What does the word holiday mean if you look it up in the english language

Britannica Dictionary definition of HOLIDAY

Britannica Dictionary definition of HOLIDAY

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There’s something about a holiday that isn’t all about how much money you spend.

Hilarie Burton

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD HOLIDAY

Old English hāligdæg, literally: holy day.

PRONUNCIATION OF HOLIDAY

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF HOLIDAY

Holiday is a verb and can also act as a noun.

WHAT DOES HOLIDAY MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Definition of holiday in the English dictionary

The first definition of holiday in the dictionary is a period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel, or recreation US and Canadian word: vacation. Other definition of holiday is a day on which work is suspended by law or custom, such as a religious festival, bank holiday, etc related adjective ferial. Holiday is also to spend a holiday.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO HOLIDAY

PRESENT

PAST

FUTURE

CONDITIONAL

IMPERATIVE

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH HOLIDAY

SYNONYMS OF «HOLIDAY»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «holiday» and belong to the same grammatical category.

TRANSLATION OF HOLIDAY

Find out the translation of holiday to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «HOLIDAY»

The term «holiday» is very widely used and occupies the 431 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.

Principal search tendencies and common uses of holiday

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «HOLIDAY» OVER TIME

10 QUOTES WITH «HOLIDAY»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word holiday.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «HOLIDAY»

Discover the use of holiday in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to holiday and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «HOLIDAY»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term holiday is used in the context of the following news items.

REFERENCE

« EDUCALINGO. Holiday [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/holiday>. Apr 2023 ».

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A holiday is a day or other period of time set aside for festivals or recreation. Public holidays are set by public authorities and vary by state or region. Religious holidays are set by religious organisations for their members and are often also observed as public holidays in religious majority countries. Some religious holidays such as Christmas have become or are becoming secularised by part or all of those who observe it. In addition to secularisation, many holidays have become commercialised due to the growth of industry.^[1]

Holidays can be thematic, celebrating or commemorating particular groups, events or ideas, or non-thematic, days of rest which do not have any particular meaning. In Commonwealth English, the term can refer to any period of rest from work, such as vacations or school holidays. In American English, the holidays typically refers to the period from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, which contains many important holidays in American culture.

Terminology[edit]

The word holiday comes from the Old English word hāligdæg (hālig «holy» + dæg «day»).^[2] The word originally referred only to special religious days.

The word holiday has differing connotations in different regions. In the United States the word is used exclusively to refer to the nationally, religiously or culturally observed day(s) of rest or celebration, or the events themselves, whereas in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth nations, the word may refer to the period of time where leave from one’s duties has been agreed, and is used as a synonym to the US preferred vacation. This time is usually set aside for rest, travel or the participation in recreational activities, with entire industries targeted to coincide or enhance these experiences. The days of leave may not coincide with any specific customs or laws. Employers and educational institutes may designate ‘holidays’ themselves which may or may not overlap nationally or culturally relevant dates, which again comes under this connotation, but it is the first implication detailed that this article is concerned with. The modern use varies geographically. In North America, it means any dedicated day or period of celebration. In the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, holiday is often used instead of the word vacation.

Global holidays[edit]

The celebration of the New Year has been a common holiday across cultures for at least four millennia.^[3] Such holidays normally celebrate the last day of a year and the arrival of the next year in a calendar system. In modern cultures using the Gregorian calendar, the New Year’s celebration spans New Year’s Eve on 31 December and New Year’s Day on 1 January. However, other calendar systems also have New Year’s celebration, such as Chinese New Year and Vietnamese Tet.^[4] New Year’s Day is the most common public holiday, observed by all countries using the Gregorian calendar except Israel.^[5]

Christmas is a popular holiday globally due to the spread of Christianity. The holiday is recognsied as a public holiday in many countries in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Australasia and is celebrated by over 2 billion people.^[6] Although a holiday with religious origins, Christmas is often celebrated by non-Christians as a secular holiday. For example, 61% of Brits celebrate Christmas in an entirely secular way.^[7] Christmas has also become a tradition in some non-Christian countries. For example, for many Japanese people, it has become customary to buy and eat fried chicken on Christmas.^[8][9]

Recently invented holidays commemorate a range of modern social and political issues and other important topics. The United Nations publishes a list of International Days and Weeks. One such day is International Women’s Day on 8 March, which celebrates women’s achievements and campaigns for gender equality and women’s rights.^[10] Earth Day has been celebrated by people across the world since 1970, with 10,000 events in 2007. It is a holiday marking the dangers of environmental damage, such as pollution and the climate crisis.^[11]

Common secular holidays[edit]

Other secular holidays are observed regionally, nationally and across multi-country regions. The United Nations Calendar of Observances^[12] dedicates decades to a specific topic, but also a complete year, month, week and days. Holidays dedicated to an observance such as the commemoration of the ending of World War II, or the Shoah, can also be part of the reparation obligation as per UN General Assembly Resolution 60/147 Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law.^[13]

Another example of a major secular holiday is the Lunar New Year, which is celebrated across East Asia and South East Asia. Many other days are marked to celebrate events or people, but are not strictly holidays as time off work is rarely given; examples include Arbor Day (originally U.S.), Labor Day (celebrated sometimes under different names and on different days in different countries), and Earth Day (22 April).

Public holidays[edit]

Substitute holidays[edit]

If a holiday coincides with another holiday or a weekend day a substitute holiday may be recognised in lieu. In the United Kingdom the government website states that «If a bank holiday is on a weekend, a ‘substitute’ weekday becomes a bank holiday, normally the following Monday.», and the list of bank holidays for the year 2020 includes Monday 28 December as «Boxing Day (substitute day)», as 26 December is a Saturday.^[14] The process of moving a holiday from a weekend day to the following Monday is known as Mondayisation in New Zealand.^[15]

National days[edit]

National days are days of significance to a nation or nation state. National days are typically celebratory of a state’s independence (e.g. 4 July in the US), founding or unification (e.g. German Unity Day), the commemoration of a revolution (e.g. Bastille Day in France) or liberation (e.g. 9 May in the Channel Islands), or the feast day for a patron saint (e.g. St Patrick’s Day in Ireland) or ruler (e.g. 5 December in Thailand). Every country other than Denmark and the United Kingdom observes a national day.^[16] In the UK, constituent countries have official or unofficial national days associated with their patron saint. A British national day has often been proposed, such as the date of the Acts of Union 1707 (1 May) or the King’s Official Birthday, but never adopted.^[17]

Other days of national importance exist, such as one to celebrate the country’s military or veterans. For example, Armistice Day (11 November) is recognised in World War I Allied nations (and across the Commonwealth) to memoralise those lost in the World Wars. National leaders will typically attend remembrance ceremonies at national memorial sites.

