Why does the UK have 2 bank holidays in May? The history behind them
The UK has a handful of bank holidays scheduled each year and on occasion, we sometimes get an extra one thrown in.
Whether you work on bank holidays or enjoy a long weekend, you might wonder why there are two bank holidays taking place in May.
Here's what we know about the two upcoming bank holidays and why they get a spot on the UK calendar each year.
In May, the two bank holidays take place in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but some bank holidays are different in each country.
If you've wondered what the history behind the two bank holidays is, look no further.
May Day, also known as early May bank holiday, takes place on Monday, May 6 this year while the spring bank holiday will be on Monday, May 26.
The BBC explains: 'The most famous example is the first May bank holiday, commonly known as May Day.
'It's the one traditionally associated with people dancing with ribbons around a Maypole on a village green and crowning a young girl as a May Queen.
'May Day normally takes place on the first Monday in May.'
Professor Julie-Marie Strange, a historian at Durham University, told the BBC: 'May Day in Britain springs from much older seasonal customs associated with the agricultural economy.'
May has always been a busy month for farmers and the May Day bank holiday was a chance for them to relax before the busy times ahead.
While the first Monday of May is May Day, the final Monday in May is the spring bank holiday.
The Economic Times said: 'Initially, the spring bank holiday began as the Monday after Pentecost. It is also known as Whitsun or Whit Monday in the United Kingdom.
'It is the enactment of 'The Banking and Financial Dealings Act of 1971' that shifted this holiday to the last Monday of May. This was done after a trial period of this arrangement from 1965-1970.'
It added: 'Whit Monday falls the day after Pentecost Sunday, a significant event in the Christian calendar.
'Pentecost Sunday occurs 50 days after Easter and is determined by the lunar calendar.
'It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles following the death of Jesus, which led to the first sermon and marked the birth of the Christian Church.
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'This day is celebrated by Christians of Catholic, Protestant, and Lutheran faiths with special church services.'
Whit Monday is celebrated 'in many historically Christian countries in Europe, including Belgium, Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.'
This year, we still have a few bank holidays left, including early May (May 5), spring (May 26), summer (August 25), Christmas Day (December 25) and Boxing Day (December 26).
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