That period between Christmas and New Year is an often confusing stretch, with days blurring into one another as you finish off the Christmas leftovers and wait to celebrate the new year. This festive period may feel more confusing than normal because there are substitute bank holidays being utilised.
A substitute bank holiday takes place when the original date of a bank holiday falls on a weekend.
This means for those hoping for time off after Christmas and Boxing Day, there are two bank holidays.
Traditionally, Christmas and Boxing Day warrant bank holidays to give the working population some time off work.
However, 2021 saw both days fall on a weekend, so what does this mean for the days that follow?
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The same will happen for New Year’s Day in a few days time, with January 1, 2022, falling on a Saturday.
A substitute bank holiday will take place on Monday, January 3.
Next year will also see substitute bank holidays, with Christmas 2022 falling on a Sunday.
But what do bank holidays mean for shops, supermarkets and banks?
Are shops open today?
Over the Christmas period, most shops close, and some may be closed today.
With today regarded as a substitute bank holiday for Christmas Day, retailers may have altered their opening hours.
Most supermarkets will be open today, but it’s worth checking your local store’s opening hours before travelling as times may be reduced.
As today and tomorrow are bank holidays, banks will be shut.
Most banks will reopen on December 29, trading until they close for New Year on December 31.
As Monday, January 3 is also a bank holiday, banks will be closed then too.