Spring Bank Holiday in the UK: When and how to celebrate, how did it begin and more

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

spring bank holiday in the UK. Many establishments in the UK will be closed and public transport may be affected according to local customs of the city or county. Which are the establishments that are open or shut, what are the origins of this Spring Bank Holiday and other facts related to this will be explored.

Is it a holiday?

For members of the general public, most schools and business establishments are shut during the Spring Bank Holiday. It is a holiday.

How is it observed?

Tourist spots in the UK experience increased footfall as many people take that holiday during the extended weekend. Many individuals take that holiday to also trek, visit family members, or read that novel in a laidback manner in the comfort of their homes. This time is also spent in undertaking various gardening activities or even carrying out maintenance of their homes.

There are also customs associated with this festival in different places. For instance, in Cooper’s Hill in Brockworth in Gloucestershire, people race down a steep hill chasing a large round of cheese. The hill is steep and the first person crossing the finish line wins a Double Gloucester cheese weighing about 3.5kgs. The tradition may have been started by the Romans.

‘Tossing the Sheaf’

Similarly, in Endon in Staffordshire, local men hold a competition known as ‘Tossing the Sheaf’, in which the participants compete to see who can toss a bale of straw, the highest. In other places, public places are dressed up