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Public holidays in the United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, public holidays are days on which most businesses and non-essential services are closed. Many retail businesses (especially the larger ones) do open on some of the public holidays. There are restrictions on trading on Sundays, Easter Day and Christmas Day in England and Wales and on New Year's Day and Christmas Day in Scotland. Public holidays defined by statute are called bank holidays, but this term can also be used to include common law holidays, which are held by convention. The term "public holidays" can refer exclusively to common law holidays.[1]

There is no automatic right to time off on these days,[2] but banks close and the majority of the working population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days, depending on their contracts.

There are eight bank holidays a year in England and Wales, nine in Scotland and ten in Northern Ireland. Additional days have been allocated for special events, such as royal weddings and jubilees. There are seven bank holidays common to all jurisdictions: New Year's Day, Good Friday, the early May bank holiday, the Spring bank holiday, the Summer bank holiday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not in Scotland. In Northern Ireland, St Patrick's Day and Orangemen's Day are also bank holidays. In Scotland, 2 January and St Andrew's Day are bank holidays. The Summer bank holiday varies according to jurisdiction: in Scotland, it is on the first Monday in August, and in the rest of the United Kingdom, it is on the last Monday in August.

History edit

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Good Friday and Christmas Day are common law holidays, having been customary holidays since time immemorial.[3]

The first official bank holidays were named in the Bank Holidays Act 1871, introduced by Liberal politician and banker Sir John Lubbock.[3] Under the Act, "no person was compelled to make any payment or to do any act upon a bank holiday which he would not be compelled to do or make on Christmas Day or Good Friday, and the making of a payment or the doing of an act on the following day was equivalent to doing it on the holiday".[4] People were so grateful that some called the first bank holidays St Lubbock's Days for a while.[5]

England, Wales and Ireland
Bank holidays 1875
Easter Monday
Whit Monday
First Monday in August
26 December (or 27th if 26th is a Sunday)
Scotland
Bank holidays 1871
New Year's Day
Good Friday
First Monday in May
First Monday in August
Christmas Day

The Act did not include Good Friday and Christmas Day as bank holidays in England, Wales, or Ireland because they were already recognised as common law holidays.[3]

In 1903, the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act added 17 March, Saint Patrick's Day, as a bank holiday in Ireland only.[6] New Year's Day did not become a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland until 1 January 1974. Boxing Day did not become a bank holiday in Scotland until 1974.[7]

Starting in 1965, experimentally, the August Bank Holiday weekend was observed at the end of August "to give a lead in extending British holidays over a longer summer period".[8] Each year's date was announced in Parliament on an ad hoc basis, to the despair of the calendar and diary publishing trade.[9] The rule seems to have been to select the weekend of the last Saturday in August, so that in 1968[10] and 1969[11] Bank Holiday Monday actually fell in September.

Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971
Act of Parliament
 
Long titleAn Act to make new provision in place of the Bank Holidays Act 1871, to confer power to suspend financial and other dealings on bank holidays or other days, and to amend the law relating to bills of exchange and promissory notes with reference to the maturity of bills and notes and other matters affected by the closing of banks on Saturdays, and for purposes connected therewith.
Citation1971 c. 80
Dates
Royal assent16 December 1971
Other legislation
Repeals/revokes
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

A century after the 1871 Act, the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, which currently regulates bank holidays in the UK, was passed.[12] The majority of the current bank holidays were specified in the 1971 Act: however New Year's Day and May Day were not introduced throughout the whole of the UK until 1974 and 1978 respectively.[13] The date of the August bank holiday was changed from the first Monday in August to the last Monday in August in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (but not in Scotland), and the Whitsun bank holiday (Whit Monday) was replaced by the Late Spring Bank Holiday, fixed as the last Monday in May.[14] From 1978, the final Monday of May in Scotland (a statutory holiday in the rest of the UK) and the first Monday in May in the rest of the UK (a statutory holiday in Scotland) have been proclaimed as bank holidays.[15]

In January 2007, the St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007 was given royal assent, making 30 November (or the following Monday if 30 November falls on a weekend) a bank holiday in Scotland.[16]

Future edit

There are calls for extra public holidays on the patron saints' days in England (for St. George's Day), and Wales (for St. David's Day). For example, in 2018 the Labour Party announced it would make those days bank holidays if elected.[17] The same year, an online petition to the Prime Minister as to Wales received 3,577 signatures.[18]

In 2009, it was reported that St Piran's Day (patron saint of Cornwall) on 5 March is already given as an unofficial day off to many government and other workers in the county.[19][20] It is suggested that a move from the May bank holiday to a St Piran's Day bank holiday in Cornwall would benefit the Cornish economy by £20–35 million.[21]

The number of holidays in the UK is relatively small compared to many other European countries. However, direct comparison is inaccurate since the 'substitute day' scheme of deferment does not apply in most European countries, where holidays that coincide with a weekend (29% of fixed-date holidays) are "lost".[citation needed] In fact, the average number of non-weekend holidays in such countries is only marginally higher (and in some cases lower) than the UK.[citation needed] Worth mentioning is that public holidays in Europe which fall on Thursday or Tuesday typically become "puente" or "bridge" four-day or even six-day extended holiday weekends as people tend to use one or two days from their holiday entitlement to take off Monday and/or Friday.[citation needed]

After the election of the coalition government in May 2010, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport launched a pre-consultation in 2011 which included the suggestion of moving the May Day Bank Holiday to October, to be a "UK Day" or "Trafalgar Day" (21 October) or to St David's Day and St  George's Day.[22]

Legal basis edit

Bank holidays are established in several ways:

