Talk:Public holidays in the United Kingdom

Orangeman's Day??
I dispute whether the Battle of the Boyne anniversary in Northern Ireland is ever called 'Orangeman's Day', either officially or otherwise. I have heard it called 'Boyne Day' or 'Orange Day' unofficially, but I have major doubts about whether even those names are widely used. Could someone from Northern Ireland clarify this? --Helenalex 04:59, 22 February 2007 (UTC)


 * The Department for Trade and Industry say it is, evidently. --Islomaniac 973 21:38, 4 March 2007 (UTC)

Stavros1965 (talk) 15:28, 1 June 2009 (UTC) Actually the DTI link above states "Orangemen's" day (plural), nonetheless it is very incorrect, within Northern Ireland or for that matter the Replublic of Ireland, it is referred to as "12th of July" or simply "The Twelfth". If you say to anyone "are you off on the twelfth?" they will know you mean, are you off work on the 12th of July. There is no real difference between the way a nationalists (generally catholics) or unionists (generally protestants) refer to it.

Holidays in Scotland
Unlike most of England. Scotland does not follow these bank holiday, now as this CLEARLY SAY "Public holidays in the United Kingdom" NOT Bank hoildays. with that in mind then it should be noted that scotland 32 council deiced when half the holidays are taken. when it comes to Last Monday in August (2009: 3 August) - Summer Bank Holiday No one in scotland takes this holidays ALL the schools are open!!! ( as it week after the Scottish schools come back form summer holidays )

1 & 2 January, first Monday in may, St Andrews day , 25 & 26 December are the only dates when ALL of scotland is off at the same time.

The other 3 dates as said above, up to the council area. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.205.118.84 (talk) 20:47, 5 December 2009 (UTC)

With this all in mind the whole main page should be change to this:

Public holidays of United Kingdom


 * England and Wales

1 January - New Year's Day

Variable - Good Friday

Variable - Easter Monday

First Monday in May (2009: 4 May) - May Day Bank Holiday

Last Monday in May (2009: 25 May) - Spring Bank Holiday

Last Monday in August (2009: 3 August) - Summer Bank Holiday

25 December - Christmas Day

26 December - Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day

Total: 8


 * Northern Ireland

1 January - New Year's Day

17 March - St Patrick's Day (this was not an officially recognised public holiday in Northern Ireland until the peace process went into place then became a hoilday

Variable - Good Friday

Variable - Easter Monday

First Monday in May (2009: 4 May) - May Day Bank Holiday

Last Monday in May (2009: 25 May) - Spring Bank Holiday

12 July - Bank Holiday in Lieu of Battle of the Boyne - 12th of July

Last Monday in August - Summer Bank Holiday

25 December - Christmas Day

26 December - Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day

Total: 10


 * Scotland

1 January - New Year's Day

2 January - 2 January

First Monday in May - May Day Bank Holiday

30 November - St. Andrew's Day

25 December - Christmas Day

26 December - Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day

PLUS 3 or 4 Addition holiday Mondays, deiced by the local 32 council. Banks do still close on Good Friday, Easter Monday, Last Monday in May and Summer bank Holiday

Total: 9 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.205.118.84 (talk) 20:58, 5 December 2009 (UTC)

I have changed back to the correct list of the 8/9 Statutory Bank Holidays set out in law for Scotland http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/01/bankholidays and inserted the correct information for St Andrew's Day (the optional 9th statutory holiday) and added that Scottish Clearing Banks follow the English holidays at Easter, Summer and January.

This is the key starting point to getting this section right.

The question going forward is should we list all Scottish local holidays as suggested by Paddimir in 2007?

My feeling would be we need to at least show the major additional holidays taken (and indeed those not taken) in Edinburgh/Glasgow/Aberdeen/Dundee and given [WP:NOTPAPER] there is no reason why all verifiable local holidays in Scotland should not be shown.

Less formal areas like trades and fairs weeks may be more of a grey area going forward. Andrewdpcotton (talk) 17:08, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Good Friday in Scotland
This is the first time i have tried to contribute, so apologies if I mess this up. Good Friday is not a public holiday in Scotland. This monday (September weekend) is a holiday. I don't have a definitive list, but if I get one I will post it here. I just noticed it was wrong, and nearly came in to work on monday as a result! Paddimir 14:41, 18 September 2007 (UTC)

I found the following in an internal website for my company. It's not definitive for the public at large, but shows that the current list is incorrect.

The six fixed holidays will be Easter Monday 9 April, Monday 7 May, 25 & 26 December 2007 and 1 & 2 January 2008. The two other local Bank/Public holidays have been agreed as listed below. Some areas have yet to confirm local dates.

