Happy bank holiday. Today is a bank holiday here in Belfast. This means that if you want to eat dinner you better buy it early because most shops either aren’t open or close early.
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, such as Belfast, and other European countries such as Switzerland, and Ireland. Time off isn’t guaranteed but banks close and the majority of workers get time off or extra pay for working on these days. Bank holidays started off because of the Bank Holidays Act 1871. Today the term is also used to describe public holidays, which are not official bank holidays, such as Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Prior to 1834, the Bank of England observed about 33 saints' days and religious festivals as holidays, but in 1834 this was reduced to four: May 1st, May Day, November 1st, All Saints Day, Good Friday, and Christmas Day. In 1871, the first legislation relating to bank holidays was passed as the Bank Holidays Act of 1871. Under the Act, no person was compelled to make any payment or to do any act upon a bank holiday, which he would not be compelled to do or make on Christmas Day or Good Friday. And the making of a payment or doing an act on these days was equivalent to doing it on the holiday. The English people liked the idea and gladly obliged.
A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, such as Belfast, and other European countries such as Switzerland, and Ireland. Time off isn’t guaranteed but banks close and the majority of workers get time off or extra pay for working on these days. Bank holidays started off because of the Bank Holidays Act 1871. Today the term is also used to describe public holidays, which are not official bank holidays, such as Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Prior to 1834, the Bank of England observed about 33 saints' days and religious festivals as holidays, but in 1834 this was reduced to four: May 1st, May Day, November 1st, All Saints Day, Good Friday, and Christmas Day. In 1871, the first legislation relating to bank holidays was passed as the Bank Holidays Act of 1871. Under the Act, no person was compelled to make any payment or to do any act upon a bank holiday, which he would not be compelled to do or make on Christmas Day or Good Friday. And the making of a payment or doing an act on these days was equivalent to doing it on the holiday. The English people liked the idea and gladly obliged.