Why is Good Friday an NYSE Holiday? | Part 2

Yes, there is mail on Good Friday

NYSE

Good Friday is not a bank holiday, a postal service holiday or a federal holiday. We kicked off this series in Part 1 with one explanation for why you can get payday loans on Good Friday but you can’t trade stock. Here are a few more.

Disclaimer

The following theories do not represent the opinions of Personal Money Store or this writer. They are to be used only for entertainment purposes.

Because of the Jews

OK, so Eddy Elfenbein doesn’t exactly say that the stock market is closed because of the Jews. But he does say that it’s a religious observance designed to appease both Christians and Jews:

I remember my branch manager saying that it was some sort of ancient inter-confessional deal to have one Friday off for the Easter/Passover season.

Because of the Christians

Another poster at “It’s Just Money” agrees that it is a Christian tradition, but has a slightly different explanation. “John B says:

Judas sold out Christ for a few pieces of silver on the Friday Christ was crucified. Because of this it is not Christian to do financial transactions on Good Friday.

Because of the landlord

And, just to round things off with a completely different explanation, here’s one from John Forman, author of eBook “The Essentials of Trading”:

The answer actually has to do with the NYSE and the terms of their free (or at least very favorable) use of the property on which it is located. Those terms require the exchange to be closed for the major Christian holidays, of which Good Friday is considered to be one. Simple as that.