We could be getting an ‘extra’ bank holiday next year to mark major anniversary

Brits have started to react to news that they could be set to enjoy an extra bank holiday weekend next year.

Britain is set to commemorate the Greatest Generation with an extra bank holiday next year on the 80^th anniversary of the end of World War 2, The Express reports.

With an official announcement expected soon, the four-day weekend could fall on one of two dates next summer.

Victory in Europe Day on May 8 marks the formal acceptance of Germany’s unconditional surrender in 1945, while August 15 is the 80^th anniversary of the day Japan officially surrendered, signalling the end of the war.

Government plans could reportedly either see Brits off work on May 9 and May 12 to allow celebrations, or the August bank holiday extended to include August 22.

2025 could be the last chance that British war veterans are able to attend celebrations thrown in their honour, and they have backed the idea of an extra bank holiday.

98-year-old Marie Scott, who was positioned in an underground bunker during D-Day, told The Express: ‘An additional bank holiday would be an opportunity to thank all those wonderful people who made such a spectacular victory possible because, without them, the future could have been very dire indeed.’

Members of the general public took to X to express their opinions about the rumours, with some more pleased than others.

@jdtlgr commented on a @PoliticsUK post: ‘Excellent initiative this! Nice to see our government recognise the efforts of all those involved in WW2.’

Another, @AFCJaiden responded: ‘I’ll take it.’

But @limegreen83 wrote: ‘Not ANOTHER bank holiday.’

And @stokle TC commented: ‘Extra bank holiday for the anniversary of WW2 before they send us into WW3.’

In recent years, Brits have enjoyed extra bank holidays to allow for celebrations to take place on more than one occasion.

Four fantastic days in June 2022 saw the country toast Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, 70 years after her accession to the throne.

The day of the Queen’s funeral was also marked with a bank holiday on Monday September 19^th 2022.

And the coronation of King Charles was too celebrated with a bank holiday, this time on May 8, 2023.

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