Next year’s May bank holiday will be moved from Monday to Friday so that Brits can commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day over a three-day long weekend.
Business Secretary Greg Clark announced the move – from Monday May 4 to Friday May 8 – to enable people to pay tribute to those who served in the Second World War.
VE Day – or Victory in Europe Day – took place on May 8 1945, when Allied Forces formally accepted Germany’s surrender. It marked the end of history’s bloodiest ever battle.
Calling the move “a right and fitting tribute”, Clark said: “VE Day marked an historic moment in not only our nation’s, but the world’s history and it is important that we commemorate this great occasion on its 75th anniversary.”
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He added: “Moving next year’s early May bank holiday to VE Day itself is a right and fitting tribute.”
He said: “It will ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to remember and honour our heroes of the Second World War and reflect on the sacrifices of a generation.”
The VE Day bank holiday will kick off a long weekend of commemorations, with more than 20,000 pubs up and down the country encouraging revellers to raise a glass to our war heroes in the Nation’s Toast.
There will also be local street parties and celebrations.
Churches will also take part in a Ringing Out For Peace, while bagpipers are set play the traditional Battle’s O’er at the top of the four highest peaks in the UK.
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Sir Andrew Gregory, chief executive of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, said the government’s decision was “fitting”.
He added: “It is our hope that the nation takes a moment to reflect on the significance of this date, as a milestone that changed the course of history for the whole world.”
It’s only the second time in history that a bank holiday has been moved. The first time was back in 1995 to mark VE Day’s 50th anniversary.
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