Religious holidays[edit]

Many holidays are linked to faiths and religions (see etymology above). Christian holidays are defined as part of the liturgical year, the chief ones being Easter and Christmas. The Orthodox Christian and Western-Roman Catholic patronal feast day or «name day» are celebrated in each place’s patron saint’s day, according to the Calendar of saints. Jehovah’s Witnesses annually commemorate «The Memorial of Jesus Christ’s Death», but do not celebrate other holidays with any religious significance such as Easter, Christmas or New Year. This holds especially true for those holidays that have combined and absorbed rituals, overtones or practices from non-Christian beliefs into the celebration, as well as those holidays that distract from or replace the worship of Jehovah.^[18] In Islam, the largest holidays are Eid al-Fitr (immediately after Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (at the end of the Hajj). Ahmadi Muslims additionally celebrate Promised Messiah Day, Promised Reformer Day, and Khilafat Day, but contrary to popular belief, neither are regarded as holidays. Hindus, Jains and Sikhs observe several holidays, one of the largest being Diwali (Festival of Light). Japanese holidays as well as few Catholic holidays contain heavy references to several different faiths and beliefs. Celtic, Norse, and Neopagan holidays follow the order of the Wheel of the Year. For example, Christmas ideas like decorating trees and colors (green, red, and white) have very similar ideas to modern Wicca (a modern Pagan belief) Yule which is a lesser Sabbat of the wheel of the year. Some are closely linked to Swedish festivities. The Baháʼí Faith observes 11 annual holidays on dates determined using the Baháʼí calendar. Jews have two holiday seasons: the Spring Feasts of Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot (Weeks, called Pentecost in Greek); and the Fall Feasts of Rosh Hashanah (Head of the Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkot (Tabernacles), and Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly).

Secularisation[edit]

Some religious holidays are also celebrated by many as secular holidays. For example, 61% of Brits celebrate Christmas in an entirely secular way.^[7] 81% of non-Christian Americans also celebrate Christmas. A 2019 Gallup poll found that two-thirds of Americans still celebrate an at least somewhat religious Christmas.^[19]

The claimed over-secularisation of particular holidays has caused controversy and claims of censorship of religion or political correctness. For example, in the 1990s, Birmingham City Council promoted a series of events in the Christmas season under the brand Winterval to create a more multi-cultural atmosphere about the seasonal festivities. The Bishop of Birmingham responded to the events, saying «the secular world, which expresses respect for all, is actually embarrassed by faith. Or perhaps it is Christianity which is censored».^[20] In the United States, conservative commentators have characterised the secularisation of Winter festivities as «the War on Christmas».^[21]

Unofficial holidays[edit]

These are holidays that are not traditionally marked on calendars. These holidays are celebrated by various groups and individuals. Some promote a cause, others recognize historical events not officially recognized, and others are «funny» holidays celebrated with humorous intent. For example, Monkey Day is celebrated on December 14, International Talk Like a Pirate Day is observed on September 19, and Blasphemy Day is held on September 30. Other examples are April Fools’ Day on April 1 and World No Tobacco Day on May 31. Various community organizers and marketers promote odd social media holidays.

Commercialism[edit]

In the United States, holidays have been drawn into a culture of consumption since the late 19th century. Many civic, religious and folk festivals have been commercialised. As such, traditions have been reshaped to serve the needs of industry. Leigh Eric Schmidt argues that the growth of consumption culture allowed the growth of holidays as an opportunity for increased public consumption and the orderly timing of it. Thus, after the Civil War, as department stores became the spatial expression of commercialism, holidays became the temporal expression of it.^[1]

See also[edit]

• Christmas and holiday season
• Holiday heart syndrome
• Public holiday
• List of holidays by country
• Commemoration (Anglicanism)
• Tribute

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Holidays at Curlie

Princeton’s WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. vacation, holidaynoun

   leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

   «we get two weeks of vacation every summer»; «we took a short holiday in Puerto Rico»

2. holidayverb

   a day on which work is suspended by law or custom

   «no mail is delivered on federal holidays»; «it’s a good thing that New Year’s was a holiday because everyone had a hangover»

3. vacation, holidayverb

   spend or take a vacation

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. holidaynoun

   A day on which a festival, religious event, or national celebration is traditionally observed.

2. holidaynoun

   A day declared free from work by the government.

3. holidaynoun

   A period of one or more days taken off work by an employee for leisure.

4. holidaynoun

   A period during which pupils and students do not attend their school or university.

   I want to take a French course this summer holiday.

5. holidaynoun

   A period taken off work or study for travel.

6. holidaynoun

   An unintentional gap left on a plated, coated, or painted surface.

7. holidayverb

   To take a period of time away from work or study.

8. holidayverb

   To spend a period of time for travel.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Holidaynoun

   a consecrated day; religious anniversary; a day set apart in honor of some person, or in commemoration of some event. See Holyday

2. Holidaynoun

   a day of exemption from labor; a day of amusement and gayety; a festival day

3. Holidaynoun

   a day fixed by law for suspension of business; a legal holiday

4. Holidayadjective

   of or pertaining to a festival; cheerful; joyous; gay

5. Holidayadjective

   occurring rarely; adapted for a special occasion

6. Etymology: [Holy + day.]

FreebaseRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. Holiday

   A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law in which normal activities, especially business or work, are to be suspended or reduced. Generally holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate something of cultural or religious significance. Holidays may be designated by governments, religious institutions, or other groups or organizations. The degree to which normal activities are reduced by a holiday may depend on local laws, customs, or even personal choices.
   The concept of holidays has most often originated as religious observances. The intention of a holiday was typically to allow individuals to tend to religious duties associated with important dates on the calendar. In most modern societies, however, holidays serve as much of a recreational function as anything else.
   In many societies there are important distinctions between holidays designated by governments and holidays designated by religious institutions. In many predominantly Christian nations, for example, government-designed holidays may center around Christian holidays though non-Christians may instead observe religious holidays associated with their faith. In some cases, a holiday may only be nominally observed. For example, many Jews in the Americas and Europe treat the relatively minor Jewish holiday of Chanukah as a working holiday, changing very little of their daily routines for this day.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Holiday

   hol′i-dā, n. a consecrated day: a religious festival: a day for the commemoration of some event: a day of idleness and amusement.—adj. befitting a holiday: cheerful.—Holiday speeches, fine but empty phrases. [Formerly holy day.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. holiday

   Any part left neglected or uncovered in paying or painting,
   blacking, or tarring.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. holiday

   Leisure time doing what we love with a passion.

