In the UK, what are “Bank Holidays”?
Question by bookshop_lady: In the UK, what are “Bank Holidays”?
Hey Brits, please explain the “bank holidays” for us Yanks. Our banks are closed on particular holidays, but we don’t refer to them as “bank” holidays.
What and when are bank holidays? And why do bank holidays affect television schedules?
Best answer:
Answer by ¡Que molleja!
Bank holidays are simply public holidays. The origin of giving special days off work for employees lies with the banking sector, and since banks were closed on certain days, other businesses followed suit. The UK has 8 public holidays a year ….
1. New Year’s Day (1st January, or, if it falls on a weekend, the following Monday);
2. Good Friday (the Friday before Easter Sunday);
3. Easter Monday (the Monday after Easter Sunday);
4. May Day (the first Monday of May);
5. Spring Bank Holiday (the last Monday of May);
6. August Bank Holiday (the last Monday of August);
7. Christmas Day (25th December, or, if it falls on a weekend, the following Monday);
8. Boxing Day (26th Monday, or if it falls on a Saturday, the folowing Monday, and if it falls on a Sunday, the folowing Tuesday).
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Traditionally this is when banks would get their own staff to run an audit on the individual branches.
This meant closing the branch – effectively stopping all OTHER businesses.
So, the bank staff were locked up all day counting coins and notes, knowing that everyone else was out having fun!
As time progressed, the bank staff wondered why THEY didn’t get days off in lieu, so after much arguing the banks allowed their staff out on holiday too
The term ‘Bank Holiday’ changed from the day banks were on holiday to the day people were on holiday.
The Brits get less than mainland Europe (esp. France).
Bank holidays are basically the statutory holidays we get here in the UK, outwith any holidays we may get in addition from our employers.
The actual dates of the holidays differ in Scotland from those in England and Wales, and some employers just lump them in with the total annual entitlement and let you take them whenever you like (as in my case).
This years Bank Holiday dates in England are – 1st Jan, 21st March, 24th March, 5th May, 26th May, 25th Aug, 25th Dec and 26th Dec.
This year’s Bank Holidays in Scotland are – 1st Jan, 2nd Jan, 21st March, 5th May, 26th May, 4th Aug, 1st Dec, 25th Dec and 26th Dec.
So basically the differences in Scotland are an extra day at new year at the expense of Easter Monday, an earlier summer bank holiday, and an extra day off for St. Andrews day.
The reason they affect the television schedules, is that lots of people who work for the BBC and other broadcasters are also on holiday on those days, so we tend to get a lot of pre-recorded stuff on TV.
I can guess why your asking – Doctor Who bank holiday specials in 2009 right? Well I expect there will be one at Easter, one at the end of May, the third in August and the fourth at Christmas.