why is a bank holiday called a bank holiday ?

Question

i know the banks are closed , but so are post office's , so why don't they call it post office day can anyone help me out here ?

thanx in advance

idk who thumbs down you gartom maybe one of those lazy bank people lol!!

Answer 1

idk sorry, but it should be called...

A day off for lazy @rse bank workers, which makes companies take my direct debits out 3 days early, leaving me broke holiday!!!

Answer 2

Prior to 1834, the Bank of England observed about thirty-three saints' days and religious festivals as holidays, but in 1834, this was reduced to just four: 1 May, 1 November, Good Friday, and Christmas Day.

In 1871, the first legislation relating to bank holidays was passed when Sir John Lubbock introduced the Bank Holidays Act 1871 which specified the days in the table set out below. Sir John was an enthusiastic supporter of cricket and was firmly of the belief that bank employees should have the opportunity to participate in and attend matches when they were scheduled. Included in the dates of bank holidays are therefore dates when cricket games were traditionally played between the villages in the region where Sir John was raised. Scotland was treated separately because of its separate traditions; for example, New Year or Hogmanay is a more important holiday there.

Bank holidays 1871 England, Wales, Ireland Scotland
New Year's Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Whit Monday First Monday in May
Last Monday in August Last Monday in August
Boxing Day Christmas Day

The act does not specify Good Friday and Christmas Day as bank holidays in England, Wales and Ireland because they were already recognized there as common law holidays, and, because of common observance, they became customary holidays since before records began.

In 1903, the Bank Holiday (Ireland) Act added 17 March, Saint Patrick's Day, as a bank holiday for Ireland only.

In the United States, banks are generally closed on all federal holidays, but the term bank holiday refers specifically to emergency bank closures mandated by executive order or act of Congress to remedy financial crises, for example the Emergency Banking Act of 1933.

For more on bank holidays see the site below.

Answer 3

The expression came from the original Bank Holiday during the Great Depression, when FDR closed the banks for the week of March 6, 1933, to prevent depositors from withdrawing all of their money and bankrupting the banking system.

The name stuck as an expression meaning a holiday when the banks are closed.
As you know, the post office is also closed on bank holidays.

Answer 4

when the banks are shut easy.lol good excuse for a day off.

Answer 5

everything Gartom said! LOL

Answer 6

I agree with gartom good answer.

Answer 7

Maybe they should call it ''Cashpoint day''


dr Bad

Answer 8

the term originated in the uk...

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