Does anybody know why we have Bank Holidays? I've forgotten.

[...of J.Temperance]

I remember reading why once, but I've completely forgotten now.

If someone has a good grasp of ancient history, when was the very first Bank Holiday?

On edit: when I say "ancient history" I'm not meaning Bronze Age, Medieval etc obviously. I know Bank Holidays aren't THAT old.

[corkhead]

1. I think it is so they will work when a lot of other people are off

like the day after thanksgiving, xmas eve, new year's eve, good friday etc.

[...of J.Temperance]

3. Perhaps it is

That would make sense. I'm hoping Anarcho-Socialist can help out here, afterall he's very good at historical stuff.

[ecoflame]

2. I have no answer just empathy

Don't ya hate it when you forget shit that does NOT matter and then it drives ya batty. I swear - I'm 50, certainly don't feel it but I can't remember anything for longer than 10 seconds. It's like a switch turned off a year ago.

[...of J.Temperance]

4. Yeah

'Tis true. I'm 27 and I forget many things after 10 seconds :)

[Anarcho-Socialist]

5. Here's a Wikipedia entry on the subject

I hope it helps :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_Holiday

[...of J.Temperance]

6. Thanks!

I knew I could count on you, I knew you wouldn't let me down :)

[sweetheart]

7. Its so the banks can rotate staff

Then when the bank is closed, the tellers face backwards
and this creates financial balance.

This is why bankers are often a bit odd. :-)