It’s because the British government loves a good long weekend. The first one is for May Day, an ancient festival of flowers and dancing around poles. The second is for Spring Bank Holiday, which was originally Whit Monday. Whit Monday was a religious day, but we turned it into a chance to eat ice cream in the drizzle. Very British.
Fun fact: The early May bank holiday was only moved to a Monday in 1978. Before that, it was fixed on 1st May. Imagine trying to plan a BBQ on a Tuesday—disaster.
What can you actually do with these days?
You could go to a carnival. Many towns throw parades with giant puppets and brass bands. It’s chaos, but the joy is infectious.
Or you could stay home and watch telly. The BBC always has a special schedule—think old movies, gardening shows, and a lot of cricket. It’s like stepping into a time capsule, and honestly, I love it.
If you’re feeling daring, you could attempt a DIY project. Just remember: bank holiday DIY is a rite of passage. You’ll start with “I’ll paint the shed” and end up trapped in a hardware store at 4pm, buying a new drill you don’t need.
