March 2024 UK Calendar: Full List of Holidays and Celebrations
March 2024 UK Calendar: Full List of Holidays and Celebrations
Table of Contents

UK bank holidays in March 2024

UK bank holidays March 2024: England & Wales and Scotland

29 March: Good Friday

UK bank holidays 2024: Northern Ireland

18 March: St Patrick’s Day (substitute day) on Monday

29 March: Good Friday

What is Good Friday?

Good Friday is a Christian holiday that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is part of Holy Week and a public holiday in the UK.

The Easter school holiday in the UK is typically two weeks long, with most schools closing on Good Friday or the day before. However, the situation differs by location.

Are shops open on Good Friday?

Most stores and supermarkets, restaurants, taverns, theaters, and cinemas are open on Good Friday. Good Friday is a public holiday, so most companies and organizations are closed, however some remain open. Horse racing was once prohibited in the UK on Good Friday, but this is no longer the case.

Is alcohol served as usual?

Alcohol sales were once banned throughout the UK over Easter, but this is now just the case in Northern Ireland, where alcohol can only be offered between 17:00 (5 pm) and 23:00 (11 pm) on Good Friday. On the days preceding and after Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday, Northern Ireland's bars must close at midnight. In the neighboring Republic of Ireland, alcohol prohibitions were repealed in 2018, following the repeal of a 90-year-old statute.

Many UK employees use portion of their yearly leave to extend the Easter bank holiday. Bank holidays may have an impact on how benefits are paid, however this varies greatly from business to business.

Other holidays and celebrations in the UK in March 2024

1 Mar (Friday): St. David's Day in Wales

St David is the patron saint of Wales. March 1 is a day to celebrate both St David's life and Welsh culture in Wales, as well as in Canada and the United States. Many people go to special church services, parades, choral concerts, and Welsh literature readings. On the day, schools prepare celebrations, which frequently include choirs.

The Welsh flag, featuring a red dragon on a white and green backdrop, is prominently displayed, and a joyous atmosphere prevails. Traditional costumes are worn by children, particularly females, as well as some adults. Others may pin a daffodil or a leek to their garments as symbols of Wales. The traditional dinner on St David's Day is cawl. This soup is created with leeks and other locally sourced ingredients.

8 Mar (Friday): Maha Shivaratri-Hindu Holiday

10 Mar (Sunday ): Mother's Day

Mother's Day, also known as Mothering Sunday, is today celebrated to honor mothers and other maternal figures such as grandmothers, stepmothers, and mothers-in-law. Many people make a special effort to see their mother. They give her cards and gifts and may treat her to brunch, lunch, or high tea at a cafe, restaurant, or hotel. When people are unable to see their mothers, they frequently send them presents or cards.

Giving cards and gifts is an important component of Mother's Day celebrations. Cakes, flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and luxury apparel are popular Mother's Day gifts. Some people prefer not to offer a physical gift, instead treating their mother or grandma to a special meal, beauty treatment, or fun adventure.

11 Mar (Monday): Ramadan Start

Muslims in the United Kingdom and around the world observe Ramadan, also known as Ramadhan or Ramzan, to commemorate the revelation of the Quran. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, with Ramadan celebrations beginning on Ramadan 1 every year.

Muslims follow a lunar calendar that differs in length from the Gregorian calendar utilized worldwide. This means that the Gregorian date of Muslim holidays varies somewhat from year to year, falling roughly 11 days earlier each time.

Ramadan Date Depends on Moon Sighting

The time of Muslim months and holidays is mainly determined by the observation of the Moon's crescent following the New Moon. Because the Moon's visibility is dependent on clear sky and other circumstances, we cannot determine the precise date of Muslim holidays with accuracy.

Furthermore, because the Moon is never visible in all of the world's regions at the same time, and current local dates vary by country, a holiday may fall on different dates depending on a country's longitude and time zone. Some Muslims may celebrate a holiday one day sooner than others, depending on their country or region of origin.

17 Mar (Sunday): St Patrick's Day in North Ireland

St Patrick's Day is a public holiday in Northern Ireland, with the general population having the day off with schools and most businesses closed.at the United Kingdom, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated at Irish pubs and places with a large Irish population, such as Nottingham and London. The extent to which people celebrate St. Patrick's Day varies depending on their religious and political beliefs.

Those who feel Northern Ireland should remain part of the United Kingdom do not often commemorate the day. Those who feel Northern Ireland should be a part of a united Ireland frequently commemorate St Patrick's Day. A huge procession is held in Belfast, however the amount of public financing it receives is determined by whatever political party controls the local council.

Many people in England, Scotland, and Wales simply go about their daily lives on March 17. They go to school or work as usual and don't organize or attend any special events. Some may go for a drink at their local Irish pub after lunch, after work, or in the evening. Parades and other large-scale events are organised in several towns and cities, particularly those with a strong Irish population.

18 Mar (Monday): Day off for St Patrick's Day in North Ireland

20 Mar (Wednesday): March Equinox Season

24 Mar (Sunday): Palm Sunday

24 Mar (Sunday): Purim

Purim is observed on the fourteenth day of Adar, the twelveth month of the Jewish calendar. The date falls in February or March on the Gregorian calendar. If the 14th of Adar falls on a Sabbath, Purim celebrations are typically relocated to a different day.

Is Purim a public holiday?

Purim is not a public holiday in the UK. Unlike some other Jewish holidays, it does not have any business or job limitations. However, some Jewish leaders believe it is insulting for Jews to observe Purim as a regular business day.

28 Mar (Thursday): Maundy Thursday

30 Mar (Saturday): Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday in the United Kingdom. According to the Christian Bible, it marks the day Jesus Christ lay in the tomb following his death. It is often referred to as Easter Eve and the Great Sabbath.

Even though Holy Saturday occurs on Saturday, March 30, 2024, it is a working day. In the United Kingdom, most firms maintain regular hours of operation.

31 Mar (Sunday): Easter Sunday

31 Mar (Sunday) Daylight Saving Time starts/ Clock change/Daylight Saving Time

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