With only 8 public holidays a year, England & Wales rank as the worst in Europe, as countries on the continent have an average of around 12 public holidays a year.
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Hallowe’en is a popular celebration for many, and it is placed mid-way between the August bank holiday and Christmas.
In England and Wales, there is a huge, 4-month gap between the August bank holiday and Christmas.
A Halloween public holiday would dovetail nicely with half-term school holidays in many parts of the country.
One-offs like the 2022 Platinum Jubilee or a potential major sports win like UEFA’s Euro 2024 are far from enough for the British public who have experienced major stress and exhaustion during the not yet finished pandemic years.