  • by statute (statutory holidays) – Holidays specifically listed in the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.[23]
  • by royal proclamation – Under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, bank holidays are proclaimed each year by the legal device of a royal proclamation.
  • by convention (common law holidays) - Holidays established in common law (not applicable in Scotland)

Royal proclamation is also used to move bank holidays that would otherwise fall on a weekend and to create extra one-off bank holidays for special occasions.[24] The Act does not provide for a bank holiday to be suppressed by royal proclamation without appointing another day in its place.[25] In this way, public holidays are not "lost" in years when they coincide with weekends. These deferred bank holiday days are termed a "bank holiday in lieu" of the typical anniversary date. In the legislation they are known as "substitute days". The movement of the St Andrew's Day Scottish holiday to the nearest Monday when 30 November is a weekend day is statutory and does not require a proclamation.[26] Bank holidays falling on a weekend are always moved to a later date, not an earlier one.[27][28][29]

Workers' rights edit

Although there is no statutory right for workers to take paid leave on bank holidays, where paid leave is given (either because the business is closed or for other reasons), the bank holiday can count towards the minimum statutory holiday entitlement. Likewise, if people are required to work on a bank holiday, there is no statutory right to an enhanced pay rate nor to a day off in lieu, although many employers do give either or both. Any rights in this respect depend on the person's contract of employment.[30] The statutory minimum paid holidays is 28 days (or 5.6 weeks) a year under the Working Time Regulations 1998 (including any bank holidays or public holidays that are taken).[31]

Dates in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales edit

Date Occasion Type Notes Region
England and Wales Northern Ireland
1/2/3 January New Year's Day Proclaimed Falls on 1 January unless this is a Saturday or Sunday.[27][28][29] 1 January was not a statutory holiday before 1974. In a year in which it does not occur on 1 January, it can be referred to (as for all such dates in lieu) in various ways, such as "Monday bank holiday instead of New Year's Day". In many British diary series, it may be marked "New Year's Day holiday" with or without "(in lieu)" afterwards. Falls on 2 January in 2023.    
17/18/19 March St. Patrick's Day Statutory or proclaimed Northern Ireland only. 17 March by statute if this is not a Sunday. 18 March by statute if this is a Monday. 19 March by proclamation if this is a Monday. Falls on 17 March in 2023.    
Variable Good Friday Common law[27][28][29] Falls on 7 April in 2023.    
Variable Easter Monday Statutory Statutory bank holiday from 1871, defined by name.[32] Falls on 10 April in 2023.    
First Monday in May Early May bank holiday Proclaimed From 1978, by Royal Proclamation.[27][28][29] Falls on 1 May in 2023.    
Last Monday in May Spring Bank Holiday Statutory Statutory bank holiday from 1971,[32] following a trial period from 1965 to 1971. Replaced Whit Monday, 50 days after Easter Day, which had been a public holiday since 1871. Most schools fix a minimum of a week's break to coincide, giving the alternative name.[32][33][34] The legislation does not specify a name for the holiday, merely when it occurs. It normally falls on the last Monday in May, but in 2002, 2012 and 2022 it was moved a few days into June and was followed by an extra bank holiday, in order to create a four-day jubilee weekend in celebration of Elizabeth II's 50, 60 and 70 years of reign. Falls on 29 May in 2023.    
12/13/14 July Battle of the Boyne (Orangeman's Day)[35] Proclaimed Northern Ireland only. Falls on 12 July unless this is a Saturday or Sunday. Falls on 12 July in 2023.    
Last Monday in August Summer Bank Holiday Statutory Statutory bank holiday from 1971,[32] following a trial period from 1965 to 1971. Replaced the first Monday in August (formerly commonly known as "Summer Bank Holiday") which had been in use from 1871.[29][32] The legislation does not specify a name for the holiday, merely when it occurs. Falls on 28 August in 2023.    
25 December Christmas Day Common law[27][28][29]    
26 December/None Boxing Day Statutory Statutory bank holiday from 1871. Legislation does not name the holiday, but states that it falls on "26th December, if it be not a Sunday."[32] Public Holiday in 2023.    
27 December/None Not named Statutory Only in a year in which 25 December is either on a Saturday or Sunday.[32] This has the effect of adding an extra holiday when 25 December falls on a Sunday.    
28 December/None Not named Proclaimed This is an extra holiday added when either 25 or 26 December falls on a Saturday.    
Total holidays 10 12

Changes edit

 
In 1995 the early May bank holiday was moved to 8 May for the 50th anniversary of VE Day
  • In 1968 and 1969 the new "August" bank holiday fell in September. This was as a result of the decision to move the holiday to the end of the month, and the nearest Monday being taken. The current definition was introduced in 1971.
  • In 1995 the early May bank holiday was moved to Monday 8 May to commemorate the 50th anniversary of VE Day.[36]
  • In 2002, there was a special holiday on Monday 3 June to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The Spring Bank Holiday was moved from 27 May to 4 June to create a four-day weekend.[37]
  • In 2012, there was a special holiday on Tuesday 5 June to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The Spring Bank Holiday moved to Monday 4 June to create a four-day weekend.[38]
  • In 2020, the early May bank holiday originally set for Monday 4 May was moved to Friday 8 May to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day.[39][40]
  • In 2022, there was a special holiday on Friday 3 June to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The Spring Bank Holiday was moved to Thursday 2 June to create a four-day weekend.[41]

Dates in Scotland edit

National bank holidays edit

Date Occasion Type Notes
1/2/4 January New Year's Day Statutory or proclaimed 1 January by statute when this is not a Saturday or Sunday. 2 January by statute when this is a Monday. 4 January by proclamation when this is a Tuesday.
2/3/4 January New Year Holiday Statutory or proclaimed 2 January by statute when this is not a Saturday or Sunday. 3 January by statute when this a Monday, or by proclamation when this is a Tuesday. 4 January by proclamation when this is a Monday.
Variable Good Friday Statutory
First Monday in May Early May bank holiday Statutory
Last Monday in May Spring bank holiday Proclaimed
First Monday in August Summer bank holiday Statutory The Summer bank holiday remains on its original date in Scotland. Falls on 7 August in 2023.
30 November St. Andrew's Day Statutory Unlike other bank holidays it must be taken by workers in lieu of another bank holiday.[42]
25 December Christmas Day Statutory The observance of Christmas Day was abolished by an Act of Parliament in 1640.[43][44][45] It was included in the schedule to the Bank Holidays Act 1871.[46]
26/27/28 December Boxing Day Proclaimed Boxing Day (26 December) became a public holiday in Scotland in 1974. See also Christmas in Scotland.

