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These are the national holidays of the United Kingdom for 2007 [1] [2]. Workers in the United Kingdom are not automatically entitled to time off on a public holiday. Time off can be provided for in an employment agreement or by expending annual leave. In other countries holidays or compensation in lieu of holidays, are guaranteed by law (New Zealand is an example).
When an anniversary day that is usually a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the date of the bank holiday is postponed and declared for a following weekday. This new date is termed a 'bank holiday ' of the actual anniversary day. In this way, public holidays are not 'lost' on years when they coincide with weekends (which will already be a day off for many people.)
Increasingly, there are calls for public holidays on the patron saints' days in England, Scotland and Wales (Northern Ireland already has St Patrick's Day as a holiday). An online petition sent to the Prime Minister received 11,000 signatures for a public holiday in Wales on St. David's Day; the Scottish Parliament has introduced a bill for a public holiday on St. Andrew's Day; campaigners in England are calling for a bank holiday on St. George's Day.
1 January - New Year's Day
6 April - Good Friday
9 April - Easter Monday
7 May - May Day Bank Holiday
28 May - Spring Bank Holiday (Whit Monday)
27 August - Summer Bank Holiday
25 December - Christmas Day
26 December - Boxing Day
1 January - New Year's Day
19 March - Bank Holiday in lieu of St Patrick's Day
6 April - Good Friday
9 April - Easter Monday
7 May - May Day Bank Holiday
28 May - Spring Bank Holiday
12 July - Battle of the Boyne (Orangeman's Day)
27 August - Summer Bank Holiday
25 December - Christmas Day
26 December - Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day
1 January - New Year's Day
2 January - 2 January
6 April - Good Friday
7 May - May Day Bank Holiday
28 May - Spring Bank Holiday
6 August - Summer Bank Holiday
30 November - St. Andrew's Day
25 December - Christmas Day
26 December - Boxing Day