Bank Holidays in Great Britain

4.5

Seven times a year the offices and banks in England 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 and factories are open on these days.

On Bank Holidays Londoners like to go out of the city into the open air. They go to the seaside or to one of the big parks. Many families take a basket and put their lunch or tea in it. They will sit on the grass under a tree, have their meal in the open air. Good weather is very important. A wet Bank Holiday gives very little pleasure.

Londoners often visit the Zoo where they can see many interesting animals from different countries. But many of them go with their families to Hampstead Heath. This is a large piece of open land near London where there is a fair on some of the Bank Holidays. There are a lot of interesting things for children and young people at these fairs—merry-go-rounds, swings and many little shops which sell paper hats with the words “Kiss Me Quick”, colored balloons, cakes and sweets.

An important moment at the fair is the coming of the Pearly Kings and Queens. These are men and women who have sewed pearl buttons all over their dresses and suits. And their hats also have many pearl buttons over them. Those people who have the most beautiful costumes are named Pearly King and Queen for one year.