In Britain, many people enjoyed a day off on Monday. The summer bank holiday was introduced in the Bank Holidays Act 1871 and first observed in that year. It was originally intended to give bank employees the opportunity to participate and attend cricket matches.
Exactly one hundred years later, the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 moved this bank holiday to the last Monday in August for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This followed a trial period from 1965 to 1970 of the new date. In Scotland, it remained on the first Monday in August.
In some other countries locals have enjoyed a day off this month too, although not on the same day. Every year in Italy, for example, on the 15th August, ‘Ferragosto’ is celebrated. It is a time to be with family and enjoy the summer sun. Italians love to eat and Ferragosto provides the perfect opportunity for getting together with many people and having banquets in the open air. A favourite food eaten on this day is watermelon, which Italians regard as being patriotic, with its green, white and red colours! No Ferragosto day is complete without a firework display in the evening.
Whatever day is chosen in different countries, it seems days off provide the perfect opportunity to celebrate everything that is typical of that country and enjoy the great things in life which are common across all cultures – family, food and fun!