Should the extra days off be used to commemorate significant events in British history?
If you had the power to rename those three rather nondescript bank holidays we receive each year – May bank holiday, spring bank holiday, and late summer bank holiday – what would you choose?
Unlike the UK, other countries around the globe utilise their public holidays as a means of celebrating significant events or figures. Yet, here in Britain, we have three somewhat uninspiring bank holidays that lack any real significance.
Take Australia for example, they commemorate the birthday of our King Charles III with a public holiday. Over in America, Martin Luther King Day is observed to honour equality and freedom.
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Meanwhile, we have Emmeline Pankhurst Day, which often goes unnoticed despite its importance in recognising women’s suffrage.
Each year, Battle of Britain Day passes without much fanfare, despite the fact that if we’d lost, we could all be speaking German. Similarly, Trafalgar Day comes and goes without much recognition, even though victory in this battle prevented us from potentially speaking French.
Our triumph at Trafalgar solidified Great Britain’s position as a global superpower, a fact we seem all too willing to forget. One could even argue for a bank holiday to celebrate our victory over the Spanish Armada.
Had we been defeated, Spanish might have become our first language, eliminating the need for Spanish lessons in schools.
On a different note, should we celebrate all our Saints?
Saint Patrick for Northern Ireland, St George for England, St David in Wales, and St Andrew for Scotland. Should these be celebrated with a day off work across the four home countries?
Let’s not forget about the health service. The Emergency Services Day and Mental Health Awareness Day could also be celebrated as individual bank holidays to raise appreciation for them.
The armed services have a new Armed Forces Day, which always falls on a weekend. However, Armistice Day varies throughout the year, and November 11th doesn’t always fall on a weekend.
So, should this be a national public holiday?
It’s your turn to voice your opinion. You can select more than one of the options below, or suggest another choice that you think should be celebrated as a national public holiday and rename one of our three obscure bank holidays in the middle of the year: May bank holiday, the spring bank holiday, and the late summer bank holiday.
These names don’t really mean anything but could be transformed into public celebrations and a day off work.
We will gather your responses and publish a follow-up article soon. Also, remember that many of our new MPs read our publications and will be looking to make a good first impression with a private members’ bill, to push through popular opinion and make a change for the better.
So, voice your opinion now. Click on the survey below to share your thoughts and let us know what you chose in the comments section below.
If you can’t see the survey, click here
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