Holiday, in Law, means Sunday, Christmas-day, Good Friday, and any other day appointed for a public festival or fast. In Catholic times holidays were numerous; but modern legislation and custom have considerably reduced their number. Of late years the importance of holidays to working people has been recognised, and acts have been passed increasing the number of bank holidays. When a bill of exchange falls due on a Sunday, payment must be made the day previous. If it falls due on any of the bank holidays, the bill is payable the day after. In England the courts excuse a man for not giving notice of dishonour of bills of exchange not only on Sunday, Good Friday, and Christmas-day, but also even on the festival days of his own religion; and, though there has been no decision in Scotland on the subject, the same rule would no doubt be applied to fast-days prescribed by different sects, and a notice sent on the day following would suffice. But as a general rule, and in all other respects, it may be laid down that no sect, established or unestablished, nor any court or public body, has any power whatever to declare a holiday which has any legal effect, or which can bind the public or the rights of third parties. Nothing but an act of parliament has that effect, and not even a proclamation of the crown would be sufficient. Hence it is that when a solemn national fast is proclaimed, which is to be put on the same footing as a Sunday, it requires a special act of parliament to make it binding on the public in matters of business. See BANK
HOLIDAYS; and for ecclesiastical and popular holidays, see FESTIVALS.