Today is a Bank Holiday in the UK, often referred to as the ‘late May’ or the ‘Spring’ Bank Holiday. This distinguishes it from the ‘early May’ Bank Holiday and the August ‘Summer’ Bank Holiday.
My American husband once asked me why all our public holidays are referred to as ‘Bank’ holidays and, quite honestly, I had to look it up. “The Bank Holiday Act of 1871 was introduced in order to allow banks to close on certain days without incurring a penalty”. In 154 years, it seems, no one has conceived of a better name, a worthier name, to mark any one of the eight bank holidays we celebrate in this country every year.
Dan now refers to them as ‘Blank’ Holidays.
In America there are eleven federal holidays, celebrating, amongst others, Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, Washington’s birthday, Juneteenth (the emancipation of enslaved African Americans), Independence Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day. It’s all in the name.
Today is Memorial Day in the United States. Originally known as Decoration Day, it has its origins in the aftermath of the Civil War when communities honoured their dead and decorated their graves with flowers. A federal holiday since 1971, Memorial Day is a day of reflection as well as celebration. The American flag is flown at half-mast until noon. Many Americans visit cemeteries and memorials and take part in parades.
This morning, to my great surprise, I learned that this day, this late May Blank Holiday does in fact have a name. Since 2022 it has been known as ‘Celebration Day’. It is neither government-inspired nor approved, although I don’t imagine that any politician would think to criticise the vision behind Celebration Day.
Introduced three years ago by a small group of friends, their website explains that the day is about “honouring and celebrating the lasting impact of those who have inspired and shaped us – whether through personal connections, history, or culture – and whose influence continues long after they’ve died.”
That’s great and I’m all in favour of celebrating lasting legacies and remembering those who have had a positive influence on our lives. It is, however, slightly burdened by a marketing gimmick – I can buy a pin badge to show that I’m part of the movement that celebrates the dead (the proceeds do go to charity and that’s a good thing) and, of course, I am encouraged to share lots of memories about my dead parents, teachers and friends on social media.
The death of those we loved may not be entirely straightforward; our emotions, even years later, may still be complex and confused. Death needs to be spoken about regularly, the death of others but also the prospect of our own death; emotions need to be unpacked slowly. Celebration Day runs the risk of confining these emotions to a single day and encouraging us to express them in up-beat sound-bites and pictures.
In 2004, the Swiss sociologist Bernard Crettaz, launched the first Cafe mortel/Death Cafe in Neuchatel, Switzerland. He wanted people to talk freely about the difficulties surrounding death. He wanted them to come together in a physical space, accessible to all.
Traditionally the Cafes mortels took place in restaurants and bistros where people gathered to eat, drink and talk. Wine and cheese were provided and no financial donations were accepted. “There are already too many issues surrounding money and death” he said.
Crettaz wanted to help people better manage their grief and better face what, sooner or later, lies ahead for all of us. “Death” he said, “is a lesson in life”.