What is a bank holiday?
Let’s delve into the history of Bank Holidays and which ones are coming up.
All countries have a public holiday of some sort (especially India who have 21 public holidays!). These are the days we often forget about until they sneak up on us – a nice surprise out of nowhere, like bumping into a friend or relative you haven’t seen in a year.
These are glorious days, where you don’t have to go to work, you get paid (at your employers’ discretion), and if you do work, you get paid extra!
In the UK, we have Bank Holidays. The term “Bank Holiday” can sometimes lead to confusion for new citizens. What does it have to do with banks? Why are these days important?
Here, we are going to uncover the origin of Bank Holidays and of course, remind you of when they are!
Why is it called a Bank Holiday?
The reason it is called a “Bank Holiday” is of course because the banks are closed. If the banks are closed, then many businesses are unable to operate, so they close too. The law makes it acceptable to defer payments until the next working day, without penalty.
When it comes to bank holidays, there’s a lot of history behind how we got here.
Originally, the Bank of England observed around 33 saints’ days and religious festivals as holidays. This changed in 1834, when it was reduced to four (1 May, 1 November, Good Friday & Christmas Day).
In 1871, the German Empire was founded, the first Rugby Union international took place, The Royal Albert Hall was opened, the Crystal Palace of London held the first cat exhibition, and Sir John Lubbock presented us with the Bank Holidays Act. This was an act which introduced holidays with pay. Four designated holidays for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (5 in Scotland) were named the first official bank holidays. The lovely idea came from Lubbock’s mission to ease the pressure on the working class and introduce shorter working hours as well as more holidays. Needless to say, it was met with delight from the masses.
John Lubbock was the son of a banker and himself a banker before he was elected into parliament.
So, what are the Bank Holidays in England?
In England and Wales, we have 8 bank holidays. The number of days we get off work each year is lower than the European average of 10.8 days per year. Only the Netherlands match our unwavering desire to work as much as we possibly can…
These are the dates that are currently set in stone:
England and Wales
– New Year’s Day (1 January)
– Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)
– Easter Monday (Monday after Easter Sunday)
– Early May Bank Holiday (First Monday in May)
– Late Spring Bank Holiday (Last Monday in May)
– Late Summer Bank Holiday (Last Monday in August)
– Christmas Day (25 December)
– Boxing Day (26 December)
Scotland
– New Year’s Day (1 January)
– 2nd January
– Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)
– Early May Bank Holiday (First Monday in May)
– Summer Bank Holiday (First Monday in August)
– St Andrews Day (30 November)
– Christmas Day (25 December)
– Boxing Day (26 December)
Northern Ireland
– New Year’s Day (1 January)
– St Patrick’s Day (17 March)
– Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)
– Easter Monday (Monday after Easter Sunday)
– Early May Bank Holiday (First Monday in May)
– Late Spring Bank Holiday (Last Monday in May)
– The Twelfth (12 July)
– Late Summer Bank Holiday (Last Monday in August)
– Christmas Day (25 December)
– Boxing Day (26 December)
If you’re thinking about taking a trip over the bank holiday weekend, you might be wondering if it’s safe. After all, the UK is one of the most expensive countries on earth, and while the weather can be temperamental at times, there are still plenty of reasons to visit.
Here are a few tips:
-Public transportation is likely to be extremely busy—if you don’t have access to a car, book your train tickets or flights early.
-If you do have access to a car, make sure you check road conditions before setting out on your journey.
-If you’re visiting London, make sure to check out some of our favorite museums! There are so many different options for everyone from toddlers to seniors—and they’re all free!
