Scotland
Most bank holidays are not recognized in Scotland, as public holidays are generally determined by local authorities across Scotland. Some of these may be taken in lieu of statutory holidays while others may be additional holidays, although many companies, including Royal Mail, do not follow all the holidays listed below, and many swap between English and local holidays.
Since Easter 1996 the Scottish clearing banks have harmonised the days on which they are closed with those in England and Wales, and are therefore closed on Easter Monday and the last Monday in August (rather than the first). This has resulted in a number of local authorities creating a public holiday on Easter Monday. Previously Easter Monday had not been a public holiday in Scotland.
There have been many protests about banks opening on 2 January since this decision was taken. This has resulted in many banks now providing only a limited service on 2 January, with most members of staff still entitled to the holiday
| Date | Name | Major Towns/Cities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day | all |
| 2 January | ||
| 1st Monday in February | Winter Holiday | Inverness |
| 1st Monday in March | Inverness | |
| Last Monday in March | Lochaber | |
| Easter holiday (variable) | Good Friday | Ayr, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Inverclyde, Kilmarnock, Paisley, Stirling, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire |
| Easter Monday | Ayr, Edinburgh, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Kilmarnock, North Lanarkshire, Paisley, Stirling, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire | |
| 1st Monday in April | Spring Holiday | Carnoustie and Monifieth area, Dundee, Fife, Scottish Borders, Inverness, Perth, |
| 2nd Monday in April | Angus, expect Carnoustie and Monifieth area, Elgin | |
| 3rd Monday in April, or preceding week if would otherwise coincide with Easter Monday | Edinburgh | |
| Monday in April; date varies from year to year | Aberdeen | |
| Last Monday in April | Inverclyde | |
| 1st Monday in May | Labour Day or Early May Bank Holiday | all |
| Tuesday after 1st Monday in May | Victoria Day /Spring Holiday | Clydebank, Stirling |
| Last Monday strictly before 24 May | Edinburgh* | |
| 4th Monday in May | Perth* | |
| Last Monday in May | Ayr, Dundee*, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Paisley*, South Lanarkshire | |
| 1st Monday in June | Galashiels, Inverclyde, Fife | |
| Tuesday after 2nd Thursday in June | Linlithgow Marches | Linlithgow |
| Second Thursday in June | Lanimer Day | Lanark area only |
| Last Monday in June | Fair Holiday | Elgin |
| Saturday preceding 1st Monday in July | Edinburgh | |
| 1st Monday in July | Falkirk, Inverness | |
| 1st Friday in July | Braw Lads Gathering | Galashiels |
| 2nd Monday in July | Fair Holiday | Aberdeen |
| 3rd Monday in July | Arbroath, Fife, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire except Lanark | |
| 4th Friday in July | Scottish Borders | |
| Last Monday in July | Dundee | |
| 1st Monday in August | Paisley | |
| 1st Monday in September | Late Summer Holiday | Elgin, Inverclyde |
| 2nd Monday in September | Battle of Stirling Bridge | Falkirk, Perth, Stirling |
| 3rd Friday in September | Ayr Gold Cup | Ayr, Kilmarnock |
| Monday after 3rd Friday in September | Ayr, Kilmarnock | |
| 3rd Monday in September | Autumn Holiday | Edinburgh |
| Last Monday in September | Aberdeen, Angus except Carnoustie and Monifieth area, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Paisley, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire | |
| 1st Monday in October | Carnoustie and Monifieth area, Dundee, Inverness, Perth | |
| 2nd Monday in October | Scottish Borders | |
| 3rd Monday in October | Elgin, Fife | |
| 1st Monday in November | Samhain holiday | Inverness |
| 30 November | St. Andrew's Day | an official holiday in Angus, Fife, Scottish Borders |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | All |
| 26 December | Boxing Day | All |
Official bank holidays are:
| Date | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year's Day |
| 2 January | New Year Holiday |
| variable | Good Friday |
| 1st Monday in May | May Day |
| Last Monday in May | Spring Holiday |
| 1st Monday in August | Summer Holiday |
| November 30 | St. Andrew's Day |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
| December 26 | Boxing Day |
| Total | 9 |
Note: In 2012, there was a special holiday on Tuesday, 5 June, to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. Most areas did not have Monday the 4 June as a holiday.
Read more about this topic: Public Holidays In The United Kingdom
Famous quotes containing the word scotland:
“The state of monarchy is the supremest thing upon earth: for kings are not only God’s Lieutenants upon earth, and sit upon God’s throne, but even by God himself they are called gods.”
—James I of England, James VI of Scotland (1566–1625)
“Four and twenty at her back
And they were a’ clad out in green;
Tho the King of Scotland had been there
The warst o’ them might hae been his Queen.
On we lap and awa we rade
Till we cam to yon bonny ha’
Whare the roof was o’ the beaten gold
And the floor was o’ the cristal a’.”
—Unknown. The Wee Wee Man (l. 21–28)
“A custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black, stinking fume thereof nearest resembling the horrible Stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless.”
—James I of England, James VI of Scotland (1566–1625)