October Bank Holiday is annually observed on every last Monday of October which means this year it falls on 31st October in the country of Republic of Ireland.
People enjoy bank holidays since it is a public holiday that provides them with a long weekend to unwind or take part in one of the many ongoing events taking place in the country during the same time period.
It is a great time for individuals to spend with their families. It is usually commemorated closely around Halloween. With only a few businesses open and the banks closed, people look forward to events like the Dublin Marathon and Halloween celebrations, and it's a terrific time to celebrate as a worker.
| Event | October Bank Holiday |
|---|---|
| Date | October 31, 2022 |
| Day | Monday |
| Significance | The day marks the Bank Holiday in Ireland |
| Observed by | Ireland |
October Bank Holiday History:
Following Ireland's admission to the European Economic Community in 1973, it was found out that the country's number of public holidays was lower than the number specified for workers by the European Economic Community. Mr. Michael O'Leary, the then Minister of Labour was responding to a request to bring Ireland more in line with the number of annual public holidays provided to workers in the European Economic Community (E.E.C., later known as the E.U.), which Ireland joined in 1973.
As a result of this the October Bank Holiday came into being. Then the first celebration of the holiday took place in the year of 1977. There were no specific reasons for choosing the last Monday in October as the date for its celebration. However, because schools in Ireland typically have their half-term school vacation towards the end of October and the beginning of November, the government felt that the time would be excellent for the holiday to be included in the week-long break.
Another reason was that there were no holidays between the summer and winter seasons in Ireland, so establishing one in October would help to bridge the large gap between the two seasons and will give a people a chance relax during busy working days. With the introduction of the October Bank Holiday, Ireland gained the first and only holiday in the autumn season. Since then, the Irish have honored the October Bank Holiday, as well as the associated customs and traditions for it and since it has been celebrated annually.
It is interesting to note that there were four Gaelic seasonal festivals, marking key times of the year for agricultural communities. Of these, Beltane (the beginning of summer on 1st May) and Samhain (the beginning of winter on 1st November) were the most important and both these now have public holidays very near to their dates with both the modern public holidays being the two most recently adopted so in this way the placement of the October Bank Holiday makes much more sense as it gives people opportunity to celebrate many major festivals taking around during this time like Halloween and Samhain.
October Bank Holiday Significance:
As it is a public holiday in the country so most businesses and banks are closed during this time. It is a time when most workers may relax and enjoy the events that follow the October Bank Holiday. The workers working in banks or other related sectors puts a lot of hard work for their services all throughout the year so certainly they deserves a holiday for themselves to spend some time in relaxation with their friends and family as well. The main objective of this holiday was also to give bank employees a moment to relax from their busy lives.
The October long weekend has been unofficially tied to the themes of various events. The Halloween event, which takes place every year on October 31st and sometimes coincides with the bank holiday, combines parts of Samhain, All Saints' Day, and All Souls Day as well. So overall having a public holiday at this time of the year gives people many opportunities to celebrate the spirit of the festivities. Along with a mice relaxing day this also gives them an opportunity to enjoy as well by having a good time with their family and friends celebrating the festivals.
October Bank Holiday is also known as 'Lá Saoire i Mí Dheireadh Fómhair'' or ''Lá Saoire Oíche Shamhna'' in the Irish language, is a public holiday on the last Monday of October every year in Ireland. The holiday is celebrated primarily to break off the wide gap between the country’s summer and winter season as we mentioned earlier that there is a huge gap between these two seasons and between them there are very few holidays in which October Bank Holiday plays a very important role and that's why this holiday is very important for the people of Ireland to have a break.
Halloween-themed events are common especially since Halloween falls on or near the October Bank Holiday’s date. Since October Bank Holiday is celebrated on the last Monday of October, it usually falls around the same time when Halloween (called Oíche Shamhna in the Irish language) is observed. This is the reason why October Bank Holiday is also called as Halloween Holiday (Halloween/Samhain is not an official holiday in Ireland). This year it 3ven coincides with the festival of Halloween on 31st October.
October Bank Holiday Celebrations:
Banks, post offices, and many other businesses and organizations are closed on the last Monday of October. However, stores and pubs are generally open, although they may open later and close earlier than usual. Many schools in the Republic of Ireland have a week-long holiday at the end of October and/or the beginning of November.
If October Bank Holiday falls on the 31st of October like this year then Halloween-themed events are primarily the main activities observed during the day. The said activities observed by the Irish during the celebration is pretty much like that in the US. Trick or treat is still the most common among other activities. Dressing up is basically the highlight of the event. It is done not only by the children but adults as well. Witches, ghosts, zombies, skeletons, devils, and other Halloween-related figures are usually the ones seen everywhere in the country during the occasion.
With the country's observance of the October Bank Holiday, various activities are done by the people. Going to the theatres, sporting events (if there’s one exactly during the holiday’s date), art museums, festivals, parties, and areas where musical performances are held, are some of the common things observed by the Irish during the day. Many people also likes to visit historical places on this occasion across the country.
Considering that many sporting events are also held in October (especially on its last few days), when October Bank Holiday is observed, people (those who are traveling or those who spend the holiday doing outdoor activities) are usually mindful when it comes to road restrictions. Because of these sporting activities, many roads in the country are closed off to give way for these events. Thus, it would be best for one to know the schedules of the country's public transport services.
Most Searched FAQs on October Bank Holiday:
1. When is October Bank Holiday observed?
October Bank Holiday is annually observed on every last Monday of October in Republic of Ireland.
2. How many banks are there in Ireland?
There are a total of 64 banks in Ireland.
3. How many bank holidays are there in Ireland?
There are 10 bank holidays in Ireland, which include New Year's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Day of Remembrance and Recognition, Easter Monday, Early May Bank Holiday, June Bank Holiday, August Bank Holiday, October Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and St. Stephen's Day.