In article <fpvqpi$ao8$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>, kfl@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(Keith F.
Lynch) wrote:
> Paul Dormer <prd@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> > Mayday Bank holiday (first Monday in May)
> > Late Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May - used to be Whit
> > Monday) August Bank Holiday (last Monday in August - used to be
> > the first Monday when I were a lad, and still is in Scotland, I
> > believe.
>
> The idea of holdays that aren't for anything in particular seems
> very odd to me, given that there are so many people and events
> worth commemorating.
Well, I think the idea was that the holiday was now celebrated for the
benefit of the working m*****, rather than just celebrating an event.
The August Bank Holiday was introduced in Victorian times because
otherwise, you'd go from Whitsun in May to Christmas without a public
holiday.
Interestingly, there have been suggestions for an extra holiday to be
celebrated to break up the four month from the August Bank Holiday to
Christmas, and Trafalgar Day has been suggested, which is October 21st.
Not sure how well this would go down with our EU partners, the French.
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