2nd January
2nd January is a bank holiday in Scotland only. It is observed alongside New Year's Day, reflecting the historic importance of Hogmanay celebrations in Scottish culture.
When is 2nd January?
| Year | Date | Day | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 January 2026 | Friday | 2nd January 2026 |
| 2027 | 4 January 2027 | Monday | 2nd January 2027 |
| 2028 | 4 January 2028 | Tuesday | 2nd January 2028 |
History
The 2nd January Scottish bank holiday is a quiet acknowledgement of how differently the Scottish calendar treated the festive season. Throughout the post-Reformation centuries, Christmas was downplayed in Scotland while Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) and the days that followed were the main winter celebration.
Although Christmas Day became a Scottish bank holiday in 1958, the 2nd January date had been recognised by tradition long before, and was formalised across the UK statutory framework in 1971.
Traditions
The first-footing tradition — the first visitor to a household after midnight on New Year’s Eve, ideally a dark-haired man bringing whisky, coal, salt or shortbread — runs into 2 January as families and neighbours visit each other. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations include a Loony Dook on 1 January (a freezing dip in the Firth of Forth), with much of the following day spent indoors.
Observance
Banks, the Scottish stock exchange (within the LSE Group) and Scottish government offices observe the 2nd January closure. Most Scottish retail operates limited hours; supermarkets typically open with reduced trading hours. English and Welsh banks and offices operate normally on 2 January.
If 2 January falls on a weekend, a substitute Scottish bank holiday is granted on the next available weekday.
Where it is observed
2nd January is a bank holiday in Scotland.