   Holiday’s are fantastic and everyone loves to have one.

   Submitted by MaryC on December 28, 2019  

Etymology and OriginsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Holiday

   The modern form of “Holy Day,” expressive of a great feast in the Church calendar.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. HOLIDAY

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Holiday is ranked #5089 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

   The Holiday surname appeared 6,881 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 would have the surname Holiday.

   49.4% or 3,404 total occurrences were Black.
   36.1% or 2,486 total occurrences were White.
   8.9% or 618 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
   2.9% or 200 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   2% or 139 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
   0.4% or 34 total occurrences were Asian.

Matched Categories

1. • Leisure Time
   • Spend

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘holiday’ in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1495

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘holiday’ in Written Corpus Frequency: #826

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word ‘holiday’ in Nouns Frequency: #420

How to pronounce holiday?

How to say holiday in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of holiday in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of holiday in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of holiday in a Sentence

1. Drew Thompson:

   PLAAF sorties are pretty routine at this point, but stepping up bomber flights on a major PRC( People’s Republic of China) holiday underscores that this is political warfare and part of a massive coercion campaign.

2. Ronnie Carrillo:

   The first time I saw it, I didn’t believe what I saw — a tumbleweed snowman, but now this is our holiday icon.

3. British Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin:

   Any disruption to our aviation system is a matter of the utmost concern, especially at this time of year in the run up to the holiday season, disruption on this scale is simply unacceptable and I have asked NATS for a full explanation of this evening’s incident.

4. Muriel Boselli:

   The fact they’re doing that during the summer holiday shows they want the trial to be done with quickly, with the least amount of publicity possible.

5. Deputy Finance Minister Dan Manolescu:

   We aim that revenues collected under the new system are at least as high as current ones, the draft will be sent to parliament in September, when parliament reconvenes from the summer holiday.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for holiday

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

• إجازة, عطلة, عطل, عيدArabic
• bayramAzerbaijani
• байрам көнө, ғәйет, ял, байрам, ял көнөBashkir
• святаBelarusian
• пра́зникBulgarian
• ছুটির দিনBengali
• dovolená, svátek, prázdninyCzech
• уявChuvash
• ferie, helligdag, fridagDanish
• Urlaub, Ferien, gesetzlicher Feiertag, Feiertag, Ferienreise, reisenGerman
• διακοπές, αργία, γιορτήGreek
• lernejaj, libertempo, festotago, feriojEsperanto
• [[día]] [[feriado]], fiesta, vacaciones, festividad, vacaciónSpanish
• pühaEstonian
• jaiegunBasque
• عیدPersian
• lomapäivä, juhlapäivä, aukko, loma, yleinen vapaapäivä, vapaapäivä, pyhäpäivä, matkustella, lomaillaFinnish
• jour férié, congé, vacance, vacances, fêteFrench
• lá saoire, saoire, laethanta saoireIrish
• saor-làithean, làithean-saora, saor-latha, latha-fèilleScottish Gaelic
• feaill, feailleyManx
• חגHebrew
• छुट्टी, ईद, चुट्टीHindi
• szabadnap, vakáció, szünnap, szünet, ünnepnap, szabadság, szabadnapos, kirándul, szabadságon vanHungarian
• տոն, արձակուրդArmenian
• helgidagurIcelandic
• vacanza, giorno festivo, ferieItalian
• 休日, 祭り, 休暇, 祭日Japanese
• დღესასწაულიGeorgian
• айт, мейрамKazakh
• ថ្ងៃឈប់សម្រាកKhmer
• 축제일, 휴가, 휴일Korean
• айт, майрамKyrgyz
• feria, festum, cessatio, feriaeLatin
• ມື້ພັກ, ມື້ພັກງານLao
• одмор, празник, распуст, нера́ботен ден, пра́зник, отсуство, отсуствува, зема одморMacedonian
• баярMongolian
• vaganza, jum il-festa, btala, frankaMaltese
• ferie, heilagdag, helligdagNorwegian
• vakantie, feestdagDutch
• heilagdag, ferieNorwegian Nynorsk
• urlop, święto, wakacjePolish
• férias, feriado, [[tirar]] [[férias]]Portuguese
• отгу́л, выходно́й день, кани́кулы, плешь, опло́шность, пра́здник, о́тпуск, про́пуск, проводить отпуск, путешествовать, брать отпуск, отдыхать, проводить каникулыRussian
• odmor, свечаник, svečanik, raspust, svetkovina, praznik, светковина, празникSerbo-Croatian
• dovolená, sviatokSlovak
• praznikSlovene
• festëAlbanian
• ledighet, helgdag, semester, högtid, lovSwedish
• likizoSwahili
• సెలవుTelugu
• идTajik
• วันหยุดThai
• baýram, baýramçylykTurkmen
• tatil, bayramTurkish
• бәйрәмTatar
• святоUkrainian
• چھٹی, چٹّی, عیدUrdu
• bayramUzbek
• ngày lễVietnamese
• 假期Chinese

Get even more translations for holiday »

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Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

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.

Бекітемін:

Date:

Form:
6

The
theme of the lesson:         «Celebrating
holidays».

The
aims of the lesson:          
To introduce pupils with the new materials,                                             new words,  to teach them to
use it in their own speech.                                        Teaching pupils ask
and  answer the questions, speaking                                              about 
things which described in picture. To develop pupils                                writing,
reading and listening abilities, to develop pupils work                              correctly.
To teach pupil to respect each other and say                                            own
opinions.

The type of the lesson: Combined

The
method of the lesson:
question-answer, groups, work in pairs,

                                      the
elements of  RWCT .

