mowgli
29-08-11, 10:57 AM
[with thanks to wikipedia]
its all down to a Liberal Politician (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Party_UK) and Banker Sir John Lubbock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lubbock,_1st_Baron_Avebury) who introduced the Bank Holidays Act 1871 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_Holidays_Act_1871)
Prior to 1834, the Bank of England (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_England) observed about thirty-three saints' days and religious festivals as holidays, but in 1834, this was reduced to just four: 1 May (May Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day)), 1 November (All Saints Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints_Day)), Good Friday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday), and Christmas Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Day).
The Bank Holidays Act 1871 established the first Bank Holidays (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_Holidays) in the United Kingdom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom).
The Act designated four Bank Holidays in England (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England), Wales (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales) and Ireland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland) (Easter Monday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Monday); Whit Monday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whit_Monday); First Monday in August; Boxing Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day) in England and Wales and St Stephen's Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Stephen%27s_Day) in Ireland), and five in Scotland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland) (New Year's Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day); Good Friday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday); First Monday in May; First Monday in August; Christmas Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Day)).
In England, Wales and Ireland, Good Friday and Christmas Day were considered traditional days of rest (as were Sundays) and therefore it was felt unnecessary to include them in the Act.
and in the era before electronic banking, if the banks were shut, all business transactions would be very limited, so everybody would be off work.
the original act never mentioned torrential rain, traffic queues & dfs sales. these were covered in later legislation i believe.
its all down to a Liberal Politician (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Party_UK) and Banker Sir John Lubbock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lubbock,_1st_Baron_Avebury) who introduced the Bank Holidays Act 1871 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_Holidays_Act_1871)
Prior to 1834, the Bank of England (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_England) observed about thirty-three saints' days and religious festivals as holidays, but in 1834, this was reduced to just four: 1 May (May Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day)), 1 November (All Saints Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints_Day)), Good Friday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday), and Christmas Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Day).
The Bank Holidays Act 1871 established the first Bank Holidays (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_Holidays) in the United Kingdom (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom).
The Act designated four Bank Holidays in England (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England), Wales (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales) and Ireland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland) (Easter Monday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Monday); Whit Monday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whit_Monday); First Monday in August; Boxing Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day) in England and Wales and St Stephen's Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Stephen%27s_Day) in Ireland), and five in Scotland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland) (New Year's Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day); Good Friday (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday); First Monday in May; First Monday in August; Christmas Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Day)).
In England, Wales and Ireland, Good Friday and Christmas Day were considered traditional days of rest (as were Sundays) and therefore it was felt unnecessary to include them in the Act.
and in the era before electronic banking, if the banks were shut, all business transactions would be very limited, so everybody would be off work.
the original act never mentioned torrential rain, traffic queues & dfs sales. these were covered in later legislation i believe.