Spring bank holiday

Culture of origin: National · National holiday

Holiday sources: United Kingdom (England and Wales)

The spring bank holiday took the place of Whit Monday when the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 set a late spring bank holiday on the last Monday of May. It is one of seven bank holidays shared by England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK's first bank holidays were named in the Bank Holidays Act 1871, brought in by the banker and politician Sir John Lubbock; on these days banks close and most people get the day off or extra pay.