After the bonanza Platinum Jubilee four-day bank holiday weekend in June, Brits may be wondering when the next public holiday is. Luckily, itâs just around the corner. Monday, August 29th marks the traditional Summer Bank Holiday of 2022.
But where did the holiday come from? In this article, we will dive into the history and explore other holidays also taking place in August around the world.
What are the origins of the August bank holiday?
The Bank Holidays Bill 1871 legislated that Easter Monday, Whit Monday, the first Monday in August and Boxing Day would become the first official bank holidays in England, Wales and Ireland. Scotland, meanwhile, would celebrate New Yearâs Day, Good Friday, the first Monday in May, the first Monday in August and Christmas Day.
Surprisingly, New Yearâs Day only became a public holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1971. So, a tradition which feels like it has been place forever is only 50 years old in practice.
August bank holidays around the world
The following countries also observe a bank holiday on August 29th this year:
- Slovakia â National Uprising Day
- Saint Helena â Public holiday
- Gibraltar â Public holiday
- Guernsey â Public holiday
August 1st is a public holiday in many countries:
- Barbados
- Benin
- Switzerland
- British Virgin Islands
- Iceland
- Ireland
Augustâs weird and wonderful public holidays and observances around the world
While most people are familiar with the concept of the bank holiday, there are a variety of holidays celebrated around the world for more unusual reasons.
International Elephant Day, August 12
August 12th is World Elephant Day. This obscure holiday is surely only celebrated by the most ardent elephant lovers. World Elephant Day, marked its twelfth-anniversary last year. Each year various events or as they are known âEleventsâ are held to raise awareness and money for elephant conservation.
National Lazy Day, August 10
In the busy and sometimes frantic modern world, it can sometimes be hard to find a day to do absolutely nothing. Surrounded by sources of information, entertainment and distraction, weâre always on the go making it difficult to deliberately set aside a day to do nothing, simply relax and unwind. This is the purpose of National Lazy Day.
We canât find much information about when this holiday began, but perhaps thatâs exactly what the originators had planned. Or, maybe they were just too lazy to write their thoughts downâŠ
Poetâs Day, August 21
Poetâs Day is the opportunity to celebrate the subtle art of poetry. Whether the last time you read poetry was at school, or you are an avid collector of works of poetry, why not take the opportunity to dive into some poetry this August?
International Strange Music Day, August 24
This unusual holiday was created by Patrick Grant, an American composer from New York. Grantâs music is strange by his own admission, mixing classical with various other music genres. When finding a title for his album he decided to play it straight, calling it âStrange Musicâ.
International Strange Music Day is an opportunity for everyone to step outside their comfort zone and embrace some strange and surprising music. Expanding oneâs horizons is always a great opportunity to see the world in new and exciting ways.
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