Bank holiday facts for kids
A bank holiday is a special day off work and school in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and some other countries. These days are like public holidays, meaning most people get a day to relax. The UK first started having bank holidays in 1871.
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Bank Holidays in the UK and Ireland
Bank holidays are important days when many businesses close, and people get a break. The table below shows the bank holidays in the United Kingdom and Ireland. An "X" means that country celebrates that day as a bank holiday.
| Date | Name | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | Republic of Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | ||
| 1 January | New Year's Day | X | X | X | X |
| 2 January | 2 January | X | |||
| 17 March | St. Patrick's Day | X | X | ||
| The Friday before Easter Sunday | Good Friday | X | X | X | |
| The day after Easter Sunday | Easter Monday | X | X | X | |
| First Monday in May | Early May Bank Holiday (UK), Labour Day (Ireland) | X | X | X | X |
| Last Monday in May | Spring Bank Holiday | X | X | X | |
| First Monday In June | June Bank Holiday | X | |||
| 12 July | Battle of the Boyne - Orangemen's Day | X | |||
| First Monday in August | Summer Bank Holiday | X | X | ||
| Last Monday in August | Summer Bank Holiday | X | X | ||
| Last Monday in October | October Bank Holiday | X | |||
| 30 November | St. Andrew's Day | X | |||
| 25 December | Christmas Day | X | X | X | X |
| 26 December | Boxing Day, St. Stephen's Day | X | X | X | X |
Special Bank Holiday Changes
Sometimes, the date of a bank holiday can change for a special reason.
VE Day Anniversary (1995)
In 1995, the Early May Bank Holiday was moved. It changed from the first Monday in May to the second Monday. This was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of VE Day. VE Day marks the end of World War II in Europe.
Golden Jubilee (2002)
In 2002, the Spring Bank Holiday was also moved. It changed to June 4th. An extra bank holiday was added on June 3rd. This created a four-day weekend to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II. This event marked 50 years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.
Bank Holidays in Other Countries
Other countries also have public holidays that are similar to bank holidays.
India
India has 15 bank holidays throughout the year. These are days when banks and many other businesses are closed.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, public holidays are often called "bank holidays." This is a common name, even if they are not officially called that by the government.
See also
In Spanish: Bank holiday para niños
