The term started out referring to days when banks (in the U.K.) were closed so that bank employees could have a holiday. Before 1834, banks observed 33 days a year as bank holidays, and these were mostly saints' days and the typical church holidays like Christmas and Easter. In 1834, however, bank workers had most of those taken away such that the only holidays left were Good Friday, May 1st, November 1st, and Christmas Day. Yet, someone felt for the poor bank workers, so that in 1871, Sir John Lubbock's Act was passed, naming the following as bank holidays in England and Ireland: Easter Monday, Whit Monday, the first Monday in August, and Boxing Day (December 26). In Scotland they got New Year's Day, May Day, the first Monday in August, and Christmas Day. These holidays came to be appropriated by non-bank workers, but the term had already stuck. So, no matter for whom one works, one gets bank holidays.
B4 internet or phone banking the only way to bank was on the high street, every so often they would have a holiday & these days became known as bank holiday
Goes back many years to when banks need a day to catch up, balance their books, etc. without being open for business. Had to be a working day 'cos the employees would have got upset othewise. It was then adopted as a Public Holiday - the banks have nothing to do with it anymore
bank holidays to celebrate the countries national holidays Easter, Christmas, New Year, Witson etc ; named as such because the bank's and most companies, traditionally, did not work on bank holidays. :)
Because the banks are closed..much like Bush's mind
because bankers want a three-day weekend once per month even when there's no real reason for a special day.
