dorishaslop

As the title suggests, is it a public holiday on May 1st... will the local shops be open?

snikpoh

Yes and no

dorishaslop

Thanks... Best go and get my supplies in then

Domino

highly unlikely to find any shops open, even some bars may close.

the UK used to take the 1st of May off but like most religious and other days don't bother any more. As we know it leads to the mandatory visit to Tesco and the Garden centre.

ISTR Snr Rajoy has said that from next year all bank holidays etc will be tacked on to a weekend to stop people taking extra days

.

mikelincs

Uk has NEVER had May 1st specifically as a holiday, it's always been the first Monday in May, all UK bank holidays except for Good Friday, Christmas and New Year are on a Monday

Domino

Mike, what was it Sean Connery said - Never say Never ??

1st May is a "cross-quarter day" and historically the start of summer and it was a holiday until "rationalised" to a weekend.

the "rationalisation" of many things started in times of war which also changed pub opening hours because ordnance workers were going to work drunk.
Britain appears to have led the revolution to bank holidays and others onto a weekend - even Easter but not Christmas.

Many places in Britain have special events on May Day irrespective of the day it falls.

1st May is also International Workers Day, many countries - not just Spain celebrate the day in one way or another and do not work on that day.

rgds
.

Fredbargate

Now we also have Workers' Memorial Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workers%27_Memorial_Day

Celebrated in some countries

Tinky

I seriously thought it was an invented public holiday! No complaints with an extra day off though