For many of us, the weekend is synonymous with freedom. But Saturday and Sunday have never been truly the same, neither in history nor in everyday life.
Saturday originated as a day of rest in Jewish tradition, while Sunday became a Christian holiday. With industrialization, however, collective rest was challenged: shifts, factories, and commerce paved the way for “after-hours” work.
Today, in Italy, nearly a third of people (30.9%) regularly work weekends, especially in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, tourism, and the restaurant industry. In Europe, more than half of workers work at least one Saturday per month, and approximately 30% work at least one Sunday.
Not everyone experiences Saturday and Sunday the same way:
- According to ISTAT surveys, women have an average of one hour less free time per day than men. Even on weekends, their time is often taken up by family care and chores.
- Younger people, often employed in services and hospitality, work precisely when others are resting, turning the weekend into an opportunity for earning money rather than for leisure.
- Those over 60, on the other hand, maintain Sunday as a symbolic day of family and slowness, between lavishly laid tables and walks.
Social perceptions remain (still) distinct: active Saturday, slow Sunday.
Saturday is seen as a day of active leisure—shopping, events, meeting friends.
Sunday remains a day for family and rest, even though the liberalization of business opening hours (Legislative Decree 201/2011) has increasingly transformed this day into an occasion for shopping and going out.
For a hotel like the AbanoRitz, which welcomes those seeking health, wellness, and regeneration, these differences are precious. While the traditional flagship remains the long, slow-stay vacation, interpreting the different ways Italians spend Saturday and Sunday becomes not just a social analysis but an opportunity to transform the complexity of the hit-and-run weekend into a competitive advantage for those choosing a two-night spa weekend: ancient roots and modern habits in the AbanoRitz spa.
