Why is Easter Tuesday a public holiday in NI?

GlynD

leftieM wrote: »

It may have been your school rather than Paddys day not being a holiday for anyone. My children's school doesn't close on Patrick's Day. I don't know though - it was probably a bank holiday for a long time as the banks were cross border so would have closed on the same day for convenience.

You could be right, I went to a state school. I've also thought of the logic of cross-border banking. The over-riding thing of course is that most Bank Holidays are public holidays, except in Norn Irn in the old Stormont years, when even the park swings were chained up on a Sunday.

waltsalt

Thanks for the info leftieM. Definitely sounds like a plausible reason.

Hmmmmmm, politics influencing decisions in Northern Ireland to the nth degree. Who would have thought it?

NAR

leftieM wrote: »

I received the following from an academic in Irish history.
Back in 1922 when they were setting up the Northern Irish Parliament it was decided that, although Good Friday is an important religious occasion for Protestants, it is the main religious occasion for Catholics. So Easter Tuesday was chosen as a public holiday instead of Good Friday to not be seen as supporting or assisting this religious practice.

When I started in the Civil Service in the 70's our Easter days of were Good Friday and Easter Monday and we worked Easter Tuesday. I can't remember the year this changed though.

GlynD wrote: »

A bit odd though that Paddy's Day and shamrock were quite important in many non RC houses in the 60's. The Irish units of the armed forces also celebrated it with shamrock being worn in hats and tunics etc.

The clue is in the name GlynD - Irish units! St Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland (both parts!), so what is so strange that the Irish Regiments would wear the shamrock?

waltsalt

Maybe this is it? Good old Hocktide.

"The tradition of having a holiday on the Monday after Easter stems from the medieval festival of Hocktide. This was a two day festival on the Monday and Tuesday after Easter, originating in the eleventh century. Some stories say that on the Monday the men of a town tied up the women and demanded a kiss from them before they were freed. Others say that a man had to carry a women for a certain distance or lift her up a given number of times in return for a kiss. Now Hocktide is only celebrated in the town of Hungerford in Berkshire and the main events are on the Tuesday after Easter."

tara747

GlynD wrote: »

You could be right, I went to a state school. I've also thought of the logic of cross-border banking. The over-riding thing of course is that most Bank Holidays are public holidays, except in Norn Irn in the old Stormont years, wheneven the park swings were chained up on a Sunday.

What??? :eek:

NAR

tara747 you are obviously too young to remember, but GlynD is 100% correct. It is not that many years ago that certain people (who controlled our lives) considered Sunday was for religion, not enjoying ourselves.

saverbuyer

Yep, only about 20 years ago.

I know they did it in the Ballymena bible belt, wasn't sure it was widespread.

HeadAboveWater

waltsalt wrote: »

Hmmmmmm, politics influencing decisions in Northern Ireland to the nth degree. Who would have thought it?

:think:

:rotfl:

NAR wrote: »

It is not that many years ago that certain people (who controlled our lives) considered Sunday was for religion, not enjoying ourselves.

I'm in my 30's and that's still what my parents expect

GlynD

NAR wrote: »

When I started in the Civil Service in the 70's our Easter days of were Good Friday and Easter Monday and we worked Easter Tuesday. I can't remember the year this changed though.


The clue is in the name GlynD - Irish units! St Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland (both parts!), so what is so strange that the Irish Regiments would wear the shamrock?

Only that the vast majority of Irishmen in them come from communities who would rather stick pins in their eyes than wear shamrock.

GlynD

tara747 wrote: »

What??? :eek:

Absolutely true. I saw it with my own eyes.