Calls for major religious festivals such as Eid, Diwali, Vaisakhi and Rosh Hashanah to become official UK public holidays have been debated for years – but could it actually happen?
As the UK becomes increasingly diverse, the conversation around whether non-Christian festivals should be given the same recognition as Christmas and Easter is growing louder. Millions of people across the country mark these religious occasions each year, yet followers often have to use personal holiday allowance or request special leave just to celebrate.
We’ve asked our Harrow Online Facebook group what they think about this – should all major religious festivals be recognised as official public holidays? Responses so far have been mixed, with strong views on both sides.
The idea isn’t new. Back in 2014, a petition to make Eid and Diwali public holidays gained over 120,000 signatures. That led to a debate in Parliament, where Conservative MP Bob Blackman said creating holidays for those festivals would show that Britain “embraces the Muslim and Hindu faiths” and help build understanding between communities.
The government at the time responded by rejecting the idea, citing economic concerns. They said each additional bank holiday could cost the UK economy up to £2.3 billion in lost productivity. That same concern remains the biggest barrier to change today.
A few years later in 2018, two separate petitions – one for Eid and another for Diwali – gathered tens of thousands of signatures each. They didn’t reach the 100,000 mark individually but were combined and debated again in Parliament. This time, Labour MP for Harrow West Gareth Thomas, spoke in favour of making Eid, Diwali and even Jewish holy days like Yom Kippur official holidays.
He said minority faith communities “want to feel valued” and questioned whether the cost estimates used by the government were really that accurate. He also pointed out that Labour had already proposed four new bank holidays in the UK – one for each nation’s patron saint – and argued that at least some space should be made for religious diversity too.
Despite his backing, the government stood firm, repeating that no extra holidays were being planned.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, himself a Muslim, has consistently supported public recognition of all religious festivals. While he doesn’t have the power to create national holidays, he hosts events in Trafalgar Square each year for Eid, Diwali, Chanukah and more – calling them a vital part of London’s cultural calendar.
“Diwali is a truly special time of year – an opportunity to pay tribute to the enormous contribution London’s Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities make to our city,” Khan has said. During the return of the Eid Festival in Trafalgar Square in 2023, he added that “our diversity is our greatest strength.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by many younger people. A UK-wide poll last year by Hyphen and Savanta found that 87% of British Muslims aged 16–24 supported the idea of getting a public holiday for Eid. Even among non-Muslims in that age group, 62% thought employers should give Muslim colleagues the day off to celebrate.
Some workplaces are already adapting. Firms like Monzo and Grant Thornton allow employees to swap out national bank holidays for personal or religious ones that are more meaningful to them.
Could it actually happen? For now, the official stance from the UK Government remains unchanged: there are no plans to introduce new public holidays for religious observance. The main reason is the cost – with ministers regularly quoting that £1.2–£2.3 billion figure.
There’s also the concern about where to draw the line. If Eid and Diwali are given holiday status, what about Vaisakhi for Sikhs, or Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for Jews? The National Secular Society argues that adding religious holidays could set a tricky precedent in a multi-faith country. Instead, they support flexibility in the workplace and schools to allow people to take time off as needed.
Others argue that introducing one or two key festivals – like Eid al-Fitr and Diwali – would be a fair and symbolic first step. Some suggest a compromise like a rotating “Diversity Day” or floating holidays that employees can use for cultural or religious events of their choice.
At a local level, councils in areas like Harrow, Brent and Leicester already avoid holding major meetings or school events on days like Eid or Diwali. While not official holidays, it’s a sign of growing recognition.
And even without the government taking formal action, celebrations across the country are becoming more visible. Diwali lights in central London, Eid festivals in parks, and Vaisakhi parades all draw thousands – often from all backgrounds.
In Harrow, where there are large Muslim, Hindu and Sikh populations, many people believe the time has come for greater recognition of religious events beyond Christianity. As one Facebook commenter put it: “We get Christmas and Easter automatically – why shouldn’t everyone else get their big days too?”
Unless there’s a major shift in government policy, it’s unlikely we’ll see Diwali or Eid added to the UK’s bank holiday list anytime soon. But the pressure is mounting. With public opinion shifting – particularly among younger generations – and some companies already making changes, this could be an issue that doesn’t go away.
For now, it seems the most practical solution might be more flexible leave options, or even localised public holidays in places with large populations from specific faith groups. Whether that’s enough to satisfy those pushing for full recognition remains to be seen.
Seamus Donaghy is a freelance writer with a strong interest in Harrow’s local history. Originally from Sligo in the Republic of Ireland, Seamus moved to Harrow with his family when he was seven years old and grew up in Wealdstone. He has lived in the borough for more than 30 years and writes about the people, places and stories that have shaped Harrow over the years.