The
visual aids:
cards, posters, pictures, computer.

I.
Organizing moment.

T-Cl.
T-P on duty

T:
Good morning, children!

Cl.:
Good morning, teacher!

T:
How are you?

Who
is on duty today?

Who
is absent?

II.
Warm up

Let’s
sing a song.

The
song «Months of the year»

III.
Checking of the home task.

T-Cl.

T:
What was your home task?

P: 
Ex.5.p.115

Learn
by heart the dialogue.

III.
New material.

T:
Today we have an unusual lesson. Do you want to know what we are going to talk
about?  We’ll have a talk about different holidays. And theme of the lesson
«Celebrating holidays «.  The main aims of the lesson learn more
about the holidays that are celebrated in Britain and in Kazakhstan. I hope
that you will show us what you know about holiday.

A.
Brainstorming.

Answer
 my questions:

1)
What holidays do you know in Kazakhstan ?

2)
When do we celebrate New Year holiday?

3)
What is the most important holiday in Kazakhstan?

Who
knows what does the word » holiday» mean?

T:
The word holiday derived from the notion of «Holy
Day».

The word holiday comes from the Old English word.  The word actually means, «Holy
day» and meant times of religious celebration. I think that all
people like holidays, because they don’t work and have a good time. Today we
shall about different holidays.

T: Now, look at the blackboard and write the new words which we’ll
study today.

B.
New words

Pronunciation
practice

Listen
and read

Decorate       
                  [‘dekәˏreit]  
                              сәндеу, безендіру

Chimney     
                    [‘tʃimni]                                      мұржа

Celebrate       
                 [‘seliˏbreit]                                 тойлау

Celebration                      [‘seliˏbreiʃәn]                              тойлау  

Neighbour
                     [‘neibә]                                        көрші

Costume 
                       [‘kәstju:m]                                   костюм,
киім

Guest    
                          [gest]                                           қонақ

Knock  
                          [nᴐk]                                           қағу,
тарсылдату

Trick     
                         [trik]                                            айла,
тәсіл

Threat 
                          [Өret]                                          қауіп

Roast    
                         [rәust]                                         қуырылған

Turkey                         
[‘tә:ki]                                       күркетауық

Pie                                
[pai]                                         бәліш

Sock                             
[sᴐk]                                          шұлық

Stocking                        [‘stᴐkiƞ] 
                                    шұлық

Nation                           [‘neiʃәn]  
                                   ұлт, халық

National                       
[nӕʃәnәl]                                    ұлттық, халықтық

Tradition                      
[trә’diʃn]                                     дәстүр

Traditional                   
[trә’diʃnәl]                                  дәстүрлі

Thanksgiving
                 [‘Өӕƞksqiviƞ]                            алғыс білдіру

C. Picture search

Find
in the
picture new words which we have today learned.

D.
Reading and speaking.

T:
Open your book at page 118.Exercise 2A. Read. Match the
British holidays and get some more information and guest them.

a)
People in Britain begin celebrating this holiday in January. Sometimes they
have parties where guests dress up in costumes and cover their faces with
masks. Next day people visit friends, relatives, neighbours.

b)
It’s a holiday for children in Britain. Children dressed in costumes knock on
their neighbours’ doors and ask: «Would you like «trick» or
«treat?» Give them «a treat?», (money, or sweets)»
They go away.

c)
On this day families in the USA gather together  usually in a home for a
traditional dinner.  They have a roast turkey, sweet,  potatoes and a pumpkin
pie. All give thanks together for the good things that they have.

E.
Writing

Find
the passed word in these sentences.( holiday, pie, celebrate, trick, turkey,
treat)

People
in Britain _____________ this holiday in January.

Would
you like «__________» or «__________________».

They
have a roast _________________, sweet potatoes, and a pumpkin __________.

T: Exercise 3.A.
Write. Add these words to the word map:

         wear
costumes               a roast turkey                 money                  cover
their faces with masks pudding      sweet          play a trick           potatoes      gifts            flower                  knock
on the doors                  a pumpkin pie                decorate

Guessing

T: Tasks for the first group: special food

     Tasks for the second group: special occasion activities

     Tasks for the third group: things we give and receive

IV. 
Consolidation of the lesson.

    
 T: What holidays do we celebrate?

  
   P:

     
T:     What can we do on holidays?

     
P:

V.
Marking the pupils.

T-P7

 You’ve
worked hard today and according to the results of your work you get the
following marks :

V1.
Home task.

Exercise
4. p.120

VII.
Conclusion.

T:  Our
lesson is over.  I’m glad to work with you. Good bye, children!

Cl:
Good bye, teacher!

Decorate       
                  [‘dekәˏreit]                                          сәндеу,
безендіру

Chimney     
                    [‘tʃimni]                                                мұржа

Celebrate       
                 [‘seliˏbreit]                                          тойлау

Celebration                      [‘seliˏbreiʃәn]                            
         тойлау  

Neighbour
                      [‘neibә]                                   
              көрші

Costume 
                      [‘kәstju:m]                                            костюм,
киім

Guest    
                         [gest]                                                   қонақ

Knock   
                        [nᴐk]                                                   қағу,
тарсылдату

Trick     
                         [trik]                                                    айла,
тәсіл

Threat 
                           [Өret]                                                  қауіп

Roast    
                        [rәust]                                                  қуырылған

Turkey                          [‘tә:ki]   
                                             күркетауық

Pie                                 [pai]  
                                                бәліш

Sock                              [sᴐk]  
                                               шұлық

Stocking                        [‘stᴐkiƞ] 
                                           шұлық

Nation                           [‘neiʃәn]  
                                          ұлт, халық

National                        [nӕʃәnәl]  
                                        ұлттық, халықтық

Tradition                       [trә’diʃn]
                                             дәстүр

Traditional                     [trә’diʃnәl]   
                                     дәстүрлі

Thanksgiving
                [‘Өӕƞksqiviƞ]                                 алғыс білдіру

People
in Britain _____________ this holiday in January.

Would
you like «__________» or «__________________».

They
have a roast _________________, sweet potatoes, and a pumpkin __________

Over
100 nationalities celebrate this _______________

People
in Britain _____________ this holiday in January.

Would
you like «__________» or «__________________».