[47]

Local holidays edit

Local holidays are determined by local authorities across Scotland. Some of these may be taken in lieu of statutory holidays while others may be additional holidays, although many companies, including Royal Mail, do not follow all the holidays listed below, and many swap between English and local holidays.

Since Easter 1996 the Scottish clearing banks have harmonised the days on which they are closed with those in England and Wales and are therefore closed on Easter Monday and the last Monday in August (rather than the first). This has resulted in a number of local authorities creating a public holiday on Easter Monday. Previously Easter Monday had not been a public holiday in Scotland.

There have been protests about banks opening on 2 January since this decision was taken.[citation needed] This has resulted in many banks now providing only a limited service on 2 January, with most members of staff still entitled to the holiday.

Date Name Major towns/cities (not an exhaustive list)
1 January New Year's Day all
2 January 2nd January
Wednesday after last Tuesday in January Day after Up Helly Aa fire festival Shetland
First Monday in February Winter Holiday Inverness
First Monday in March Inverness
Last Monday in March Lochaber
Easter holiday (variable) Good Friday Ayr, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Inverclyde, Kilmarnock, Paisley, Stirling, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire
Easter Monday Ayr, Edinburgh, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Kilmarnock, North Lanarkshire, Paisley, Stirling, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire
First Monday in April Spring Holiday Carnoustie and Monifieth area, Dundee, Fife, Scottish Borders, Inverness, Perth
Second Monday in April Angus, except Carnoustie and Monifieth area, Elgin
Third Monday in April, or preceding week if would otherwise coincide with Easter Monday Edinburgh
Monday in April; date varies from year to year Aberdeen
Last Monday in April Inverclyde
First Monday in May Labour Day or Early May Bank Holiday all
Tuesday after first Monday in May Victoria Day (*)/Spring Holiday Clydebank, Stirling
Last Monday strictly before 24 May Edinburgh*
Fourth Monday in May Perth*
Last Monday in May Ayr, Dundee*, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Paisley*, South Lanarkshire
First Monday in June Galashiels, Inverclyde, Fife
Tuesday after second Thursday in June Linlithgow Marches Linlithgow
Second Thursday in June Lanimer Day Lanark area only
Last Monday in June Fair Holiday Elgin
Saturday preceding first Monday in July Edinburgh
First Monday in July Falkirk, Inverness
First Friday in July Braw Lads Gathering Galashiels
Second Monday in July Fair Holiday Aberdeen
Third Monday in July Arbroath, Fife, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire except Lanark
Fourth Friday in July Scottish Borders
Last Monday in July Dundee
First Monday in August Paisley
First Monday in September Late Summer Holiday Elgin, Inverclyde
Second Monday in September Battle of Stirling Bridge Falkirk, Perth, Stirling
Third Friday in September Ayr Gold Cup Ayr, Kilmarnock
Monday after third Friday in September Ayr, Kilmarnock
Third Monday in September Autumn Holiday Edinburgh
Last Monday in September Aberdeen, Angus except Carnoustie and Monifieth area, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Paisley, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire
First Monday in October Carnoustie and Monifieth area, Dundee, Inverness, Perth
Second Monday in October Scottish Borders
Third Monday in October Elgin, Fife
First Monday in November Samhain holiday Inverness
30 November St. Andrew's Day To be taken in lieu of one of the other statutory holidays at discretion of individual companies/authorities.[42] an official holiday in Angus, Fife, Scottish Borders

