LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Bank holidays are days when the banks close, although not always. For example, there are some common law holidays that are not regarded as bank holidays. Bank holidays are set by royal proclamation or statute. The term “bank holiday” was coined by Sir John Lubbock.
There are several bank holidays in the UK. Most of them are public holidays and are usually observed in England. However, there are some exceptions, such as Easter Monday, which is not a bank holiday in England. In Scotland, there is another bank holiday, the Summer Bank Holiday, which falls on the first Monday of August. Historically, the Bank of England observed 33 saints’ days as holidays, but that number was cut down to four in 1834.
May Day
May Day is one of the most popular holidays in the United Kingdom. It is an ancient celebration of spring and fertility, and most businesses close for the day. May Day also coincides with International Workers’ Day, an event associated with the labour movement and efforts to improve working conditions around the world.
May Day is the first Monday in May, and is a national holiday throughout the UK. Its origins lie in the Banking and Financial Dealings Act of 1971, which was a timely revision of a century-old Act on Bank Holidays. The Act changed the date of Whit Monday, and made May Day an official bank holiday in England. The act also added a late Spring Bank Holiday to Scotland.
Easter
Bank holidays are meant to be used to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family. There are eight to ten scheduled each year in the UK. Many attractions and museums stay open on these days. The public transport network may be reduced during bank holidays, so it may be useful to plan your travel around them.
Christmas
If you are planning a trip to the UK, you need to know when Christmas and bank holidays fall. Many businesses remain open throughout the country during these holidays. However, banks and government buildings are closed. Christmas Day is the only day when most of the country is closed, and the day after it is often a day off.
1 January
Bank holidays in the UK are designated days when businesses are closed. These days are designated by an Act of Parliament called the Bank Holidays Act of 1871. Most businesses are closed on these days but some smaller businesses remain open.  If 1 January falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, it is a public holiday. If it falls on a weekday, it is a bank holiday. If it is a weekend, there are other days in January, including the Queen’s birthday.
2 January
The UK is blessed with many public holidays. In addition to the traditional May Day and Boxing Day, the country also celebrates Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday and the Diamond Jubilee. As a result, the UK has an average of eight public holidays a year. However, in Northern Ireland, two additional bank holidays fall on Sundays instead of Mondays. In 2022, the Queen’s Jubilee will be celebrated with a four-day bank holiday, the first time any British monarch has reached this milestone.
Most banks are closed on 2 January, but there have been some protests when banks open on that day. As a result, most banks will operate only a limited service on that day. Despite this, most staff are still entitled to their usual holiday on 2 January. In 1968, the UK government made the decision to close the London gold market on a bank holiday to support the sterling currency. The move was controversial enough to lead to the resignation of Foreign Secretary George Brown.
2 June
The spring bank holiday falls on Thursday 2 June, giving the UK four consecutive days of festivities. The next bank holiday will be on 6 February 2022, the 70th anniversary of King George VI’s death. The jubilee will be marked by many events and celebrations, including a parade and a fly past by the RAF.
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
The Queen herself was crowned on 6 June 1952, and she has been the head of state ever since. The bank holidays also mark the anniversary of her ascension, which occurred on the same date as King George VI.
In celebration of her Jubilee, the UK will celebrate a four-day weekend, with two of the days off falling on Fridays. The late May bank holiday will be moved to Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3. There will also be a special event on Sunday, June 5, called the Big Jubilee Lunch.
Queen’s Funeral
A major holiday is marked in the United Kingdom on the 19th of September. The bank holiday is in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II. However, there are many bank holidays that are not officially recognised.