Bank Holidays in Britain

4.9

Four times a year the offices and banks in Britain are closed on a Monday and no one works in them on these days. These public holidays are known as Bank Holidays. No business houses, factories, schools or shops are open on these days.

August Bank Holiday was always celebrated on the first Monday in August, but in 1965, it was changed to the last Monday in August.

On Bank Holidays the British like to go out of town into the open air. They go to the seaside or to amusement parks. Many families take a basket and put their lunch or tea in it to enjoy their meal in the open air. Good weather is very important because a wet Bank Holiday spoils the pleasure.

Londoners often visit the Zoo, outside London, but the real cockney takes his family to Hampstead Heath, a large natural park, where there is a big fair on many of the Bank Holidays. There are many different amusements for children and young people at these fairs — merry-go-rounds, swings, a puppet show. Everybody buys bright balloons and paper hats and this makes everybody merry. A very important event is the coming of the Pearly Kings and Queens — these are cockneys who have sewed pearl buttons all over their dresses and suits. And their hats also have many pearl buttons on them. Those of them that have the most beautiful costumes are named Pearly King and Queen for one year.