Special holidays edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Pyper, Douglas (18 December 2015). "Bank and public holidays" – via researchbriefings.parliament.uk. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ "UK Bank Holidays". GOV.uk. 14 August 2018. from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Anon (22 May 2007). (PDF). TUC press release. TUC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  4. ^   One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bank Holidays". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 320.
  5. ^ Olmert, Michael (1996). Milton's Teeth and Ovid's Umbrella: Curiouser & Curiouser Adventures in History, p. 170. Simon & Schuster, New York. ISBN 0-684-80164-7.
  6. ^ "Bank Holidays (Ireland) Bill". Hansard, the Official Report of debates in Parliament. UK Parliament. from the original on 24 February 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  7. ^ "UK Government Web Archive". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Bank Holiday on the Last Monday in August". The Times. 5 March 1964. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  9. ^ "1969 Dilemma on Diary Dates". The Times. 27 January 1967. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Bank Holiday Dates For 1967 And 1968". The Times. 4 June 1965. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  11. ^ "1969 Bank Holidays". The Times. 22 March 1967. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  12. ^ Ready, Nigel P.; Brooke, Richard (2002), Brooke's notary (12 ed.), Sweet & Maxwell, p. 479, ISBN 978-0-421-67280-2
  13. ^ Scrope, Henry; Barnett, Daniel (2008), Employment Law Handbook (4 ed.), Henry Scrope, p. 135, ISBN 978-1-85328-674-2
  14. ^ McWhirter, Norris; Stowe, Moira F. (1980), The Guinness book of answers: a handbook of general knowledge (3 ed.), Guinness Superlatives, p. 7, ISBN 978-0-85112-202-1
  15. ^ Morrow, Thomas. . UK Bank Holidays 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2011.
  16. ^ Great Britain Parliament House of Lords European Union Committee (2007), Modernising European Union labour law: has the UK anything to gain?, report with evidence, 22nd report of session 2006–07, The Stationery Office, p. 100, ISBN 978-0-10-485171-5
  17. ^ "Labour to make St George's Day a national holiday to celebrate 'our country's best values'". labour.org.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  18. ^ Parliament Online Petition 216600 Accessed:24 December 2021
  19. ^ "Renewed call for St Piran holiday". BBC News. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  20. ^ Gledhill, Ruth (5 March 2009). "Cornwall workers given an unofficial day off for St Pirans Day". The Times. London. Retrieved 31 March 2010.[dead link]
  21. ^ . Western Morning News. 23 November 2011. Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  22. ^ "Pre-Consultation on moving the May Day Bank Holiday". GOV.uk. 12 May 2011.
  23. ^ Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, Sec.1(1), The National Archives. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  24. ^ Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, Sec.1(3), The National Archives. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  25. ^ Bank holidays and British Summer Time[permanent dead link], Direct.gov.uk, Retrieved 26 October 2011.[dead link]
  26. ^ Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, Sec.1(2), Legislation.gov.uk, Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  27. ^ a b c d e The AnswerBank (3 September 2001). "Why are bank holidays called bank holidays". Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  28. ^ a b c d e When Is. "When is the next Bank Holiday?". Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  29. ^ a b c d e f UK bank holidays, gov.uk, Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  30. ^ Her Majesty's Government. "Holiday entitlement". Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Holiday Entitlement". citation.co.uk. 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, Schedule 1, The National Archives. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  33. ^ Time and Date (2019). "Spring Bank Holiday in the United Kingdom". Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  34. ^ Time and Date (2019). "Whit Monday in the United Kingdom". Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  35. ^ "Bank Holidays". NI Direct. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  36. ^ "Early May Bank Holiday in United Kingdom". Time and Date. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  37. ^ a b "'Extra holiday' for Queen's jubilee". BBC News. 24 November 2000. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  38. ^ a b Peachey, Kevin (20 May 2012). "Diamond Jubilee: Your rights to a day off work". BBC News. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  39. ^ "May bank holiday 2020 changed for VE day anniversary". BBC News. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  40. ^ Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (7 June 2019). "2020 May bank holiday will be moved to mark 75th anniversary of VE Day". Retrieved 9 June 2019. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  41. ^ a b "Queen's Platinum Jubilee to include extra bank holiday". BBC News. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  42. ^ a b Scottish Government (7 April 2005). "St Andrew's Day Bill". Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  43. ^ University of St Andrews (2 June 1740). . Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  44. ^ The Scotsman (24 December 2013). "Christmas and New Year traditions in Scotland". Edinburgh.
  45. ^ Todd, Margo (2002). The Culture of Protestantism in Early Modern Scotland. Yale University Press. p. 187. ISBN 0-300-09234-2.
  46. ^ Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales (1871). The Law Reports: the Public General Statutes passed in the thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth years of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, 1871. London. p. 131.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  47. ^ "BANK HOLIDAYS (STATUTORY) IN SCOTLAND". Mygov Scotland. 14 January 2005. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  48. ^ "Statesman who bottled out: 'Tired and Emotional: The Life of Lord George Brown'". The Independent. 9 May 1993.
  49. ^ "BBC History Events". BBC News. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  50. ^ "The Silver Jubilee: 25 Facts". The British monarchy. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  51. ^ "1981: Charles and Diana marry". BBC News. 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  52. ^ "UK Extra millennium holiday confirmed". BBC News. 23 June 1999. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  53. ^ "King Charles approves bank holiday for day of Queen's funeral". The Guardian. 10 September 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  54. ^ "Extra bank holiday approved to mark King's coronation". BBC News. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.

External links edit

  • Bank Holidays and British Summer Time
  • Scotland Bank Holidays - Scottish Government

