Cultura Inglesa de Duque de Caxias

Britain has relatively few public holidays compared with other European countries They are usually described as Bank Holidays because they are days when banks are officially closed.

What are public holidays?
Generally, public holidays include bank holidays,

holidays by Royal Proclamation and 'common law holidays'. Banks are not allowed to operate on bank holidays. When public holidays in the Christmas and New Year...period fall on Saturdays and Sundays, alternative week days are declared public holidays.

What are bank holidays?
British bank holidays are statutory Public Holidays and have been recognized since 1871. The name Bank Holiday comes from the time when banks were shut and so no trading could take place.
The 1871 Act designated four holidays in England, Wales and Ireland (then wholly part of the UK), and five in Scotland.
There are currently 8 permanent bank and public holidays in England, Wales and Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland. These include Christmas Day and Good Friday, which in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are common law' holidays (they are not specified by law as bank holidays but have become customary holidays because of common observance).

Are shops open on bank holidays?
Even though banks are still closed on these days many shops today now remain open. Shops, museums and other public attractions, such as historic houses and sports centres, may close on certain public holidays, particularly Christmas Day.
Traditionally many businesses close on Bank Holidays to enable the workers to have a holiday. This time is often spent with the family on mini breaks and outings. Because of this, anyone who works on Bank Holidays usually gets paid extra – "time-and-a-half" or even "double time" – negotiated for them by the Trades Unions.

To learn when British Public Holidays take place, please go to:

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/questions/bankholidays.html#bankholidays