BANKS often seem to be closed when one needs money, so it seems odd that holidays, which are more a national custom, should seem to favour them.

It is a historical thing, of course. These dates are determined by the Bank Holiday Act of 1871, which also enables banks to close on Saturdays. As with many similarly traditional events, some are tied to religious festivals, Christmas and Easter, for example, as is the end of May holiday, which is also known as Whitsuntide.

The August bank holiday is a leftover from Wakes Weeks, and the most recent additions are New Year's Day , added in 1974, and May Day (or Labour Day) which was added in 1978.

Because we are currently in the thick of our bank holiday season, one might get the feeling we have a lot of them. Not so, compared to many countries our eight are rather a puny collection.

Italy has 11 and Spain 15, not to mention all the siestas. Germany and Japan both have 14 - perhaps that is the correct formula for an efficient and productive workforce.

The Swiss have only six, but then in a country famed for its banks, it would not do to have them closed too often, and look what happened to the USSR, who also had only six.

Ours seem to come all at once. It does make sense to have a holiday when the weather is better, but then, when can we rely on sunshine? What sense would there be in the St Swithin's Day legend if there wasn't a pretty reasonable chance of rain on July 15? Come the dark and dreary run from summer holidays to Christmas this burst of bank holidays will seem a long way away.

Perhaps we should add the heir to the throne's November birthday to offer some autumnal relief along with St Andrew's Day on the 30th? Then, if you honour St Andrew with a day off it would be only fair to include David and Patrick in March and George in April, too, to warm us up for the May ones.

If that sounds too insular we could tack on Commonwealth Day in March, with Chinese, Islamic and Jewish New Year's Days in February, July and September for a more cosmopolitan flavour.

Not so long ago traffic congestion made any bank holiday outing a daunting prospect, but as flexi-time, lieu days and staggered holidays mean time off is more spread out, there are ways of avoiding queues.

Bank holiday outings are often among the special events which stand out in childhood and parenthood and add highlights to a lifetime's memories.

The weather is no excuse not to do something different, interesting, stimulating, relaxing with your bank holiday look up old friends, discover your local tourist spots, book a meal out - the important thing is to make it a break.