public, holidays, united, kingdom, united, kingdom, public, holidays, days, which, most, businesses, essential, services, closed, many, retail, businesses, especially, larger, ones, open, some, public, holidays, there, restrictions, trading, sundays, easter, c. In the United Kingdom public holidays are days on which most businesses and non essential services are closed Many retail businesses especially the larger ones do open on some of the public holidays There are restrictions on trading on Sundays Easter Day and Christmas Day in England and Wales and on New Year s Day and Christmas Day in Scotland Public holidays defined by statute are called bank holidays but this term can also be used to include common law holidays which are held by convention The term public holidays can refer exclusively to common law holidays 1 There is no automatic right to time off on these days 2 but banks close and the majority of the working population is granted time off work or extra pay for working on these days depending on their contracts There are eight bank holidays a year in England and Wales nine in Scotland and ten in Northern Ireland Additional days have been allocated for special events such as royal weddings and jubilees There are seven bank holidays common to all jurisdictions New Year s Day Good Friday the early May bank holiday the Spring bank holiday the Summer bank holiday Christmas Day and Boxing Day Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England Wales and Northern Ireland but not in Scotland In Northern Ireland St Patrick s Day and Orangemen s Day are also bank holidays In Scotland 2 January and St Andrew s Day are bank holidays The Summer bank holiday varies according to jurisdiction in Scotland it is on the first Monday in August and in the rest of the United Kingdom it is on the last Monday in August Contents 1 History 2 Future 3 Legal basis 3 1 Workers rights 4 Dates in England Northern Ireland and Wales 4 1 Changes 5 Dates in Scotland 5 1 National bank holidays 5 2 Local holidays 6 Special holidays 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksHistory editIn England Wales and Northern Ireland Good Friday and Christmas Day are common law holidays having been customary holidays since time immemorial 3 The first official bank holidays were named in the Bank Holidays Act 1871 introduced by Liberal politician and banker Sir John Lubbock 3 Under the Act no person was compelled to make any payment or to do any act upon a bank holiday which he would not be compelled to do or make on Christmas Day or Good Friday and the making of a payment or the doing of an act on the following day was equivalent to doing it on the holiday 4 People were so grateful that some called the first bank holidays St Lubbock s Days for a while 5 England Wales and Ireland Bank holidays 1875Easter MondayWhit MondayFirst Monday in August26 December or 27th if 26th is a Sunday Scotland Bank holidays 1871New Year s DayGood FridayFirst Monday in MayFirst Monday in AugustChristmas Day The Act did not include Good Friday and Christmas Day as bank holidays in England Wales or Ireland because they were already recognised as common law holidays 3 In 1903 the Bank Holiday Ireland Act added 17 March Saint Patrick s Day as a bank holiday in Ireland only 6 New Year s Day did not become a bank holiday in England Wales and Northern Ireland until 1 January 1974 Boxing Day did not become a bank holiday in Scotland until 1974 7 Starting in 1965 experimentally the August Bank Holiday weekend was observed at the end of August to give a lead in extending British holidays over a longer summer period 8 Each year s date was announced in Parliament on an ad hoc basis to the despair of the calendar and diary publishing trade 9 The rule seems to have been to select the weekend of the last Saturday in August so that in 1968 10 and 1969 11 Bank Holiday Monday actually fell in September Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971Act of Parliament nbsp Parliament of the United KingdomLong titleAn Act to make new provision in place of the Bank Holidays Act 1871 to confer power to suspend financial and other dealings on bank holidays or other days and to amend the law relating to bills of exchange and promissory notes with reference to the maturity of bills and notes and other matters affected by the closing of banks on Saturdays and for purposes connected therewith Citation1971 c 80DatesRoyal assent16 December 1971Other legislationRepeals revokesBank Holidays Act 1871Revenue Offices Scotland Holidays Act 1880Status AmendedText of statute as originally enactedText of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 as in force today including any amendments within the United Kingdom from legislation gov uk A century after the 1871 Act the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 which currently regulates bank holidays in the UK was passed 12 The majority of the current bank holidays were specified in the 1971 Act however New Year s Day and May Day were not introduced throughout the whole of the UK until 1974 and 1978 respectively 13 The date of the August bank holiday was changed from the first Monday in August to the last Monday in August in England Wales and Northern Ireland but not in Scotland and the Whitsun bank holiday Whit Monday was replaced by the Late Spring Bank Holiday fixed as the last Monday in May 14 From 1978 the final Monday of May in Scotland a statutory holiday in the rest of the UK and the first Monday in May in the rest of the UK a statutory holiday in Scotland have been proclaimed as bank holidays 15 In January 2007 the St Andrew s Day Bank Holiday Scotland Act 2007 was given royal assent making 30 November or the following Monday if 30 November falls on a weekend a bank holiday in Scotland 16 Future editThere are calls for extra public holidays on the patron saints days in England for St George s Day and Wales for St David s Day For example in 2018 the Labour Party announced it would make those days bank holidays if elected 17 The same year an online petition to the Prime Minister as to Wales received 3 577 signatures 18 In 2009 it was reported that St Piran s Day patron saint of Cornwall on 5 March is already given as an unofficial day off to many government and other workers in the county 19 20 It is suggested that a move from the May bank holiday to a St Piran s Day bank holiday in Cornwall would benefit the Cornish economy by 20 35 million 21 The number of holidays in the UK is relatively small compared to many other European countries However direct comparison is inaccurate since the substitute day scheme of deferment does not apply in most European countries where holidays that coincide with a weekend 29 of fixed date holidays are lost citation needed In fact the average number of non weekend holidays in such countries is only marginally higher and in some cases lower than