August Bank Holidays 2023 in UK: Date, history, tradition, day, why Scotland has different day

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

The August Bank Holiday has no modern version of any older and traditional festival. Some experts believe that Sir John Lubbock chose this day in 1871 to give a holiday so that the bank employees could watch an interesting cricket match.

But some others think that August Bank Holiday was chosen to give the employees a holiday before they work for a long period up to Christmas without a break. It would be the last holiday during summer.

In 1964, Edward Heath, then-Secretary of State for Industry proposed to observe the August Bank Holiday on the last Monday of the month instead of the first one. Some industrial houses and trade unions also suggested shifting the August Bank Holiday to observe in the last of the month as it coincided with the traditional two-day industrial shutdown.

England, Wales, and Northern Ireland confirmed the change in the date of the August Bank Holiday in 1971, but Scotland continued with the older date.

Notting Hill Carnival takes place on the August Bank Holiday every year. About two million people come down the streets in Wales to participate in the carnival, making it the biggest street carnival. This festival celebrates the culture of the Caribbean people as they present their food, dance, and music, including reggae, metal, salsa, and many other things.

Q1. Why is August Bank Holiday celebrated? A1. Some experts believe that Sir John Lubbock chose this day in 1871 to give a holiday so that the bank employees could watch an interesting cricket match. But some others think that