Time for yet more relaxation…(Picture: Getty Images)

Christmas can be a very stressful time of year – with all the festive shopping and turkey cooking there isn’t always time to just sit back and relax.

Luckily, the season is accompanied by Boxing Day, a much-needed bank holiday – and with New Year looming there’s more time off to come.

But with Christmas Day falling on a Sunday this year, people are confused as to just how much time they are getting off.

Do we get an extra bank holiday when one of the big days is on a weekend, and is is today?

Is today a bank holiday?

Yes, today, Tuesday December 27, is indeed a bank holiday.

However, it is only because of Christmas Day being on a Sunday – December 27 would not normally be a bank holiday if both that and Boxing Day fell on weekdays.

This year we get only one additional bank holiday, as Boxing Day was on a Monday – but in 2021 we enjoyed two extra holidays in light of both Christmas Day and Boxing Day falling on the weekend.

We could all use an extra day off (Picture: Getty Images)

This will also be reflected when it comes to New Year, with an additional bank holiday on January 2 to mark the fact New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday.

When are the bank holidays in 2023?

Here’s when you can look forward to a break over the coming year…

Monday January 2 New Year’s Day (substitute day)

Tuesday January 3 (Scotland only – New Year’s Day substitute day)

Friday March 17 St Patrick’s Day (Northern Ireland only)

Friday April 7 Good Friday

Monday April 10 Easter Monday

Monday May 1 Early May Bank Holiday

Monday May 8 Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III

Monday May 29 Spring bank holiday

Wednesday July 12 Battle Of The Boyne (Northern Ireland only)

Monday August 7 Summer bank holiday (Scotland only)

Monday August 28 Summer bank holiday (except Scotland)

Thursday November 30 St Andrews’ Day (Scotland only)

Monday December 25 Christmas Day

Tuesday December 26 Boxing Day

Are any shops open on December 27?

Want to hit the Boxing Day sales? (Picture: Getty Images)

As is the case with most bank holidays, shops will be open today – but may operate reduced hours to normal.

Supermarkets for example may open later then usual – around 9am in some cases – and might also close a little earlier than they normally do.

Others, such as shopping centres, may operate their regular opening hours as people head out to bag a bargain in the sales.

Opening and closing times will also vary depending on where you happen to be in the country.

If you’re planning on hitting the shops on December 27, you should use the store locator tool on the website of your shop of choice, to confirm what time your local branch opens its doors.

For those visiting a shopping centre, you should also check their website to see what time they will be open.

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The big festive break continues.