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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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bank holiday
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The term in Britain for a public holiday. It derives from an act introduced in 1871 by Sir John Lubbock (1834–1913), which compelled the Bank of England and the clearing banks to close on specific days and thus established them as public holidays. Christmas Day and Good Friday were already common law holidays in England, Wales and Ireland; to them were added Easter Monday, Whit Monday, the first Monday in August (an entirely secular holiday known for a while as St Lubbock's Day) and *Boxing Day.
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The equivalent four bank holidays in Scotland were established as New Year's Day, the first Monday in May, the first Monday in August and Christmas Day. Subsequent legislation has amended the list, bringing the present annual total to eight. In Northern Ireland two extra holidays are recognized; March 17 (St Patrick's Day) and July 12, when the Battle of the *Boyne is commemorated. When any holiday falls during a weekend, the next working day becomes the holiday.
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