Meaning of HOLIDAYS AND VACATIONS in English
Holiday in American English means a day that is special for some reason. Most people do not go to work on an important holiday, but may do so on a minor one. Few people have to work on federal (= national) holidays such as New Year’s Day or Independence Day , though they may celebrate St Valentine’s Day or Groundhog Day but still go to work or school. Apart from the main federal holidays each state decides its own holidays. The period from Thanksgiving to the end of the year when there are several important holidays is called the holiday season or simply the holidays (e.g. Stores are getting ready for the holiday season. ). In British English, special days like New Year’s Day are called bank holidays or public holidays .
Holiday in British English also means a period of time spent away from work or school, usually of a week or longer. This is called a vacation in American English. So, the period of several weeks around Christmas when schools are closed is called the Christmas holiday in Britain and the Christmas vacation in the US.
Holiday and vacation are also used to refer to the period when people go away for a time to a beach resort or to the country, or go travelling. British people have about four weeks’ paid leave from their jobs. Most take their main holiday in the summer. People without children of school age often go on holiday in the off-season when prices are lower and there are fewer other holidaymakers . Some people stay in Britain for their holiday, but many rent a cottage in the country or go to beach resorts in Europe for one or two weeks. Some travel to the US or visit India, the Far East and other parts of the world. Many British people going abroad buy package holidays sold on the Internet or through high-street travel agents , which include transport, accommodation and sometimes excursions in the price. Some people see their holidays as an opportunity to relax in the sun, but others prefer activity holidays during which they can visit famous buildings or go walking in the countryside. A few go to a holiday centre, often called a holiday village , such as Butlin’s or Centre Parcs , which provides entertainment for all the family. People often arrange their holiday a long time in advance and look forward to it through the winter. Many people also have a short break , usually three or four days, e.g. at a country cottage in Britain or in a European city.
Americans have relatively short vacations, typically two weeks. People with important jobs or who have worked in their company for many years may have longer vacations. People with low-paid jobs in shops, fast food restaurants, etc, often have no paid vacation at all.
The typical family vacation in the US involves driving to a destination within the country. Some people visit relatives or go sightseeing in cities like Washington, DC , or New York . The national parks , like Yellowstone National Park or the Grand Canyon , are also popular, and people sometimes rent a cabin ( BrE cottage) in the country. Families often go to amusement parks like Disney World in Florida . People who do not drive usually fly to a place as air fares are relatively cheap. Package tours are not very common and most Americans arrange their transport and accommodation separately.
Many Americans have not been on vacation outside North America. However, Europe has always been a popular destination for people wanting to travel further, and trips to South America and the Far East are increasingly common, especially with younger travellers. Cruises (= journeys by ship, visiting different places) to the Caribbean or Alaska have also become very popular.
Oxford guide to British and American culture English vocabulary.
Руководство по британской и американской культуре, Оксфордский английский словарь.
2005
Yes, while they can mean the same thing, vacation is, also, a time when one decides to have a holiday, while holiday is the time when one does not decide, but when it is decided on some higher level (national, religious, organizational, etc).
Etymology might be enough to see all the peculiarities:
vacation
late 14c., «freedom or release» (from some activity or occupation), from O.Fr. vacation, from L. vacationem (nom. vacatio) «leisure, a being free from duty,» from vacare «be empty, free, or at leisure» (see vain). Meaning «formal suspension of activity» (in ref. to schools, courts, etc.) is recorded from mid-15c. As the U.S. equivalent of what in Britain is called a holiday, it is attested from 1878.holiday
1500s, earlier haliday (c.1200), from O.E. haligdæg «holy day; Sabbath,» from halig «holy» (see holy) + dæg «day» (see day); in 14c. meaning both «religious festival» and «day of recreation,» but pronunciation and sense diverged 16c. As a verb meaning «to pass the holidays» by 1869.
EDIT:
According to etymology and dictionaries: Chiefly British holidays is a period of cessation from work or one of recreation; vacation.
The interpretation of the words holiday, holidays, and vacation offer many doubts, especially in those who have been studying English for a short time, we believe that this is more than enough reason to address the subject and offer a clarifying explanation, to know when to use it.
Indeed, knowing if using holiday or holidays is a common question when learning English. Perhaps the confusion arises because in Spanish the word “vacaciones” is always used, whatever the context, regardless of whether it is singular or plural. It should be borne in mind that in English there is a plural and singular form and they also have different employment criteria.
