With the summer holidays well and truly over, many are already finding themselves looking forward to the next big break – and who can blame them?

Those looking to have a very merry Christmas this year are in luck - the way the festive holiday falls this year means you could take 10 days off work by only booking three days holiday.

This year December 25 falls on a Monday, and with Christmas Day and Boxing Day both bank holidays, this means that only Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are official working days that week.

Lots of us are looking forward to the Christmas break
Lots of us are looking forward to the Christmas break

Monday, January 1, 2018, - New Year's Day - is also a national day off and so no holiday needs to be taken meaning many of workers won't be back to work until Tuesday, January 2.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day then fall on a Sunday and Monday, meaning you have the Tuesday – New Year's Day – off, before returning to work on January 2.

So what does all this mean? It means that you only have to officially book December 27 to 29 as annual leave.

If you're confused, here's the lowdown:

Friday, December 22 - Normal working day

Saturday, December 23 - Weekend

Sunday, December 24 - Christmas Eve, still the weekend.

Monday, December 25 - Christmas Day - bank holiday

Tuesday, December 26: Boxing Day - bank holiday

Wednesday, December 27 - Normal working day

Thursday, December 28 - Normal working day

Friday, December 29 - Normal working day

Saturday, December 30 - Weekend

Sunday, December 31 - New Year's Eve

Monday, January 1 - New Year's Day - bank holiday

Tuesday, January 2 - Normal working day

Bank holidays in 2018

And if you're an organised person, here's when the bank holidays will fall in 2018:

  • Monday, January 1 - New Year's Day
  • Friday, March 30 - Good Friday
  • Monday, April 2 - Easter Monday
  • Monday, May 7 - Early May bank holiday
  • Monday, May 28 - Spring bank holiday
  • Monday, August 27 - Summer bank holiday
  • Tuesday, December 25 - Christmas Day
  • Wednesday, December 26 - Boxing Day

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