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SEASONAL REFLECTION ON BANK HOLIDAYS
How will you be spending the August bank holiday this year Traditionally, the holiday
summons up thoughts of trips to the seaside, donkey rides, deckchairs and funfairs – and
more recently, traffic! Perhaps it would be better to relax at home, watching a game of
cricket on the television! Holidays are a time for recreation - quite literally a time to
re-create ourselves, unburdened by the pressures of work.
Before 1834, the Bank of England observed about 33 saints’ days and religious festivals
as holidays. But the following year, this was reduced to just four: 1 May, 1 November,
Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Then in 1871, a Liberal Politician and Banker, Sir John Lubbock, introduced the Bank
Holidays Act 1871, which laid down the following:
England,
Wales, Ireland
Easter
Monday
Whit
Monday
1st Monday in
Aug
Boxing Day/St
Stephen’s Day
Scotland
Good
Friday
1st Monday in
May
1st Monday in
Aug
Christmas Day
Sir John was an enthusiastic cricket fan who wanted his employees to be able to watch
and take part in matches. So the days reflect the dates of matches in the villages where he
grew up! The English called these holidays ‘St Lubbock’s Days’ for a while!
(The Act did not specify Good Friday or Christmas Day as Bank Holidays in England,
Wales and Ireland, since they were already recognised as common law holidays. Scotland
was treated differently because of its different traditions.)
In 1903, a further Act of Parliament added 17 March, St Patrick’s Day, as a bank holiday
for Ireland only.
In 1971, a century after the first Bank Holidays Act, a new Act laid down the majority of
our current bank holidays. The Whitsun holiday was replaced by the Late Spring Bank
Holiday – the last Monday in May. From 1972, the date of the August bank holiday
changed to the end of the month.
There are currently eight bank holidays. These have to be proclaimed each year by Royal
Proclamation and the same device is used to move holidays that would otherwise fall at a
weekend – known as ‘a bank holiday in lieu’ or ‘substitute days.’
At first sight, it seems that the UK enjoys few bank holidays compared to other
European countries. However, since these countries do not ‘move’ holidays falling at
weekends, many are ‘lost’.
Most campaigners for more holidays feel that 23 April, St George’s Day, and 1 March, St
David’s Day, should be recognised. What do you think Whatever you do on 30th August,
have a break and come back refreshed!
Vicki Howie
10