the UK citation needed Worth mentioning is that public holidays in Europe which fall on Thursday or Tuesday typically become puente or bridge four day or even six day extended holiday weekends as people tend to use one or two days from their holiday entitlement to take off Monday and or Friday citation needed After the election of the coalition government in May 2010 the Department of Culture Media and Sport launched a pre consultation in 2011 which included the suggestion of moving the May Day Bank Holiday to October to be a UK Day or Trafalgar Day 21 October or to St David s Day and St George s Day 22 Legal basis editBank holidays are established in several ways by statute statutory holidays Holidays specifically listed in the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 23 by royal proclamation Under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 bank holidays are proclaimed each year by the legal device of a royal proclamation by convention common law holidays Holidays established in common law not applicable in Scotland Royal proclamation is also used to move bank holidays that would otherwise fall on a weekend and to create extra one off bank holidays for special occasions 24 The Act does not provide for a bank holiday to be suppressed by royal proclamation without appointing another day in its place 25 In this way public holidays are not lost in years when they coincide with weekends These deferred bank holiday days are termed a bank holiday in lieu of the typical anniversary date In the legislation they are known as substitute days The movement of the St Andrew s Day Scottish holiday to the nearest Monday when 30 November is a weekend day is statutory and does not require a proclamation 26 Bank holidays falling on a weekend are always moved to a later date not an earlier one 27 28 29 Workers rights edit See also UK labour law Although there is no statutory right for workers to take paid leave on bank holidays where paid leave is given either because the business is closed or for other reasons the bank holiday can count towards the minimum statutory holiday entitlement Likewise if people are required to work on a bank holiday there is no statutory right to an enhanced pay rate nor to a day off in lieu although many employers do give either or both Any rights in this respect depend on the person s contract of employment 30 The statutory minimum paid holidays is 28 days or 5 6 weeks a year under the Working Time Regulations 1998 including any bank holidays or public holidays that are taken 31 Dates in England Northern Ireland and Wales editDate Occasion Type Notes RegionEngland and Wales Northern Ireland1 2 3 January New Year s Day Proclaimed Falls on 1 January unless this is a Saturday or Sunday 27 28 29 1 January was not a statutory holiday before 1974 In a year in which it does not occur on 1 January it can be referred to as for all such dates in lieu in various ways such as Monday bank holiday instead of New Year s Day In many British diary series it may be marked New Year s Day holiday with or without in lieu afterwards Falls on 2 January in 2023 nbsp nbsp 17 18 19 March St Patrick s Day Statutory or proclaimed Northern Ireland only 17 March by statute if this is not a Sunday 18 March by statute if this is a Monday 19 March by proclamation if this is a Monday Falls on 17 March in 2023 nbsp nbsp Variable Good Friday Common law 27 28 29 Falls on 7 April in 2023 nbsp nbsp Variable Easter Monday Statutory Statutory bank holiday from 1871 defined by name 32 Falls on 10 April in 2023 nbsp nbsp First Monday in May Early May bank holiday Proclaimed From 1978 by Royal Proclamation 27 28 29 Falls on 1 May in 2023 nbsp nbsp Last Monday in May Spring Bank Holiday Statutory Statutory bank holiday from 1971 32 following a trial period from 1965 to 1971 Replaced Whit Monday 50 days after Easter Day which had been a public holiday since 1871 Most schools fix a minimum of a week s break to coincide giving the alternative name 32 33 34 The legislation does not specify a name for the holiday merely when it occurs It normally falls on the last Monday in May but in 2002 2012 and 2022 it was moved a few days into June and was followed by an extra bank holiday in order to create a four day jubilee weekend in celebration of Elizabeth II s 50 60 and 70 years of reign Falls on 29 May in 2023 nbsp nbsp 12 13 14 July Battle of the Boyne Orangeman s Day 35 Proclaimed Northern Ireland only Falls on 12 July unless this is a Saturday or Sunday Falls on 12 July in 2023 nbsp nbsp Last Monday in August Summer Bank Holiday Statutory Statutory bank holiday from 1971 32 following a trial period from 1965 to 1971 Replaced the first Monday in August formerly commonly known as Summer Bank Holiday which had been in use from 1871 29 32 The legislation does not specify a name for the holiday merely when it occurs Falls on 28 August in 2023 nbsp nbsp 25 December Christmas Day Common law 27 28 29 nbsp nbsp 26 December None Boxing Day Statutory Statutory bank holiday from 1871 Legislation does not name the holiday but states that it falls on 26th December if it be not a Sunday 32 Public Holiday in 2023 nbsp nbsp 27 December None Not named Statutory Only in a year in which 25 December is either on a Saturday or Sunday 32 This has the effect of adding an extra holiday when 25 December falls on a Sunday nbsp nbsp 28 December None Not named Proclaimed This is an extra holiday added when either 25 or 26 December falls on a Saturday nbsp nbsp Total holidays 10 12Changes edit nbsp In 1995 the early May bank holiday was moved to 8 May for the 50th anniversary of VE DayIn 1968 and 1969 the new August bank holiday fell in September This was as a result of the decision to move the holiday to the end of the month and the nearest Monday being taken The current definition was introduced in 1971 In 1995 the early May bank holiday was moved to Monday 8 May to commemorate the 50th anniversary of VE Day 36 In 2002 there was a special holiday on Monday 3 June to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II The Spring Bank Holiday was moved from 27 May to 4 June to create a four day weekend 37 In 2012 there was a special holiday on Tuesday 5 June to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II The Spring Bank Holiday moved to Monday 4 June to create a four day weekend 38 In 2020 the early May bank holiday originally set for Monday 4 May was moved to Friday 8 May to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day 39 40 In 2022 there was a special holiday on Friday 3 June to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II The Spring Bank Holiday was moved to Thursday 2 June to create a four day weekend 41 Dates in Scotland editMain article Public and bank holidays in Scotland National bank holidays edit Date Occasion Type Notes1 2 4 January New Year s Day Statutory or proclaimed 1 January by