Issue 7 	Local Holiday  	Local Holiday  	Remarks ARNOUSTIE 	23/07/07 	01/10/07 CASTLE DOUGLAS 	23/07/07 	08/10/07 COLDSTREAM 	06/08/07 	01/10/07 CRIEFF 	10/09/07 	22/10/07 CUPAR 	09/07/07 	01/10/07 DUMFRIES 	23/07/07 	08/10/07 	& Annan, Locherbie, Castle Douglas, & Thornhill DUNDEE 	23/07/07 	01/10/07 DUNFERMLINE & WEST FIFE 	04/06/07 	01/10/07 DUNOON 	16/07/07 	24/09/07 DUNS 	13/07/07 	01/10/07 EDINBURGH 	21/05/07 	17/09/07 	& East Lothian ELGIN 	25/06/07 	08/10/07 EYEMOUTH 	29/06/07 	12/10/07 FALKIRK 	02/07/07 	10/09/07 FORFAR 	23/07/07 	24/09/07 FORRES 	25/06/07 	08/10/07 FORT WILLIAM 	08/10/07 	11/02/08 FRASERBURGH 	18/06/07 	17/09/07 GALASHIELS 	04/06/07 	08/10/07 GLASGOW 	16/07/07 	24/09/07 	& Alexandria, Bellshill, Clydebank, Cumbernauld, Dumbarton, Lanark, Duntocher, East Kilbride, Helensburgh, Motherwell, Paisley. GREENOCK 	02/07/07 	03/09/07 	& Largs HAWICK 	08/06/07 	08/10/07 HUNTLY 	04/06/07 	06/08/07 INVERNESS 	02/07/07 	08/10/07 JEDBURGH 	13/07/07 	08/10/07 KELSO 	06/08/07 	01/10/07 KINROSS 	23/07/07 	01/10/07 KIRKCALDY 	04/06/07 	01/10/07 	& East Fife. KIRKWALL 	16/07/07 	08/10/07 KIRRIEMUIR 	23/07/07 	01/10/07 KYLE 	02/07/07 	08/10/07 LADYBANK 	09/07/07 	01/10/07 LANGHOLM 	27/08/07 	15/10/07 LERWICK 	15/10/07 	30/01/08 MONTROSE 	23/07/07 	17/09/07 NEWPORT ON TAY 	16/07/07 	01/10/07 NEWTON STEWART 	21/05/07 	17/09/07 OBAN 	16/07/07 	08/10/07 	& Tobermory PEEBLES 	04/06/07 	15/10/07 PERTH 	10/09/07 	01/10/07 PETERHEAD 	04/06/07 	03/09/07 PORTREE 	02/07/07 	08/10/07 SELKIRK 	15/06/07 	08/10/07 ST ANDREWS 	16/07/07 	08/10/07 ST BOSWELLS 	04/06/07 	08/10/07 STIRLING 	03/09/07 	08/10/07 STORNOWAY 	02/07/07 	06/08/07 STRANRAER 	21/05/07 	17/09/07 	& Newton Stewart TAYPORT 	16/07/07 	01/10/07 THORNHILL 	23/07/07 	08/10/07 THURSO 	04/06/07 	01/10/07 WICK 	11/06/07 	08/10/07
 * ABERDEEN 	09/07/07 	24/09/07
 * ARBROATH 	23/07/07 	24/09/07
 * AYR 	02/07/07 	17/09/07 	& Ardrossan, Arran, Cummnock, Kilmarnock, Irvine, Maybole & Troon.
 * BANFF 	03/09/07 	08/10/07
 * BATHGATE 	21/05/07 	17/09/07 	Includes all of West Lothian.
 * BENBECULA 	02/07/07 	08/10/07
 * BLAIRGOWRIE 	18/06/07 	08/10/07
 * BRECHIN 	23/07/07 	24/09/07
 * BUCKIE 	23/07/07 	08/10/07
 * CAMPBELTOWN 	10/04/07 	15/10/07 	& Lochgilphead and Islay.

EDIT: I have to AGREE only place that take Good Friday is Lothain, Most of scotland is still working even if the banks are shut.

Merge
see Talk:Bank_holiday GameKeeper 21:53, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Search?
searching uk bank holidays brings me here, should it not take me to 2009 results? Jamo777 (talk) 17:38, 16 March 2009 (UTC)

First paragraph
"In India holidays or compensation in lieu of holidays, are guaranteed by law (New Zealand is an example)."

Doesn't seem to make sense to me... Not sure if there's something I've misunderstood...Trust (talk) 23:23, 27 April 2008 (UTC)

Victoria Day?
Is the Spring/late May bank holiday really called "Victoria Day" in England and Wales? I've never heard it. I know it is in Canada and (possibly?) Scotland, but not England. Moixa —Preceding undated comment added 12:24, 9 April 2009 (UTC).

Unofficial holidays in Britain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_holidays

Wouldn't it be suiting to add an unofficial section to the holidays celebrated in the United Kingdom, like the American equivalent? I mean personally, to me, Guy Fawkes Night is as important as Easter. I mean is this article just an OFFICIAL public holiday article or something? Halloween, Guy Fawkes Night, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, Remembrance Day. These all have distinct British customs and value opposed to the American equivalents, and should be included or mentioned in some aspect, surely?--ThePhantasos (talk) 01:20, 3 December 2009 (UTC)

Substantial revision
I've made some substantial revisions to this article - see my comments in History.

