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A Guide to Bank Holidays Across the UK
Every year, the UK celebrates a number of Bank Holidays, which get their name because banking institutions are typically closed for the day. In May, most people get to enjoy two, on the first and last Mondays of the month.
But if you do move to any of the Home Nations apart from England, what different Bank Holidays can you expect to enjoy? Hamiltons Removals have been offering high-quality commercial and domestic removals packages to all parts of the UK for almost 30 years. Here, as a useful guide to help you fit into life in a new country, we look at which public holidays are the same, and which are different.
Ones Which are the Same…
New Year’s Day – January 1st is marked across the whole of the UK (England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the crown dependencies of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey) as well as the Republic of Ireland.
Good Friday and Easter Monday – although the exact date on which these fall in April or March varies from year to year, they are also both public holidays in almost all the above countries. The exceptions are the Republic of Ireland (where Good Friday isn’t a bank holiday) and Scotland (where Easter Monday isn’t).
The First Monday in May – again, the Early May Bank Holiday is marked across all countries.
The Last Monday in May – only Ireland doesn’t have a Bank Holiday on this date, which is either known as the Late May Bank Holiday or the Spring Bank Holiday.
December 25th and 26th – Christmas Day and Boxing Day (St Stephen’s Day) are both celebrated across all countries and crown dependencies.
…and the Ones Which are Different
January 2nd – If you are considering removals to Scotland, you should know that the Scots like to celebrate on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, collectively known as Hogmanay, with plenty of parties and food. Festivities often last into January 2 as well, in some cases giving people time to recover or catch up with friends or family they haven’t seen over the Christmas and New Year period.
March 17th – St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and this is marked with a public holiday in the country.
May 9th -Liberation Day is celebrated as a public holiday on Jersey and Guernsey. This marks the date when the two islands were released from Nazi rule in 1945 after a five-year occupation during World War II. It is marked with processions and parades, particularly in Jersey’s capital, St Helier.
The June Bank Holiday – previously observed as Whit Monday until 1973, the June Bank Holiday is a public in the Republic of Ireland.
The first Friday in June (Senior Race Day) – this is only commemorated on the Isle of Man and marks the blue riband event in the world-famous Isle of Man TT motorcycle race. The races, above, have been held on the island’s roads every year since 1907, and are among the most thrilling and dangerous in the world.
July 5th – Tynwald Day in the Isle of Man. Tynwald is the name of the Isle of Man’s parliament, originally founded by Norsemen in 979 AD, and Tynwald Day, as well as being a public holiday on the island, also marks the day of the parliament’s annual outdoor sitting.
There are also concerts, firework displays and other attractions held on the island, so it’s not just a political or ceremonial occasion. It was originally celebrated on June 24th until the Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1753.
July 12th – is the anniversary of the 1690 Battle of the Boyne, which is marked with a public holiday in Northern Ireland. Even though it’s a protestant celebration with marches held by protestant organisations, it is a day for everyone. If you are thinking of moving house to Canada or the USA, it is marked in some areas of those countries too.
The first Monday in August – the Summer Bank Holiday is celebrated on the first Monday in August in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
The last Monday in October – called the October Bank Holiday or the Halloween Holiday is celebrated in the Republic of Ireland. It coincides with half-term break in schools, and the end of daylight saving time. Although this bank holiday is a recent phenomenon, having only been introduced in the 1970s, many arts festivals, concerts, and Halloween themed events are held on this day.
November 30th – in the same way that Ireland recognises St Patrick’s Day, Scotland does the same on November 30th with St Andrew’s Day.
Removals to all Parts of the UK with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals provide quality removals to all parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
We don’t just move your belongings, we can pack and unpack them as well. We also offer many linked services such as competitively priced insurance, and if you want to store some of your items, we have two Safe N Stored self-storage facilities on the Suffolk/Norfolk border.
Other services we offer include video surveys, which are proving invaluable as we stick to the Government’s coronavirus guidelines, and we can also supply you with a detailed quote remotely as well.
Photo: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/Geograph.org.uk
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