Trivia Answer: First Bank Holidays

     Hey folks, due to my error in reading about the first bank holidays in England, there are TWO correct answers to this question.  Therefore, everyone who answered did so correctly!!!  The first four bank holidays named in the Bank Holidays Act of 1871 were Easter Monday, Whit Monday (Pentecost Monday), the First Monday in August, and St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day).  The act did not specify Good Friday and Christmas Day as bank holidays in England, Wales and Ireland because they were already recognised as common law holidays, and because of common observance, they became customary holidays since before records began. 

     A bank holiday is a public holiday in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. There is no automatic right to time off on these days, although the majority of the population not employed in essential services (e.g. utilities, fire, ambulance, police, health-care, public transport workers) receive them as holidays; those employed in essential services usually receive extra pay for working on these days.

      Prior to 1834, the Bank of England observed about thirty-three saints' days and religious festivals as holidays, but in 1834, this was reduced to just four: 1 May, 1 November, Good Friday, and Christmas Day. In 1871, the first legislation relating to bank holidays was passed when banker, Sir John Lubbock introduced the Bank Holidays Act 1871 which specified these days.  Sir John was an enthusiastic supporter of cricket and was firmly of the belief that bank employees should have the opportunity to participate in and attend matches when they were scheduled. Included in the dates of bank holidays are therefore dates when cricket games were traditionally played between the villages in the region where Sir John was raised.  The English people were so thankful that they called the first Bank Holidays 'St. Lubbock's Days' for a while.