Pennsylvania Senator looks to designate Christian holy day as holiday

PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A Pennsylvania Senator announced plans to introduce legislation that would bring a new holiday to the Commonwealth.

The legislation, authored by Senator Doug Mastriano, would designate Good Friday, which falls on April 18 this year, as a state holiday. Mastriano argued that it is time for Pennsylvania to “align” itself with other states such as New Jersey, Delaware, North Carolina, Kentucky and Texas which have already taken the steps to “honor and preserve our religion and cultural heritage.”

The legislation argues that recognizing Good Friday would:

• Honor the faith of millions of Pennsylvanians, reflecting the deep spiritual and historical importance of this day in Christian communities across our Commonwealth
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• Support family and community life, by giving people the opportunity to gather for reflection, worship, and observance without conflict with school or work obligations
• Promote cultural literacy and understanding, especially for younger generations, by officially acknowledging a holiday that has been part of the global Christian tradition for over 2,000 years
• Encourage values such as compassion, sacrifice, humility, and hope, which are universally meaningful and align with the moral foundation of many civic and religious traditions
• Uphold the legacy of religious freedom and respect, a cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s identity since its founding by William Penn
• Bring consistency to school and government observances, as many institutions already close or operate on limited schedules on Good Friday—this legislation would simply formalize an already common practice

“By designating Good Friday as an official state holiday, we reaffirm our commitment to honoring the beliefs of our citizens and preserving the values that have guided Pennsylvania for generations,” Mastriano wrote.

Good Friday is observed as the day when Jesus Christ was arrested at the Garden of Gethsemane and crucified on Golgotha in Jerusalem in the Christian faith. Mastriano noted in his bill that Good Friday “is more than a historic event —it represents the foundation of their faith, symbolizing the greatest act of sacrifice and the path to spiritual redemption and salvation.”

The legislation notes that 73% of Pennsylvania are Christians, however, it is important to add that the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan American think tank based in Washington D.C., puts that number closer to around 62%.