statute when this is not a Saturday or Sunday 2 January by statute when this is a Monday 4 January by proclamation when this is a Tuesday 2 3 4 January New Year Holiday Statutory or proclaimed 2 January by statute when this is not a Saturday or Sunday 3 January by statute when this a Monday or by proclamation when this is a Tuesday 4 January by proclamation when this is a Monday Variable Good Friday StatutoryFirst Monday in May Early May bank holiday StatutoryLast Monday in May Spring bank holiday ProclaimedFirst Monday in August Summer bank holiday Statutory The Summer bank holiday remains on its original date in Scotland Falls on 7 August in 2023 30 November St Andrew s Day Statutory Unlike other bank holidays it must be taken by workers in lieu of another bank holiday 42 25 December Christmas Day Statutory The observance of Christmas Day was abolished by an Act of Parliament in 1640 43 44 45 It was included in the schedule to the Bank Holidays Act 1871 46 26 27 28 December Boxing Day Proclaimed Boxing Day 26 December became a public holiday in Scotland in 1974 See also Christmas in Scotland 47 Local holidays edit Local holidays are determined by local authorities across Scotland Some of these may be taken in lieu of statutory holidays while others may be additional holidays although many companies including Royal Mail do not follow all the holidays listed below and many swap between English and local holidays Since Easter 1996 the Scottish clearing banks have harmonised the days on which they are closed with those in England and Wales and are therefore closed on Easter Monday and the last Monday in August rather than the first This has resulted in a number of local authorities creating a public holiday on Easter Monday Previously Easter Monday had not been a public holiday in Scotland There have been protests about banks opening on 2 January since this decision was taken citation needed This has resulted in many banks now providing only a limited service on 2 January with most members of staff still entitled to the holiday Date Name Major towns cities not an exhaustive list 1 January New Year s Day all2 January 2nd JanuaryWednesday after last Tuesday in January Day after Up Helly Aa fire festival ShetlandFirst Monday in February Winter Holiday InvernessFirst Monday in March InvernessLast Monday in March LochaberEaster holiday variable Good Friday Ayr Dumfries and Galloway East Dunbartonshire Edinburgh Falkirk Inverclyde Kilmarnock Paisley Stirling South Lanarkshire West DunbartonshireEaster Monday Ayr Edinburgh Falkirk East Dunbartonshire Glasgow Inverclyde Kilmarnock North Lanarkshire Paisley Stirling South Lanarkshire West DunbartonshireFirst Monday in April Spring Holiday Carnoustie and Monifieth area Dundee Fife Scottish Borders Inverness PerthSecond Monday in April Angus except Carnoustie and Monifieth area ElginThird Monday in April or preceding week if would otherwise coincide with Easter Monday EdinburghMonday in April date varies from year to year AberdeenLast Monday in April InverclydeFirst Monday in May Labour Day or Early May Bank Holiday allTuesday after first Monday in May Victoria Day Spring Holiday Clydebank StirlingLast Monday strictly before 24 May Edinburgh Fourth Monday in May Perth Last Monday in May Ayr Dundee East Dunbartonshire Glasgow North Lanarkshire Paisley South LanarkshireFirst Monday in June Galashiels Inverclyde FifeTuesday after second Thursday in June Linlithgow Marches LinlithgowSecond Thursday in June Lanimer Day Lanark area onlyLast Monday in June Fair Holiday ElginSaturday preceding first Monday in July EdinburghFirst Monday in July Falkirk InvernessFirst Friday in July Braw Lads Gathering GalashielsSecond Monday in July Fair Holiday AberdeenThird Monday in July Arbroath Fife East Dunbartonshire Glasgow North Lanarkshire South Lanarkshire except LanarkFourth Friday in July Scottish BordersLast Monday in July DundeeFirst Monday in August PaisleyFirst Monday in September Late Summer Holiday Elgin InverclydeSecond Monday in September Battle of Stirling Bridge Falkirk Perth StirlingThird Friday in September Ayr Gold Cup Ayr KilmarnockMonday after third Friday in September Ayr KilmarnockThird Monday in September Autumn Holiday EdinburghLast Monday in September Aberdeen Angus except Carnoustie and Monifieth area East Dunbartonshire Glasgow North Lanarkshire Paisley South Lanarkshire West DunbartonshireFirst Monday in October Carnoustie and Monifieth area Dundee Inverness PerthSecond Monday in October Scottish BordersThird Monday in October Elgin FifeFirst Monday in November Samhain holiday Inverness30 November St Andrew s Day To be taken in lieu of one of the other statutory holidays at discretion of individual companies authorities 42 an official holiday in Angus Fife Scottish BordersSpecial holidays editDuring the sterling crisis of 1968 Prime Minister Harold Wilson convened a meeting of the privy council in the early hours of 14 March to declare 15 March a bank holiday This allowed the UK government to close the London gold market to stem the losses being suffered by the British pound 48 It was this meeting that triggered the resignation of Foreign Secretary George Brown 14 November 1973 was made a special bank holiday to celebrate the wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips 49 7 June 1977 was made a special bank holiday as part of the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II 50 The wedding of Charles Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer on 29 July 1981 resulted in an extra bank holiday 51 31 December 1999 was a one off bank holiday as part of the Millennium celebrations 52 In 2002 there was a special holiday on Monday 3 June to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II The Spring Bank Holiday was moved from 27 May to 4 June to make it a four day weekend 37 Friday 29 April 2011 was a special bank holiday to celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton In 2012 there was a special holiday on Tuesday 5 June to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II Therefore to create a four day weekend the Spring Bank Holiday that would usually have occurred at the end of May was moved to Monday 4 June 38 In 2022 there was a special holiday on Friday 3 June to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II Therefore to create a four day weekend the Spring Bank Holiday that would usually occur at the end of May was moved to Thursday 2 June 41 An additional public holiday was declared for Monday 19 September the day of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II 53 Monday 8 May 2023 was an additional public holiday to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla 54 See also edit nbsp Holidays portal nbsp Lists portal nbsp United Kingdom portalUK labour law List of holidays by country Public and bank holidays in ScotlandPublic holidays in Gibraltar