Bermuda Day

Bermuda Day is a public holiday in the islands of Bermuda. It is celebrated on the Friday before the last Monday in May.[1] This effectively always makes it the fourth Friday in May.[2]

Bermuda Day is traditionally the first day of the year that residents will go into the sea . It is also traditionally the first day on which Bermuda shorts are worn as business attire (although in recent years , Bermuda shorts are increasingly worn at any time of the year) . Many people also see Bermuda Day as the first day on which they can go out on the water after the winter — consequently there is always a rush to get one's boat 'in de water' before Bermuda Day .

To celebrate the holiday, there is a parade in Hamilton, Bermuda, and a road race from the west end of the island into Hamilton. For the first time, in 2015, the race started from St George's and into Hamilton. These events are popular with spectators , and residents are known to stake out particular sections of the pavements to enable them to watch the runners and the floats . Ways of marking out one's family's section can include roping it off (frowned on as people have been hurt walking into them the night before), marking it off with tape with one's name on it, or sleeping there overnight.[3]

History

The parade first took place in 1979.[4] It traditionally was on the 24th of May or the following Monday, if it fell on a weekend.[5] In November 2017 the law was changed to move it to the last Friday in May, starting 2018.[6][7][8] It therefore took place on the 25th of May 2018.[9] In December of 2018 the Governor announced that in 2019 it shall not take place on the 31th of May, as it was announced at the beginning, but rather it shall take place one week earlier on Friday, 24th of May 2019, the historic date.[10][11] The law was then again changed in 2020, that starting 2021 it shall be scheduled the way it is now.

References
  1. "Public Holidays Act 1947 - Public Holidays Act 1947.pdf" (PDF). Bermuda Laws Online. The Government of Bermuda. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  2. "Bermuda Day – Department of Culture". Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  3. "Requests About Camps Not Working Too Well". Bernews.com. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  4. "Heritage Month – Department of Culture". Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  5. "Public Holidays Act 1947" (PDF). Bermuda Laws Online. The Government of Bermuda. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. "Public Holidays Act 1947" (PDF). Bermuda Laws Online. The Government of Bermuda. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. "Bermuda-Day-Book-May-2019.pdf" (PDF). Bernews. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  8. "Senate Passes Bill To Move Bermuda Day". Bernews. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  9. McWhirter, Fiona (28 December 2018). "Bermuda Day change throws calendars off". www.royalgazette.com. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  10. McWhirter, Fiona (22 December 2018). "'May 24th' will be on May 24". www.royalgazette.com. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  11. "Photo Set #4: 2019 Bermuda Day Heritage Parade". Bernews. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2023.


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