It’s been long noticed that they have more holidays than most other countries (and it’s not that they work longer hours the rest of the year; from what I’ve heard from people who’ve lived there, they’re like the Swiss – if you go to a German shop just as they’re closing, they’ll tell you to come back tomorrow, not interested in making one more sale for the day), yet they manage to have not only a first-world economy, but remain constantly in the top tier (they’re always there at a G7 or G8 or G20 conference or whatever it is these days).
I am a Calvinist, but that notwithstanding, I sure as hell see no point in glorifying the ‘Protestant work ethic‘ (or ‘Calvinist work ethic’ or ‘Puritan work ethic’, as it’s variously known), if a country / culture that doesn’t subscribe to it can nevertheless be successful; what’s the point of having less holidays, being overworked, if you can still be competitive with more holidays and a more laid-back attitude in general? I can’t find any online examples at the moment, but from what I have read of Chesterton, one of my favourite Catholic writers, he pooh-poohed the Protestant work ethic, and delighted in people not taking work too too seriously; you do what you have to, but don’t overdo it, and take time to enjoy the company of your co-workers, etc. Hey, why not? And why not have more days off, if it’ll recharge your batteries and make you more productive when you’re on the job? Makes sense to me.
Ditto the practice in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries of ‘siesta‘ (also done in a few southern regions of France, I understand, called ‘sieste‘ there, of course); why not, when it’s the hottest time of day outside, take a break, and come back after a nap? (Not to mention the best way to deal with postprandial narcosis, which regardless of climate, afflicts many around 2:00 pm or so.) Also makes sense to me!
Work is a good thing, certainly. But it’s not the end-all, be-all, of existence. We work to live, certainly; but we shouldn’t live to work. Hard work is a result of the Fall, remember; we shall rest from our labours permanently in the life of the world to come, same as we do on Sundays, and when we retire…
I say, good on the Germans, for their many holidays AND successful economic performance in spite of such. Deutschland über alles!