Petition launched to make St David’s Day a bank holiday
A petition has been launched to make St David’s Day a bank holiday.
The UK Government has so far refused to devolve the powers to create bank holidays for Wales to the Welsh Government.
This is despite Scotland and Northern Ireland already having the power to designate respective patron saint Bank Holidays and despite the then National Assembly for Wales voting unanimously in favour of a St David’s Day bank holiday in 2000.
In 2014 it was reported that First Minister Carwyn Jones had written to the Secretary of State for Wales to seek legislative competence to make Wales’ national day a bank holiday, but the move was rebuffed.
In the petition by Elfed Wyn ap Elwyn to the UK Government and Parliament, it is argued that it is “time to make this special day a bank holiday in Wales”.
If the petition receives 10,000 signatures the UK Government will respond to it, and if it receives 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in the UK Parliament. The deadline for the petition is 14 April 2022.
‘Significant day’
The petition states: “Dydd Gwyl Dewi / St David’s Day has always been a significant day in Cymru / Wales, and has been used to celebrate everything Welsh.
“It’s time to make this special day a bank holiday in Wales, just like Scotland has St Andrew’s Day, and Ireland has St Patrick’s Day as bank holidays.”
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London will oppose anything that gives the Welsh an identity
Try telling Cardiff County/City Council to make St David’s Day a Bank Holiday! I’ve been trying for years , even told us “It’s nothing but a ‘Nat’s Rally’! And ‘Not in my back-yard’!
Just do it, Drakey!
This is simple. Just don’t call it a “Bank Holiday”. Call it a “National Holiday”. Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 regulates “Bank” Holidays, not “National” holidays.
The only patron saint born native to the people who’s saint he is, cannot have a day off?
Although any petition is welcomed, in reality we should not beg and wait for our slave master Whitehall to act. If our Senedd Cymru wants to make Saint David’s day a bank holiday, we should do it. Screw Whitehall.
It’s more than a bank holiday or even a NATIONAL holiday. We celebrate it here in California (US) every year without fail. We had a big party in 2020 (pre-covid) where we educated many who sadly were not aware of the important feast. To hell with London’s approval – you can count on us to keep the holy dydd!
When we can not persuade our own government to teach our history to our children in school, what chance of persuading a bunch of imperialist Torys to give us a holiday to celebrate our culture.
Yes by all means have a dydd gwyl Dewi national day but get rid of another bank holiday to compensate !
Compensate who?
Why March 1st. All the Celtic saints days are in winter time two in March the other November. The days where chosen by the English government. They thought people less likely to revolt rebel in the winter months. I’m all for a bank holiday for our patron saints day. Would much rather the the people of Wales chose the day. And would hope they had the good sense to choose one in summer time. Would be more beneficial to the economy by attracting tourism etc.