Do you remember when new year's day wasn't a bank holiday?

[longearedbat]

If so, you are probably an old fart like me! I started work in 1972. Of course, it was essential as a teenager to celebrate the new year with plenty of booze (apparently) and I remember dragging myself into work on Jan 1st 1973, feeling like death. Fortunately, Jan 1st had become a bank holiday by 1974.
Now we (my h and me) tend to celebrate new year's day itself by going out for lunch on the 1st, and just the thought of staying up late and drinking to excess makes us feel ill. How things change. Have you become more sensible with age, or do you still manage a bit of a booze up?
Happy new year.

The 1st and 2nd of January have been holidays in Scotland for as long as I can remember. Christmas Day and Boxing Day are more recent here I think. Back in the 70’s people were first footing most of the night on Hogmanay.

No, but I remember when the May day bank holiday was first introduced in 1978. It poured all day.

Oh yes, of course you are right @Chemenger, Scotland always had NY as a bank holiday. In fact, I wish we had 2 days in England as well. You lucky things. Yes, I remember that first May day holiday being wet as well.

I was still at school and not really paying attention. But I do remember the introduction of the May Day one (bloody commies )

I wish there was another one in October - the autumn term is a very long one, and I think we could do with a long weekend to break up the first half a bit.

I didn’t know it was never a bank holiday. Kind of thought it was one when the first batch of batch holidays came in.

Thanks OP didn’t know that (not particularly young).

Yes! I used to deal with customer complaints and it was a good day to call people up and tell then their bill was correct! I never cared much about New Year, so working didn't bother me, and at least there was public transport. I feel sorry now that it's a bank holiday but so many non essential people have to work. My dh is working, but he's in a hospital, so needed

I do, but as I was at school it didn't really affect me. I assume DF would have gone to work, but as he was a GP he would only have Christmas Day and Boxing Day off and would have been back at work already.

Has the second always been a bank holiday in Scotland? I thought it was introduced by the Scottish Parliament just after devolution or have i been imagining that all these years?

Anyway, I’ll be having a takeaway and a few drinks tonight and probably be in bed by 12:02am. Thanks to the 2nd being a bank holiday here my work have decided it’s not worth opening for 1 day then closing for the weekend so I’m not back to work until the 6th

The second was a holiday in the late 80’s at least, I remember explaining it to my English manager.

I'm the opposite (Scottish). I remember when even the birds didn't sing on NYD but now shops are opening etc...seems bizarre. As a young forces bride about 30 years ago, based in North East Scotland, I remember trying to explain to English neighbours that nothing would be open on the 1st...they couldn't get their heads around it and set off to Inverness regardless 🤷‍♀️