Bank Holidays

Now that we are in a global economical crisis, we are hearing that politics and bussinessmen are thinking of changing the job calendar in Spain. They had a look in the British work system and their Bank holidays. What is a bank holiday? Here there is a free translation of the article in EL PAIS last Friday. Every holiday is on Monday in the United Kingdom. Therefore, their ideal target is to avoid long free days in that country and also a worker can always enjoy the holidays in the weekdays, they never happen on Saturday or Sundays. There are only two exceptions: Good Friday and Holy Monday. Christmas Day and the Boxing Day, on 26th December, only change if they are at weekends. So, if Christmas Day is on Saturday a year, the next two consecutive days are then on Monday and Tuesday. But, if Christmas Day is on Wednesday, the holiday is on Wednesday and Thursday, that means that it is the only chance to have the longest period of holiday of the year ( the Spanish typical "puente" ). Thus, Christmas and Good Friday are the only public holidays ( for everyone ) and the rest of free days for workers are Bank Holidays. That name comes from a decission taken by the Bank of England in 1834. They decided to shorten the holy days from 33 free days to four days ( Good Friday. 1st May, 1st November- Day of All Saints- and Christmas Day ). But the tradition of moving the festivity to a Monday started after a law of Bank Holidays in 1871. Although we may have the feeling of having more free days in Spain than in the UK, the fact is that the figures are similar as the holidays are moved to a Monday instead of at weekends. There are nine Bank Holidays in England and Wales in 2011: Christmas Day, Good Friday, New Year's Day, Holy Monday, 1st May, Boxing Day, Spring and Summer bank holidays- the days of the start of that season ). There is also an extra Bank Holiday to conmemorate the Prince William's wedding. Actually, there will be another extra bank holiday in 2012 to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II kingdom, on 5th June. Besides, the word "holiday" has a singular definition. If you take the law by its word, workers only have the right to take their holidays at Christmas and Good Friday, in spite of the fact that most of them do not work in bank holidays. Anyway, every holiday and free days are regulated in each coompany and any holiday or free day are within the 5,6 weeks of vacation a year. The company has their right to take money of the worker's wages or to cut down the worker's holidays because of the number of Bank Holidays. Grandma needs new dentures To eat the crust on pizza Been taken out by her daughter Because she thought she oughta The kids are eating Snickers Because they're so delicious Then there's sticky fingers And mother loses her knickers Bank holiday comes six times a year Days of enjoyment to which everyone cheers Bank holiday comes with a six pack of beer Then it's back to work A-g-a-i-n Barbecue is cooking Sausages and chicken The patio is buzzing And neighbors they are looking John is down the fun pub Drinking lots of lager Girls and boys are on the game And all the high streets look the same