For its part, vacation means “vacaciones” and its use is more typical of American English in which the person who enjoys a vacation is called a “vacationer”.
Differences: holiday or holidays
Basically, it’s something like singular vs. plural. Holiday is used when you mean a holiday/vacation, while holidays means some vacation days or a period of time without working/studying. However, it is said to be on holiday when you mean to be on vacation.
Holidays are used:
When it comes to referring to a specific vacation time:
- Christmas holidays.
Vacaciones de Navidad.
- Summer holidays.
Vacaciones estivales.
Relate trips
Holidays refer to more than one trip.
- How many holidays time did you have last summer?
¿Cuántas vacaciones tuviste el verano pasado?
- I had three holiday periods last year: at Easter, I went to Spain, in summer to France and in winter to Portugal.
Tuve tres periodos de vacaciones el año pasado: en Semana Santa fui a España, en verano a Francia y en invierno a Portugal
Mientras Holiday se emplea para referirse a un solo evento o día festivo concreto
- Good Friday is a holiday, that’s why he doesn’t go to work.
El Viernes Santo es feriado, por eso no va a trabajar.
Vacation
Vacation is the term used by North Americans when it refers to a more or less long period of vacation, while in the United Kingdom they use holiday
- How good! ten days to go on vacation.
¡Qué bien! Faltan diez días para irme de vacaciones
In reality, vacation is not widely used in the United Kingdom, except when it is to refer to a more or less long period, in which it is closed, for example, a university.
However, the holiday is mostly used by Americans to refer to a national holiday such as Thanksgiving or Independence Day. Therefore, in the United States, you can have a holiday day during your vacation.
In summary, we can say that in American English, they use the word vacation to talk about vacations, while in British English holiday is used.
In both cases, it is customary to combine these verbs
- To be on holiday/vacation.
(estar de vacaciones).
- To go on holiday/vacation.
(irse de vacaciones).
- To take a holiday/vacation.
(cogerse las vacaciones).
- When was the last time you took a holiday? / When was the last time you took a vacation?
¿Cuándo fue la última vez que se fue de vacaciones? / ¿Cuándo fue la última vez que tomó unas vacaciones?
- We’re on vacation. / We’re on holiday.
Estamos de vacaciones. / Estamos de vacaciones.
- I like to go on vacation in the spring / I like to go on holiday in the spring.
Me gusta irme de vacaciones en primavera. / Me gusta irme de vacaciones en primavera.
Mistakes made when using the word vacation
Be careful with the word vacation! Vacation has no plural in English!
- How were your vacation? –> How was your vacation?
¿Cómo fueron tus vacaciones? -> ¿Cómo fueron tus vacaciones?
Make sure you pronounce the v as an English v and not as a b. The two areas are pronounced like the an in late, not as in cow in Spanish.
Days off in English: “Have a day off”
In addition to holidays, holidays, and vacations you can also say “have a day off” or “have a few days off” to have a few days off. For instance:
- I have a few days off in August, and I’m going to the beach.
Tengo unos días libres en agosto y me voy a la playa.
- I’m new to the company, so I don’t have many days off this year.
Soy nuevo en la compañía, así que no tengo muchos días libres este año.
You can also say “take a day off” to take the day off. Or if you want, more than one day.
- I’m going to take the day off to visit my aunt in the hospital.
Voy a tomarme el día libre para visitar a mi tía en el hospital.
- I’m going to take a week off at Christmas.
Voy a tomarme una semana libre en Navidad.
- She took a year off when she had her first child.
Se tomó un año libre cuando tuvo su primer hijo.
“Take a sick day”
On the other hand, in American English, ” take a sick day ” is used to take the day off due to illness.
Examples:
- If you feel bad, take a sick day.
Si te sientes mal, tómate un día por enfermedad.
- She took a sick day, but really she was at an interview for another job.
Se tomó un día por enfermedad, pero en realidad estaba en una entrevista para otro trabajo.
- He’s been on sick leave since he broke his leg a couple of weeks ago.
Ha estado de baja por enfermedad desde que se fracturó la pierna hace un par de semanas.
- She’s been on maternity leave for 3 months.
Ha estado de baja por maternidad durante 3 meses.