Bank Holidays Act 1871

The Bank Holidays Act 1871 was a law in the UK that established official public holidays, called bank holidays. It designated certain days—such as New Year's Day, Christmas, and Easter Monday—as days off for banks, which also became days off for the general public. The law aimed to standardize holiday observance, providing workers with predictable time off. Over time, many of these holidays have become part of broader cultural and statutory practices, but the Act was the first step in formalizing designated days of rest across the country.