately decide whether the government’s original economic rationale still justifies the loss of a centuries old tradition. The outcome may reshape not only holiday policy but broader debates about Denmark’s priorities in an uncertain geopolitical environment.