They
have a roast _________________, sweet potatoes, and a pumpkin __________

Over
100 nationalities celebrate this _______________

People
in Britain _____________ this holiday in January.

Would
you like «__________» or «__________________».

They
have a roast _________________, sweet potatoes, and a pumpkin __________

Over
100 nationalities celebrate this _______________

People
in Britain _____________ this holiday in January.

Would
you like «__________» or «__________________».

They
have a roast _________________, sweet potatoes, and a pumpkin __________

Over
100 nationalities celebrate this _______________

People
in Britain _____________ this holiday in January.

Would
you like «__________» or «__________________».

They
have a roast _________________, sweet potatoes, and a pumpkin __________

Over
100 nationalities celebrate this _______________

People
in Britain _____________ this holiday in January.

Would
you like «__________» or «__________________».

They
have a roast _________________, sweet potatoes, and a pumpkin __________

Over
100 nationalities celebrate this _______________

People
in Britain _____________ this holiday in January.

Would
you like «__________» or «__________________».

They
have a roast _________________, sweet potatoes, and a pumpkin __________

Over
100 nationalities celebrate this _______________

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishholidayhol‧i‧day1 /ˈhɒlədi, -deɪ $ ˈhɑːlədeɪ/ ●●● S1 W2 noun
 
 1 [countable, uncountable] British English (also holidays)HOLIDAY a time of rest from work, school etc SYN vacation American English
 The school holidays start tomorrow.on holiday
 I’m away on holiday until the 1st of June.in the holidays
 He came to stay with us in the school holidays.holiday from
 a holiday from her usual responsibilitiesRegisterIn everyday British English, when someone is temporarily away from their work or studies, people often say they are off, rather than on holiday. Note, however, that off can also mean that someone is away from their work or studies because they are sick:‘Where’s Kate?’ ‘She’s off this week.’ 2 [countable, uncountable] British English (also holidays)HOLIDAY a period of time when you travel to another place for pleasure SYN vacation American English
 We’re going to Spain for our holidays.on holiday
 He caught malaria while on holiday in Africa.
 I haven’t had a proper holiday for two years.3 HOLIDAY[countable] a day fixed by law on which people do not have to go to work or school
 The 4th of July is a national holiday in the US.

4 → the holiday season → bank holiday, public holidayYou use holidays when talking about a period when you are not working or studying, or when you are travelling. • You say the holidays: Soon it will be the holidays.• You say my/your/her etc holidays: Where do you want to go for your holidays? COLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2verbsgo on holidayThe children were excited about going on holiday.have/take a holidayTeachers cannot take holidays during term time.book a holidayI booked the holiday online.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + holidaya skiing/camping/walking etc holidayThey went on a camping holiday in France.a package holiday (=a holiday in which you pay a price that includes travel, room, and food)The company organizes package holidays to Spain and Greece.a summer holidayThey were going to a house on the coast for their summer holidays.a winter holidayWhy not try a winter holiday for a change?a family holidayI first visited Orkney on a family holiday when I was a boy.an annual holiday (=a holiday you take every year)We were getting ready for our annual holiday in Cornwall.your dream holiday (=the best holiday you can imagine)They won a dream holiday for two to the Caribbean.holiday + NOUNa holiday resort (=a place with many hotels where a lot of people go on holiday)a holiday resort in Spaina holiday destination (=a town or country where a lot of people go on holiday)Marmaris is one of Turkey’s most popular holiday destinations.a holiday brochure (=a magazine that shows what holidays you can take)We were looking through holiday brochures thinking about the summer.holiday photos (also holiday snaps informal) (=photographs that you take when you are on holiday)Do you want to see our holiday snaps?a holiday romance (=a brief romantic relationship with someone you meet on holiday)It was just a holiday romance; I never saw him again.a holiday abroad (=a holiday in a country other than the one you live in)They were planning a holiday abroad that year.phrasesthe holiday of a lifetime (=a very good or expensive holiday that you will only take once)We took the family on a holiday of a lifetime to Orlando, Florida.

Examples from the Corpusholiday• Work has been so hectic — I really need a holiday.• The roads are always busy on bank holidays.• Last year we spent most of the Christmas holiday at our grandma’s.• It paid for the entire holiday.• As a boy, Luckett spent his holidays here in Ledsham.• Mrs Southey is on holiday in Florida.• This shop is closed on Sundays and public holidays.• We try to do as many different activities as we can with the children during the school holidays.• July 20th is the first day of the summer holidays.• Evan Mecham was nixing the holiday honoring the Rev.• And what with Leo home for a part of the holidays, life had been wonderful.• The holiday is also celebrated with small gifts for children and the distribution of meat to the needy.• I get four weeks’ holiday each year. national holiday• After unification Oct. 3 replaced June 17 as a national holiday.• May Day was retained as a national holiday.• There is a built-in cooling-off period because Carnaval has been declared a national holiday and it extends until Tuesday.• My sister and I continue to be venerated by our people, who built shrines and declared national holidays in our honor.• On days of national holiday we had a parade, marching up and down and singing patriotic songs.• And as you head out to grab lunch, it seems as if an unofficial national holiday has been declared.• A few concerts were organised in connection with national holidays — for example on railworkers day or at officially sanctioned Youth parties.

holidayholiday2 verb [intransitive]
 
 British EnglishHOLIDAY to spend your holiday in a place – used especially in news reports SYN vacation American Englishholiday in/at
 They’re holidaying in Majorca. → See Verb tableExamples from the Corpusholiday• If you are holidaying in Brittany this summer look for one in any local Maison de la Presse or Supermarché!• Alternatively you can join in activities on a daily basis if you live or are holidaying in the area.holiday in/at• Thomas Cook, for instance, sent over 5,500 pilgrims on holiday in 1985 through its Inter-Church travel firm subsidiary.• Instead she made do with a holiday in Cornwall with the kids.• So he found himself unexpectedly spending his holiday in the little port of Cassis.• John Major also flew out before the games ended for a villa holiday in the mountains west of Madrid.• Model told the officer they were on a caravanning holiday in the nearby New Forest.• But would people really want to spend all their holidays in the same place?• Her parents were due to go away on holiday at the start of the following week.• Can teachers take unpaid religious holidays at will? From Longman Business Dictionaryholidayhol‧i‧day /ˈhɒlədiˈhɑːlədeɪ/ noun1[countable] a day fixed by law on which people do not go to work or school and shops and businesses are closedThe Zurich stock market was closed yesterday for a national holiday.This Monday is a public holiday in France.The London stockmarket will reopen tomorrow after the bank holiday.