This note is just to say that it is currently a 'work in progress' and I'm conscious of some particular points:
 * The Intro is now rather lengthy and it may be appropriate to move some of it to separate headings.
 * So far, I have only made changes relating to English & Welsh holidays, but plan to make similar changes to other UK countries as appropriate.
 * Further investigation showed that my comments in the Intro about substitute dates for Christmas and Boxing Day are partly contradicted by the notes I've put against Boxing Day. Haven't had time to review the former yet.
 * Some of my changes have increased the overlap between this and the Bank holiday article. I note that merger of the two has previously been suggested with several comments against, but I do wonder whether it may be helpful to merge the UK-specific parts of the Bank holiday article with this article (obviously with a x-reference in the other) as the distinctions between the two articles as regards the UK are somewhat arbitary.

Meanwhile I propose to continue amendments as time permits. TrevorD (talk) 20:07, 26 October 2011 (UTC)


 * I have to agree with you on a number of your points its turns out there is also this page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_holidays_in_Scotland. I should POINT, if Big list of Scottish public holiday goes missing it will be returns.  Maybe the best Idea would be to Merger with Bank holiday page BUT have New page with links t" "Public Holidays in Scotland" [User:Crazyseiko]] (Crazyseiko)

Merger
Its been suggested that this page should be merged with Bank holiday page.

With the Scottish information/details now its own page it only leave same information, IE it duplicating. Other page does contain Ireland I know its not part of United Kingdom BUT ITS IS part of the British Isles, There should be no need for any change to the name of the page in question Bank holiday, unless to change it to Bank holiday in British Isles.... [User:Crazyseiko]] (Crazyseiko)

Public holidays are a seperate thing from bank holidays, additionally public holidays is a generic phrase easily understood for people researching, those outside the UK may not know what a bank holiday is. I vote against merging. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 155.192.33.137 (talk) 09:47, 14 February 2012 (UTC)

I think we should keep this in the "Public holidays in Xx" format - if there should be a merger it should be the other way. -- Beardo (talk) 22:55, 8 April 2012 (UTC)

I have tinkered a little bit on this article, but having now discovered the separate article at bank holiday I agree that some kind of merger is needed (though I haven't thought about which direction). This could involve a substantial overhaul, so I now think that making further small changes to either article prior to such a merger are probably not time will spent. Equally, I'm afraid I'm not volunteering... --Money money tickle parsnip (talk) 09:56, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

What authority specifies the public holidays?
THe gov.uk website provides only the infomation, not the authority for it. It's not here. It feels relevant and important, but I don't know what it is.

Days in lieu
Does the table really need to show days in lieu separately like that - I find that more confusing that helpful. Do any other similar pages do it that way ? -- Beardo (talk) 16:24, 26 December 2018 (UTC)

Redirect to Bank Holiday
I propose that this page should redirect to bank holiday because that is what the government and everyone else calls them. All of the info on this page is already covered on bank holiday Queeninbriefs (talk) 08:40, 27 May 2019 (UTC)


 * This page is clearly Public holidays in the United Kingdom, ie ALL OF UK. All Bank holidays in the uk are NOT public holidays in the UK, etc. You have stated a very english point of view. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Crazyseiko (talk • contribs) 08:51, 27 May 2019 (UTC)


 * , It's covered in bank holiday because you copied it from this article without ensuring proper attribution, Copied. Other than copying material you've made no effort to integrate the material or to treat all parts of the UK on an equal footing. Bank holiday also covers Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the channel islands which are not part of the UK. What was already messy is now messier. Cabayi (talk) 12:09, 27 May 2019 (UTC)

Oak Apple Day
The article for Oak Apple Day states that it was a public holiday until 1859 but this article says that the holidays were reduced to just 4 in 1834 and Oak Apple Day is not included in the list. This seems to be a contradiction somewhere? Kidburla (talk) 09:17, 31 May 2020 (UTC)

Include Privilege days
(I wasn't sure where to put this point, since it's related to a number of existing topics here. So I decided to put it on its own.)  The dates described in Privilege day ought to be mentioned here, as they are effectively holidays at least for government workers. It's something people (like me) trying to find whether certain offices might be closed on a given day would expect to find under Public holidays in the United Kingdom. I'm not sure whether the information should be included on this page, or just a link to Privilege day. I would go ahead and add a mention and link, but I'm not sure where on the page it should go.DSZ~enwiki (talk) 16:21, 9 April 2022 (UTC)

Duplication
There is quite a bit of duplication between the Changes section and the Special holidays section. It's quite hard to separate them as in several cases the addition of a special bank holiday causes an existing bank holiday to be moved. I suggest merging these two sections together. --Jameboy (talk) 09:33, 7 November 2022 (UTC)