Reports that Many Argentinian Businesses Will Close from April 2-8

As a follow-up to our post of March 17, we have had reports from clients and contacts in Buenos Aires that, although April 3 and 4 have not been officially declared public holidays, many businesses are closing for the entire Semana Santa (Holy Week, the week before Easter) from April 2-8, 2007, nonetheless.

Analysis: Recall that this year, the Semana Santa is particularly short, as the usual public holidays of Maundy Thursday (April 5) and Good Friday (April 6) are joined by the April 2, Malvinas Day, public holiday. The occurrence of the April 2 public holiday at the beginning of Easter week (Monday to Wednesday), will take place again in 2012, leading to a situation similar to the one of this year, and then, not again until 2042. The April 2 public holiday will, however, coincide with one of the Easter days off (Thursday to Sunday), in 2010, 2015, 2021, 2026, and 2037.