→ bank holiday → national holiday2[countable, uncountable] a time of rest from work or school. Most employees are allowed a fixed number of days each year as paid holidaySYNvacation AmEMy secretary’s on holiday this week.You have to take your holiday by the end of the year.Most employees would like to have more holiday entitlement (=the right to take longer holidays).3[countable] (also holidays British English)TRAVEL a period of time spent in a place for pleasureSYNvacation AmEThey’re on holiday in the Caribbean.Make sure you have adequate holiday insurance before you leave.a popular holiday resort → package holiday4[countable] a period of time when it is not necessary to make payments that must normally be made → contribution holiday → tax holidayOrigin holiday Old English haligdæg “holy day”

• #1

Some times I mistake Holiday and vacation, the other day I was on this site englishclubclass.com and there was an article and it said Holiday in space. I got confused why he didn’t wrote vacation in space. Whats the diffrence between holiday and Vacation?

Thanks

• #2

Hi titutan.
Vacation is American English and holiday is British English. Other than that the two words mean the same thing. Which word to use just depends on who you are talking to.
Hope this helps.
Soup

• #3

Hi thanks a lot, maybe I am used more to the world vacation because it could be the t.v and films i see are from u.s.a and so I dont know much about the birtsh words much.

Thanks a lot!

• #4

soupdragon78 said:

Hi titutan.
Vacation is American English and holiday is British English. Other than that the two words mean the same thing. Which word to use just depends on who you are talking to.
Hope this helps.
Soup

This is correct. In Ae holiday is reserved for days that are of religious or national significance, they involve one or more days off from school or work.

• #5

Hello
what’s the difference between «holiday» and «vacation»?
maybe holiday is used in UK and vacation in US?
Thanks

• #6

I believe that «vacation» is more used in US English.

• #7

Hello
what’s the difference between «holiday» and «vacation»?
maybe holiday is used in UK and vacation in US?
Thanks

• #8

Hi, all,

There are exceptions. ‘Holiday’ is more commonly used in the UK, and means literally that — time off work to be spent doing whatever you want.
‘Vacation’ here means again literally what it says — a place of work which is emptied of its inhabitants because they’re on holiday. Thus in several British universities, the periods when students are not actually required to be on campus are known as ‘vacation’. The assumption is that they may well still be working (!!!) but they’re simply ‘not present’. In Oxford, this is now abbreviated simply to ‘the Vac’. The summer holidays are known there as ‘the Long Vac’.

Sorry. Just thought I’d confuse everybody….

Patapan

• #9

Both terms are very common in the US, but they mean different things.

A holiday is a day off work or school. The day is chosen by the government or school (Christmas, Patriots Day, 4th of July, Labor Day).

A vacation you get to select the days.

There are exceptions to this. Some school vacations are set by the school. They differ from holidays by being longer that a day off.

• #10

Both terms are very common in the US, but they mean different things.

A holiday is a day off work or school. The day is chosen by the government or school (Christmas, Patriots Day, 4th of July, Labor Day).

A vacation you get to select the days.

There are exceptions to this. Some school vacations are set by the school. They differ from holidays by being longer that a day off.

Ok, thanks all…
but, languageGuy, let’s suppose that we meet in NYC and you ask me: » hi Nik, what are you doing here?» (better «here» or «in here»?)
What should I reply? I’m in NYC for a short?… vacation or holiday?

Thanks again

• #11

Ok, thanks all…
but, languageGuy, let’s suppose that we meet in NYC and you ask me: » hi Nik, what are you doing here?» (better «here» or «in here»?)
What should I reply? I’m in NYC for a short?… vacation or holiday?

Thanks again

I think that you can say either one and your meaning will be understood.

I’m in NYC on vacation. / I’m in NYC on a vacation.

I’m in NYC on holiday./ I’m in NYC on a holiday.

• #13

Holiday and vacation mean different things in the USA and my understanding is somewhat different than Language Guy’s understanding.

I get Holidays (days off from work). Holidays are granted, either by official government decree or by an employer’s discretion.

I take a vacation. I take my vacation during the holiday. A vacation is how I utilize a holiday.

«What did you do during your holidays?»
«What did you do on your vacation?»
«Oh, the holidays? No vacation, I just stayed home and relaxed.»

• #14

Holiday and vacation mean different things in the USA and my understanding is somewhat different than Language Guy’s understanding.

I get Holidays (days off from work). Holidays are granted, either by official government decree or by an employer’s discretion.

I take a vacation. I take my vacation during the holiday. A vacation is how I utilize a holiday.

Is this common US usage?

Here is a quote from the employment conditions of the Texas Department of Transportation:
Vacation Leave

As a TxDOT employee, you earn vacation hours based on your years of creditable state employment. You can use your vacation time after six months of continuous state service.

It would appear that for them, vacation is your days off work.

• #15

A quick overview of the most common usages of «holiday» in the UK:

Are you going on holiday this year?
Yes, we’re going to Tenerife for two weeks.

Why are you not at school today?
Because it’s the Easter Holidays

You had better finish that work today, because it’s a Bank Holiday tomorrow and no one will be in the office.

You are so tanned! Have you been on a sunbed?
No, I’ve just got back from my holidays in Spain.

• #16

Is this common US usage?

Here is a quote from the employment conditions of the Texas Department of Transportation:
Vacation Leave

As a TxDOT employee, you earn vacation hours based on your years of creditable state employment. You can use your vacation time after six months of continuous state service.

It would appear that for them, vacation is your days off work.

I think it is consistent with my explanation. You earn [the right to take] vacation hours based on the your time of service. In this case you take your vacation at your whim once it is earned. Holidays, such as New Years Day, would be in addition to the vacation. So there would still be a distinction of Holidays (granted) and vacation days (taken, earned).

• #17

Holiday and vacation mean different things in the USA and my understanding is somewhat different than Language Guy’s understanding.

I get Holidays (days off from work). Holidays are granted, either by official government decree or by an employer’s discretion.

I take a vacation. I take my vacation during the holiday. A vacation is how I utilize a holiday.

