Whenever you think about December, perhaps you think of merely Christmas. Since it’s one of the famous festivals celebrated across the World, December is often referred to as the “Christmas” month. Unlike November, December has fewer holidays. In general, each year from December 21, India experiences severe winters.
December holds a few highly significant national and international holidays such as Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Second Saturday, and a lot more. If you’re curious to know about the various bank holidays in December, you’ll love this article. By the end of the article, you’ll get a clear idea about the most significant dates and festivals in December.
Let’s get started!
List of Bank Holidays in December 2021
India is the land of festivals and celebrations. Whether it’s early January, mid-June, or the end of December, the country celebrates one or other festivals each day. When we’re discussing the bank holidays in December 2021, different states have distinct festivals on the same dates or days.
Look at the table given below to get a clear idea about bank holidays in December.
Date-wise Bank Holidays in December 2021
| Date | Occasion |
| December 11, 2021(Saturday) | Second Saturday – All States |
| December 25, 2021(Saturday) | Christmas Day and Fourth Saturday – All States |
Date-wise Public Holidays in December 2021
| Date | Occasion and State |
| December 1, 2021 (Wednesday) | State Formation Day – Nagaland
Indigenous Faith Day- Arunachal Pradesh |
| December 3, 2021 (Friday) | World’s Disabled Day- Tripura
Feast of St. Francis Xavier- Goa |
| December 18, 2021 (Saturday) | Death Anniversary of U SoSo Tham- Meghalaya
Guru Ghasidas Jayanti- Chandigarh |
| December 19, 2021 (Sunday) | Goa Liberation Day- Goa |
| December 24, 2021 (Friday) | Christmas Eve- Mizoram and Meghalaya |
| December 25, 2021 (Saturday) | Christmas Day- All Over The Country |
|
December 30, 2021 (Thursday) |
Tamu Losar- Sikkim
U Kiang Nangbah- Meghalaya |
| December 31, 2021 (Friday) | New Year’s eve- Manipur |
State-wise Public Holidays in December 2021
| State | Date | Occasion |
| Manipur |
December 31, 2021 (Friday) December 24, 2021 (Saturday) December 25, 2021 (Saturday) |
New Year’s Eve Christmas Day |
| Nagaland |
December 1, 2021 (Wednesday) December 25, 2021 (Saturday) |
State Inauguration Day Christmas Day |
| Arunachal Pradesh |
December 1, 2021 (Wednesday) December 25, 2021 (Saturday) |
Indigenous Faith Day Christmas Day |
| Tripura |
December 3, 2021 (Friday) December 25, 2021 (Saturday) |
World Disabled Day Christmas Day |
| Goa |
December 3, 2021 (Friday) December 19, 2021 (Sunday) December 25, 2021 (Saturday) |
Feast of St. Francis Xavier Goa Liberation Day Christmas Day |
| Meghalaya |
December 18, 2021 (Saturday) December 24, 2021 (Saturday) December 25, 2021 (Saturday) December 30, 2021 (Thursday) |
Death Anniversary of U SoSo Tham Christmas Eve Christmas Day U Kiang Nangbah |
| Chandigarh |
December 18, 2021 (Saturday) December 25, 2021 (Saturday) |
Guru Ghasidas Jayati Christmas Day |
| Mizoram |
December 24, 2021 (Friday) December 25, 2021 (Saturday) |
Christmas Eve Christmas Day |
| Sikkim |
December 30, 2021 (Thursday) December 25, 2021 (Saturday) |
Tamu Losar Christmas Day |
Important Dates and Events in December 2021
| Dates | Events |
| December 1, 2021 | World AIDS Day |
| December 2, 2021 | International Day for the Abolition of Slavery and National Pollution Control Day |
| December 3, 2021 | World Day of the Handicapped |
| December 4, 2021 | Indian Navy Day |
| December 5, 2021 | International Volunteer Day and World Soil Day |
| December 7, 2021 | International Civil Aviation Day and Armed Forces Flag Day |
| December 9, 2021 | International Anti Corruption Day |
| December 10, 2021 | Human Rights Day |
| December 11, 2021 | International Mountain Day |
| December 14, 2021 | National Energy Conservation Day |
| December 15, 2021 | International Tea Day |
| December 16, 2021 | Vijay Diwas |
| December 18, 2021 | Minorities Rights Day In India |
| December 19, 2021 | Goa’s Liberation Day |
| December 20, 2021 | International Human Solidarity Day |
| December 22, 2021 | National Mathematics Day |
| December 23, 2021 | Kisan Diwas |
| December 24, 2021 | Christmas Eve and National Consumer Rights Day |
| December 25, 2021 | Good Governance Day(India) and Christmas Day |
| December 31, 2021 | New Year’s Eve |
Brief About Various Bank Holidays in December 2021
Do you want to know more about the various banks and public holidays in December? In this section, we’re going to discuss exactly the same. Keep reading.