Public holidays in Guernsey Public holidays in Jersey Public holidays in the Isle of ManPublic holidays in Anguilla Public holidays in Bermuda Public holidays in the British Virgin Islands Public holidays in the Cayman Islands Public holidays in the Falkland Islands Public holidays in Montserrat Public holidays in the Pitcairn Islands Public holidays in Saint Helena Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Public holidays in the Turks and Caicos IslandsReferences edit Pyper Douglas 18 December 2015 Bank and public holidays via researchbriefings parliament uk a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help UK Bank Holidays GOV uk 14 August 2018 Archived from the original on 14 August 2018 Retrieved 15 August 2018 a b c Anon 22 May 2007 Bank Holiday Fact File PDF TUC press release TUC Archived from the original PDF on 3 June 2013 Retrieved 12 January 2010 nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Bank Holidays Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 3 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 320 Olmert Michael 1996 Milton s Teeth and Ovid s Umbrella Curiouser amp Curiouser Adventures in History p 170 Simon amp Schuster New York ISBN 0 684 80164 7 Bank Holidays Ireland Bill Hansard the Official Report of debates in Parliament UK Parliament Archived from the original on 24 February 2010 Retrieved 26 March 2010 UK Government Web Archive webarchive nationalarchives gov uk Retrieved 7 October 2023 Bank Holiday on the Last Monday in August The Times 5 March 1964 Retrieved 21 June 2013 1969 Dilemma on Diary Dates The Times 27 January 1967 Retrieved 21 June 2013 Bank Holiday Dates For 1967 And 1968 The Times 4 June 1965 Retrieved 21 June 2013 1969 Bank Holidays The Times 22 March 1967 Retrieved 21 June 2013 Ready Nigel P Brooke Richard 2002 Brooke s notary 12 ed Sweet amp Maxwell p 479 ISBN 978 0 421 67280 2 Scrope Henry Barnett Daniel 2008 Employment Law Handbook 4 ed Henry Scrope p 135 ISBN 978 1 85328 674 2 McWhirter Norris Stowe Moira F 1980 The Guinness book of answers a handbook of general knowledge 3 ed Guinness Superlatives p 7 ISBN 978 0 85112 202 1 Morrow Thomas Bank Holidays A Complete History UK Bank Holidays 2020 Archived from the original on 31 October 2011 Great Britain Parliament House of Lords European Union Committee 2007 Modernising European Union labour law has the UK anything to gain report with evidence 22nd report of session 2006 07 The Stationery Office p 100 ISBN 978 0 10 485171 5 Labour to make St George s Day a national holiday to celebrate our country s best values labour org uk Retrieved 24 December 2021 Parliament Online Petition 216600 Accessed 24 December 2021 Renewed call for St Piran holiday BBC News 5 March 2009 Retrieved 26 April 2010 Gledhill Ruth 5 March 2009 Cornwall workers given an unofficial day off for St Pirans Day The Times London Retrieved 31 March 2010 dead link Cornish National Holiday worth 35m Western Morning News 23 November 2011 Archived from the original on 24 November 2011 Retrieved 24 November 2011 Pre Consultation on moving the May Day Bank Holiday GOV uk 12 May 2011 Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 Sec 1 1 The National Archives Retrieved 9 July 2019 Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 Sec 1 3 The National Archives Retrieved 9 July 2019 Bank holidays and British Summer Time permanent dead link Direct gov uk Retrieved 26 October 2011 dead link Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 Sec 1 2 Legislation gov uk Retrieved 26 October 2011 a b c d e The AnswerBank 3 September 2001 Why are bank holidays called bank holidays Retrieved 9 July 2019 a b c d e When Is When is the next Bank Holiday Retrieved 26 October 2011 a b c d e f UK bank holidays gov uk Retrieved 5 May 2020 Her Majesty s Government Holiday entitlement Retrieved 5 May 2020 Holiday Entitlement citation co uk 2019 Retrieved 9 July 2019 a b c d e f g Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 Schedule 1 The National Archives Retrieved 9 July 2019 Time and Date 2019 Spring Bank Holiday in the United Kingdom Retrieved 9 July 2019 Time and Date 2019 Whit Monday in the United Kingdom Retrieved 9 July 2019 Bank Holidays NI Direct Retrieved 25 March 2012 Early May Bank Holiday in United Kingdom Time and Date Retrieved 17 October 2016 a b Extra holiday for Queen s jubilee BBC News 24 November 2000 Retrieved 18 August 2015 a b Peachey Kevin 20 May 2012 Diamond Jubilee Your rights to a day off work BBC News Retrieved 21 August 2015 May bank holiday 2020 changed for VE day anniversary BBC News 8 June 2019 Retrieved 9 June 2019 Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy 7 June 2019 2020 May bank holiday will be moved to mark 75th anniversary of VE Day Retrieved 9 June 2019 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a last has generic name help a b Queen s Platinum Jubilee to include extra bank holiday BBC News 12 November 2020 Retrieved 12 November 2020 a b Scottish Government 7 April 2005 St Andrew s Day Bill Retrieved 15 January 2018 University of St Andrews 2 June 1740 Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 Act dischairging the Yule vacance appointing the session to sit doun the first of November and ryse the last of Februar and to sit doune the first of June and ryise the last of Julii Archived from the original on 19 May 2012 Retrieved 15 January 2018 The Scotsman 24 December 2013 Christmas and New Year traditions in Scotland Edinburgh Todd Margo 2002 The Culture of Protestantism in Early Modern Scotland Yale University Press p 187 ISBN 0 300 09234 2 Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales 1871 The Law Reports the Public General Statutes passed in the thirty fourth and thirty fifth years of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria 1871 London p 131 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link BANK HOLIDAYS STATUTORY IN SCOTLAND Mygov Scotland 14 January 2005 Retrieved 15 January 2018 Statesman who bottled out Tired and Emotional The Life of Lord George Brown The Independent 9 May 1993 BBC History Events BBC News Retrieved 13 May 2017 The Silver Jubilee 25 Facts The British monarchy Retrieved 20 August 2015 1981 Charles and Diana marry BBC News 2008 Retrieved 20 August 2015 UK Extra millennium holiday confirmed BBC News 23 June 1999 Retrieved 20 August 2015 King Charles approves bank holiday for day of Queen s funeral The Guardian 10 September 2022 Retrieved 10 September 2022 Extra bank holiday approved to mark King s coronation BBC News 6 November 2022 Retrieved 6 November 2022 External links editBank Holidays and British Summer Time Scotland Bank Holidays Scottish Government Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Public holidays in the United Kingdom amp oldid 1184593053, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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