This is how I would interpret the AE viewpoint. If you used the word, «holiday» in place of «vacation» with me, I would think you’re either a Canadian neighbor who’s visiting (I live in a border state), or you’re speaking BE.

Also, I don’t see much of a difference in languageGuy’s opinions with these. His pretty much jive with mine, too.

AngelEyes

• #18

Is this common US usage?

Here is a quote from the employment conditions of the Texas Department of Transportation:
Vacation Leave

As a TxDOT employee, you earn vacation hours based on your years of creditable state employment. You can use your vacation time after six months of continuous state service.

It would appear that for them, vacation is your days off work.

The use of holiday and vacation is quite complicated in the US. Often they can be used interchangably and there are many cases where they cannot.

In the example cited above, the vacation time would likely be in addition to the 8 to ten official holidays (for example, the 4th of July). Both vacation days and holidays are days when you do not go into work.

• #19

This is how I would interpret the AE viewpoint. If you used the word, «holiday» in place of «vacation» with me, I would think you’re either a Canadian neighbor who’s visiting (I live in a border state), or you’re speaking BE.

Also, I don’t see much of a difference in languageGuy’s opinions with these. His pretty much jive with mine, too.

AngelEyes

From the viewpoint of Asian, I agreed with what AngelEyes said.
What I was taught about »holiday» and »vacation» seems a BE/AE thing.

• #20

what is the difference between holiday and vacation ?

• #21

In America, a holiday is a day when businesses and so on are closed, for example, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July and so on.
A vacation in America is the time one take off from work or school and perhaps travels for rest and recreation.
Let’s wait a minute for a Brit to come by, but I do belive they use the word «holiday» as the Americans use «vacation». I am not sure what they do with «vacation.»
Albert

PS And I don’t have any idea how the NZs or Australians use the terms. Maybe one will enlighten us.

• #22

what is the difference between holiday and vacation ?

Welcome to the forum, Akin. If you were to type the words «holiday» and «vacation» into the Dictionary Look-up at the top of the page, this is one of the threads that you would find on the subject:

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=465601

You should always try that first because many, many subjects have been discussed more than once on the forum.

• #23

I’ve just got back from my holidays in Spain.

or

I’ve just got back from my holiday in Spain. ??

• #24

We have decided to take a vacation/rest/holiday.
We have decided to be on leave.

Hi,
Do all of the bolded words fit in the above and mean about the same as the second? Thanks.

• #25

Vacation and Holiday mean much the same, but holiday tends to be used more in BE while Vacation is definitely AE. «Rest», however, implies a much shorter break — a break in between two pieces of homework or a short nap in the afternoon, for example. Definitely not the same meaning as a holiday.
Also, «On leave» tends to mean you’ve been let off work by your boss so that you can take a holiday — so you can’t «decide» to be on leave. However, you can ask your boss to «give you leave» — and then you can go on holiday.

Hope that makes sense,
I.

• #26

Hi, friends,In my English textbook titled «High Season», the word ‘vacation’ is listed as the American equivalent of the British ‘holiday’. However, I repeatedly hear ‘holiday’ in American movies, though in British films ‘vacation’ is not the word that one would constantly hear to mean ‘holiday’.My query is: is this really the case and if yes, how frequently would an average American use ‘holiday’ to mean ‘vacation’, and how frequently would an Englishman use ‘vacation’ to mean ‘holiday’. What about Australia and Canada and other English-speaking countries?Thank you

• #27

This English woman would never use vacation to mean holiday, although I know what it means and understand it when I hear US types say it.

• #28

UK view.

Dictionaries give vacation as US-EN. Holiday has religious roots of course and as far as I know vacation doesn’t.

In the UK there are offical holidays many of which are Christian «events» such as Easter and Christmas. Note that this dictionary’s only reference to a religious connection is St. Patrick’s day; Christmas doesn’t even get a look in!

The use of «I’m going on holiday» next week is very common. People say I’m going away for the Xmas hols.

Vacation is also used in the UK, the exposure to the US version of the language is high.. Would secularisation of language in official written documents encourage the use of vacation?.

GF..

What % common use in UK? No idea.

• #29

Did you try doing a forum search before posting? Many of your questions are answered in these previous threads:

Holiday or vacation?
Holiday vs vacation

As to what the preference is here in Australia, we still largely use «holiday», but would understand «vacation». I say «largely» because I hear a lot of AE terminology from the mouths of young whipper-snappers (that is, people under 20 or so).

• #30

I’m with you, suzi br, on this one.

Rover
x

• #31

In AE:

Holiday = Christmas, Independence Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Chanakuh, Ramadan, Memorial Day, etc.
Halloween is my favorite holiday because you get to wear costumes.
There are many religious holidays in the month of December.

Vacation = Time spent away from work usually, and very often involving travel
Where are you going on/for vacation?
I’m going to Italy for my vacation, but I’m going to France on business.
I have ten vacation days each year (I have ten days off from work each year).

• #32

is this really the case and if yes, how frequently would an average American use ‘holiday’ to mean ‘vacation’,

It is really the case.

The average American would rarely use the word «holiday» in place of «vacation». (Anyone who said «where are you going on holiday this year?» would be thought hugely affected, and would be laughted at.) That being said, the word «holiday» is used commonly in other ways.

Easter is my favorite holiday.
The police had a program to crack down on drunk drivers over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
For my vacation this year I decided to have a Caribbean holiday.
When we heard that we were getting a new boss, it felt like a holiday.

Last edited: Dec 5, 2008

• #33

The only times I’ve heard «vacation» being used in Britan is by students to refer to the official end of term/year breaks at university.

• #34

The average American would rarely use the word «holiday» in place of «vacation». (Anyone who said «where are you going on holiday this year?» would be thought hugely affected, and would be laughted at.) That being said, the word «holiday» is used commonly in other ways.

Agreed. Americans don’t use ‘holiday’ in place of ‘vacation’ (unless we’re imitating someone else’s dialect).

• #35

It’s much simpler here in the UK.

We never say ‘vacation’.

Rover

• #36

It’s much simpler here in the UK.

We never say ‘vacation’.

Rover

Scalloper appears to contradict this two posts above.

• #37

Thank you for this vital informations.

• #38

PS And I don’t have any idea how the NZs or Australians use the terms. Maybe one will enlighten us.

