When I first came to England it seemed like there were many more “Bank Holidays” than there were Federal Holidays in the U.S. So…I googled it of course!
Once I looked closer, the U.S. actually has one more federal (bank) holiday than the U.K.!! And this includes this year’s extra bank holiday in the U.K. for the King’s Coronation!!!
A little explanation:
Federal Holidays in the U.S. are recognized country wide. Individual states may have their own state holidays addition to the Federal Holidays.
Bank Holidays in the U.K. are comparable to the Federal Holidays in the states. Similar to the individual states in the U.S., the four countries that make up the U.K. (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) may have their own country holidays in addition to the U.K. national bank holidays.
But, for an apple to apple comparison, in this post, we will just look at the countrywide Federal Holidays in the U.S. vs. the National Bank Holidays in the U.K.
See the list below of United Kingdom Bank Holidays for 2023:
| Date | Day | Holiday | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Sun | New Year’s Day | National |
| 2 Jan | Mon | New Year Holiday | National |
| 7 Apr | Fri | Good Friday | National |
| 10 Apr | Mon | Easter Monday | National except Scotland |
| 1 May | Mon | May Day | National |
| 8 May | Mon | Coronation of King Charles III | National |
| 29 May | Mon | Late May Bank Holiday | National |
| 28 Aug | Mon | August Bank Holiday | National except Scotland |
| 25 Dec | Mon | Christmas Day | National |
| 26 Dec | Tue | Boxing Day | National |
See the list below of United States Federal Holidays for 2023:
| Date | Day | Holiday | Federal |
| 1 Jan | Sun | New Years Day 2023 | National |
| 2 Jan | Mon | New Years Day 2023 (observed) | National |
| 16 Jan | Mon | Martin Luther King Day 2023 | National |
| 20 Feb | Mon | Presidents Day 2023 * | National |
| 19 May | Mon | Memorial Day 2023 | National |
| 19 June | Mon | Juneteenth 2023 | National |
| 4 Jul | Tue | Independence Day 2023 | National |
| 4 Sep | Mon | Labor Day 2023 | National |
| 9 Oct | Mon | Columbus Day 2023 ** | National |
| 11 Nov | Sat | Veterans Day 2023 (observed Friday November 10th) | National |
| 23 Nov | Thu | Thanksgiving 2023 | National |
| 25 Dec | Mon | Christmas Day 2023 | National |
One of the differences about some of the Brit banks holidays is that they are simply called, “May Day”, “Late May Bank Holiday” or “August Bank Holiday”. I compare Late May Bank Holiday in Brit to Memorial Day (May 19th 2023 in Yank country) and Labor Day (September 4th 2023 in Yank country). Basically these holidays signify the beginning and end of the summer season in both countries. However, in the states, the Yanks commemorate those who died in the U.S. Military on Memorial Day, and celebrate the American labor movement and the contributions and achievements of the American workers on Labor Day.
Most of the world celebrates Labor Day as International Workers Day also called Workers Day or Labour Day on May 1st each year, which explains why Brits have their holiday as May Day!
Can anyone remember dancing around the May Pole as a child? The schools would have all the children grab a streamer, sing and dance, and twirl the colorful streamers around the May Pole!
Brit country also has Good Friday and Easter Monday as bank holidays, whereas Yank country does not have any Federal Holidays for Easter. And of course Boxing Day is a Bank Holiday in England as well.
Boxing Day in the U.K. is celebrated the day after Christmas Day. Traditionally, it was a day when employers distributed money, food or other valuable goods to their employees. In modern times, it is an important day for sporting events, family dinners and the start of the post-Christmas sales!!
This year the Brits have an extra bank holiday to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles on Saturday May 6th, with the holiday being observed Monday May 8th. See the formal announcement below!
https://www.royal.uk/coronation-his-majesty-king
In Yank country, we have Memorial Day and Labor Day as mentioned above. Yanks also celebrate Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Juneteenth, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Independence Day, all holidays that are different than what is celebrated in the U.K.
Let’s talk about a few of the holidays specific to Yank country!
Thanksgiving Day in the states is a federal holiday which always falls on the 4th Thursday of November. Thanksgiving started off as a remembrance of the way the Colonial Pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts and the Wampanoag American Indians gathered and enjoyed a meal, each sharing different items for the feast and giving thanks for their good fortune. Today the holiday commemorates more than just enjoying a meal together, although the Thanksgiving dinner is the crux of the day. From parades to meals, to playing family games and watching football (soccer), the day is truly about celebrating family and friends and being thankful. In my family, our Thanksgiving Day family tradition was for everyone to take turns around the dinner table and express what they were thankful for.
(Copyright AMSchotel)
(Copyright AMSchotel)
Independence Day is another holiday that is celebrated by Yanks. Independence Day always falls on July 4th. Folks generally celebrate the 4th of July with family gatherings, barbecues, little league baseball games, swimming, local fairs and carnivals, parades and the ever popular fireworks displays in the evening!! Independence Day is the Yanks commemorating its’ Independence from being governed by ENGLAND!!! SO…when folks in the states ask me if we celebrate the 4th of July on England, ummmm…that would be a “No”!
As you may know from some of my previous posts, I am originally from the Boston area of Massachusetts in New England. New England is where the original colonies first settled when branching out from England. So New England is where it all started!! Boston, Massachusetts has amazing fireworks displays every Fourth of July along with dozens of other events!! This time of year is always a great time to take a trip to the states! You’d have a wonderful experience!!! Check out some of the events this year in Boston for the 4th of July:
https://rove.me/to/boston/4th-of-july
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