Second Saturday and Fourth Saturday
Usually, every second and fourth Saturday, banks get holidays. The Reserve Bank of India Announced the bank holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays in 2015. However, the banks continuously operate on other Saturdays and are closed on all Sundays of a month.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s celebrated each year on December 25 across the globe. It’s also most commonly known as the “Feast Day of Christ.” This is a religious festival and is widely celebrated by Christians. That’s why on this occasion everything remains closed from schools to banks.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is celebrated just before Christmas Day, i.e., on December 24, 2021. Usually, this festival starts at night as Jesus Christ is believed to be born at midnight on December 25, 2021. On this occasion, people gather at Churches or homes to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas Eve comprises Midnight Mass(One of the most crucial traditions) where people give each other. Also, children and adults arrange and decorate Christmas Trees with beautiful decor items and lights.
New Year’s Eve
It’s no surprise to say that New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest festivals celebrated worldwide. According to the Gregorian Calendar, it’s celebrated every year on December 31, i.e., at the end of the year. On this day, people enjoy themselves with their family, friends, and neighbours till 12 am. In a few regions, people celebrate by firing crackers, screaming “Happy New Year”, enjoying pubs, clubs, or cutting cakes.
Three-Holiday Acts by Reserve Bank of India
In general, all private and PSU banks function under the rules and regulations of the Reserve Bank of India. According to the RBI guidelines, the banks should be closed on the second and fourth Saturdays. In addition, banks also get holidays for national festivals, events, or other occasions. Here are the various acts of RBI on bank holidays.
- Holiday Under Negotiable Instruments Act – As per this act, the banks will be closed on public holidays. This is why it’s vital to finish the most significant work before the bank holidays.
- Holiday Under Negotiable Instruments Act and Real-Time Gross Settlement Holiday – It’s also most commonly known as GTGS holidays, where the banks work on funds without netting.
- Banks’ Closing of Accounts – This is the last bank holidays act that says the banks receive holidays to close the accounts.
Key Takeaways
In December, banks get very few holidays for about three days. This year, they merely get two holidays for the second Saturday, the fourth Saturday, and Christmas day. Since Christmas day and the fourth Saturday fall under the same date, banks receive only two holidays rather than three. Now, let’s quickly recall the public and private holidays in December.
- Bank Holidays in December 2021 are Christmas Day, Second Saturday and Fourth Saturday.
- The public holidays in December include Nagaland State Formation Day, World’s Disabled or Handicapped Day, Goa Liberation Day, Tamu Losar, U Kiang Nangbah, and a lot more events.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many holidays do banks get in December?
In general, the banks receive three holidays in December in India. These include Second Saturday, Fourth Saturday, and Christmas Day.
Who decides and declares the bank holidays?
The Reserve Bank of India takes responsibility for all banks and their related issues. So, it’s the one that decides and declares bank holidays.
Are the second and fourth Saturdays holidays for all states in India?
Yes. Since the Reserve Bank of India declared bank holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays, they remain closed on these days. Moreover, these holidays are not merely restricted to PSUs but also applicable to private banks.