Australian English is much the same BE with regard to «holiday».

We don’t have «Bank holidays», but rather «Public Holidays», which vary a little from state to state.

• #39

UK view.

Vacation is also used in the UK, the exposure to the US version of the language is high.. Would secularisation of language in official written documents encourage the use of vacation?.

I don’t think secularisation [read: anti-religion in general and anti-Christianity in particular] will encourage the use of vacation over holiday. Can you imagine anyone saying «The August Bank Vacation»?

Most people are not aware that holiday comes from holy day. Nobody worries about the expressions «bird sactuary» or «whale sanctuary», which also come from the protection afforded by sanctuaries [holiest places] in churches.

• #40

I think most people are quite likely to guess (because only one letter is different and even its replacement has the same sound) that holiday and holy day are related!!!

You are not suggesting that «secularization» can be defined as «anti-religion or anti-christianity», are you?

• #41

‘Vacation is also used in the UK, the exposure to the US version of the language is high.. Would secularisation of language in official written documents encourage the use of vacation?.’

We’d have to have quite a big overhaul of our language if we want to phase out all signs of religion from it. Holiday does not mean ‘holy day’ in any context. It would be literally incorrect to say ‘St Andrews’ day holiday’ for example, because there is no holiday, there is only a holy day. ‘Vacation’ is an American word, only used in Britain when mimicking American speech and in its proper sense of the making vacant of a location.

• #43

Yes, but federal employees get holidays off as well as vacation days. It’s not simply «holiday» vs. «vacation».

http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/student/benefit/benefits.html

«Employees earn annual leave at rates depending on their length of service. For their first three years of full-time employment, you earn 104 hours of vacation a year. «

As beccammut said, a few years back, we use both «holiday» and «vacation» in the U.S., but they mean different things.

In AE:

Holiday = Christmas, Independence Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Chanakuh, Ramadan, Memorial Day, etc.
Halloween is my favorite holiday because you get to wear costumes.
There are many religious holidays in the month of December.

Vacation = Time spent away from work usually, and very often involving travel
Where are you going on/for vacation?
I’m going to Italy for my vacation, but I’m going to France on business.
I have ten vacation days each year (I have ten days off from work each year).

Last edited: Aug 22, 2011

• #44

‘Vacation’ is an American word, only used in Britain when mimicking American speech and in its proper sense of the making vacant of a location.

That is definitely not true. British universities and law courts have vacations, not holidays.

• #45

… and in its proper sense of the making vacant of a location.

You are probably referring to universities and courts and the like for this usage? When I was at university, there were people there during the «vacation» so it was by no means vacant, only parts of it were.
As, perhaps, one’s home might be vacant when one goes to one’s aunty’s house beside the seaside for the summer hols? Alternatively, some part (cubicle/office/workstation) of the workplace becomes vacant when someone goes on holiday — or vacation. It is simply a difference in usage, not an «improper» use in AmE

• #46

‘Vacation’ is an American word, only used in Britain when mimicking American speech and in its proper sense of the making vacant of a location.

As Andygc notes above, vacation is not «an American word»; it has been used in Oxford and Cambridge Universities for centuries to mean the period between terms when no instruction is taking place. Three vacations occur each year at Oxford: the Christmas vacation, the Easter vacation, and the Long Vacation.

I am always puzzled when I hear a word used for centuries in Britian branded as «an American word»; where are Americans supposed to have gotten the word from, anyway? In the matter of «vacation», note that the customs in American universities generally derive from the customs of the earliest colleges in North America, which were founded by graduates of both the ancient English universities, and most especially (at least in the case of Harvard College) by graduates of Cambridge. The terminology of Oxford and Cambridge (including «vacation») thus spread to American universities, and from there to American public schools generally, and from public schools into society at large.

• #47

I am always puzzled when I hear a word used for centuries in Britian branded as «an American word»; where are Americans supposed to have gotten the word from, anyway?

American English has a number of non-English word sources, including American Indian language words for animals and geographic phenomena not found in Great Britain (opossum, raccoon), Spanish for southwestern geographic features not found in Great Britain (arroyo, mesa), cultural objects and phenomena adapted from the non-European inhabitants of North America (kayak), and words from many other languages, just as British English has picked up words from the native languages of their former colonies, especially India, that are unfamiliar to Americans. «Vacation» is not one of these words, however. Sometimes, American English preserves a word that British English has abandoned, and sometimes American English redefines a British word to fit American conditions. If GWB’s post about the history of «vacation» is correct, it appears to be a word whose meaning has been extended in the U.S. from its original sense but not in Britain. That doesn’t make it an «American word» or a corruption of the language, but it does mean that it has a particularly American use or sense that it does not have in Britain.

• #48

I found this site for Grifton, the University of Cambridge and they have «vacations» listed there. So it is not strictly speaking an American term.

http://www.girton.cam.ac.uk/students/guide/term-dates/

Vacation Residence Staying in Residence outside the Tenancy Period Students are welcome to stay up in College or Wolfson Court during the Long Vacation although please be aware that many of the normal facilities and services may not be available during these times.

• #49

That is definitely not true. British universities and law courts have vacations, not holidays.

I found this site for Grifton, the University of Cambridge and they have «vacations» listed there. So it is not strictly speaking an American term.

http://www.girton.cam.ac.uk/students/guide/term-dates/

Vacation Residence

Staying in Residence outside the Tenancy Period

Students are welcome to stay up in College or Wolfson Court during the Long Vacation although please be aware that many of the normal facilities and services may not be available during these times.

Oxford and Cambridge and others have been having vacations for centuries They used to be called, at least in Oxford (and in legal circles they may have survived longer) after the terms they followed : Michaelmas, Hilary (Lent) and Trinity terms were followed by the same vacations. Copperknickers was apparently unaware of this and confused some of you I could therefore, technically, say that I never went «on holidays» while I was at Oxford

• #50

No-one is disputing that Oxbridge has used the word «vacation» for centuries. It’s just that it does not cover the same range of meaning in BE as it does in AE.

Those Oxbridge dons would say that they were in Antibes «on holiday», rather than «on vacation».

There are many words in BE and AE which have a common origin, but which have changed their meanings over the centuries.
Grammar school in the US is an elementary school; in UK, an academic high school. Neither the current BE nor the current AE meaning corresponds to its original meaning.