IT was the two weeks everyone in Glasgow had marked on the calendar and a chance for the city to shut down for its on holidays. 

Ask any Glaswegian of a certain vintage and they'll recall excitedly packing their bags ahead of a well-deserved break during the Glasgow Fair Fortnight. 

READ MORE: Hooray for the great Glasgow Fair...

The historic tradition, which dates back as far as the 12th century, has been enjoyed by generations, although is much less strictly adhered to now. 

But what is the Glasgow Fair Fortnight? Here's all you need to know. 

What is the Fair Fortnight? 

One of the oldest holidays in Scotland, the Glasgow Fair dates back nearly a full millennium ago. It all began when Bishop Jocelin of Glasgow was granted the right to hold an annual eight-day fair in July by William the Lion in the 1190s. 

Earlier it focused on trade as people came from afar to buy and sell at markets, first held in Glasgow Cathedral. It later became known for amusements and then the city's holiday fortnight.

Glasgow Times:

Put simply: it was the time where everything in Glasgow closed - including offices and factories- to allow city dwellers to take trips ‘doon the water’ to the likes Rothesay and Millport. 

The shows would also descend on the city with Glasgow Green a hotspot for all the fun of the fair. 

When does it take place? 

While the Fair Fortnight is much less adhered to in the modern day with the introduction of annual leave and 24 hour businesses, it is still marked by many Glaswegians around the second half of July. 

Glasgow Times: Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, circa 1959. School children pose on Crocodile Rock...pic: Newsquest Media Group.Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, circa 1959. School children pose on Crocodile Rock...pic: Newsquest Media Group.

Some firms in the city still stick to the tradition and take the first Monday of the Fair - that's today - as a bank holiday.

The Fair Fortnight in pictures 

Glasgow Times: Two girls on the waltzers at a fairground on Glasgow Green during the Glasgow Fair 20th July 1952.Two girls on the waltzers at a fairground on Glasgow Green during the Glasgow Fair 20th July 1952.

Glasgow Times: The Fortune Teller at Glasgow Green for Glasgow Fair weekend.The Fortune Teller at Glasgow Green for Glasgow Fair weekend.

Glasgow Times: Glasgow Fair passengers waiting for the train to London in July 1962Glasgow Fair passengers waiting for the train to London in July 1962

Glasgow Times: 1953 - Glasgow Fair at Central Station1953 - Glasgow Fair at Central Station

Glasgow Times: Children on a faiground ride at Glasgow Green during the Glasgow Fair 18th July 1949Children on a faiground ride at Glasgow Green during the Glasgow Fair 18th July 1949

Glasgow Times: The main shopping centre in Saltcoats during Glasgow Fair Monday, 1960The main shopping centre in Saltcoats during Glasgow Fair Monday, 1960

Glasgow Times: GLASGOW FAIR HOLIDAYS.PUBLISHED EVENING TIMES 18/7/1941GLASGOW FAIR HOLIDAYS.PUBLISHED EVENING TIMES 18/7/1941

Glasgow Times:  Pictured from left- Euan Ward age 12, left, Murray McDonald age 11 and his sister Anna age 5 cooling off in the White Cart in Pollok Country Park, Glasgow... Photograph by Colin Mearns (taken July 2019) Pictured from left- Euan Ward age 12, left, Murray McDonald age 11 and his sister Anna age 5 cooling off in the White Cart in Pollok Country Park, Glasgow... Photograph by Colin Mearns (taken July 2019)