Holiday

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The word holiday has related but different meanings in English-speaking countries. A contraction (grammar) of holy and day, holidays originally represented Religious festival. This word has evolved in general usage to mean any special day of rest (as opposed to regular days of rest such as the weekend).

In the English-speaking world a holiday can mean a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation (e.g. "I'm going on holiday to Malta next week"), the North American equivalent is "vacation". Many Canadians will use the terms vacation and holiday interchangeably when referring to a trip away from home or time off work. In Australia the term can refer to a vacation or gazetted public holiday, but not to a day of commemoration such as Mothers' Day or Halloween.

In all of the English-speaking world, a holiday can be a day set aside by a nation or culture (in some cases, multiple nations and cultures) typically for celebration (party) but sometimes for some other kind of special culture-wide (or national) observance or activity. A holiday can also be a special day on which school and/or offices are closed, such as Labor Day.

When translated from/to other languages, the meanings of the word "holiday" may be conflated with these of "observance" and "celebration".

==Public holidays==A public holiday or legal holiday or bank holiday is a holiday endorsed by the state. Public holidays can be either religious, in which case they reflect the dominant religion in a country, or secular, in which case they are usually political or historical in inspiration. "Public holiday" is the term used in, for example, Australia. "Bank holiday" is the term used in the UK because on these days the banks traditionally did not open for business, which originally prevented the transacting of other commercial business (although many banks, industries and shops in the UK now work on Bank Holidays). "Legal holiday" is the predominant term used within the United States, although "bank holiday" is recognized by many people as referring to the same phenomenon. In the United States both federal holidays and U.S. state holiday are observed.

Consecutive holidays Consecutive holidays are a string of holidays taken together without working days in between. They tend to be considered a good chance to take short trips. In late 1990s, the Japanese government passed a law that increased the likelihood of consecutive holidays by moving holidays from fixed days to a relative position in a month, such as the second Monday. Well-known consecutive holidays include:

Beginning in 2000, Spring Festival, May Day and National Day are week-long holidays in the People's Republic of China.
In Japan, golden-week, lasting roughly a full week. Then, in 2007, the law was amended so that if any 2 public holidays occur both on a weekday and are separated by a day, then that intermediate day shall also be a public holiday, thus creating a 3-day long public holiday.
In Colombia, in the Public_holidays_in_Colombia there are consecutive holidays Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday) and Viernes Santo (Holy Friday) (variable dates in March or April)
In Poland during holidays on the 1 May and 3 May, when taking a few days of leave can result in Holidays in Poland-long holidays; this is called The Picnic (or Majówka).
In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day can occasionally occur in Holy Week, the week before Easter; in this case the three holidays (St. Patrick's Day, Good Friday, and Easter Monday) plus three days leave can result in a 10-day break. See Public holidays in the Republic of Ireland.
In Australia, Canada, Poland and the UK, a public holiday otherwise falling on a Sunday will result in observance of the public holiday on the next available weekday (generally Monday). This arrangement results in a long weekend
The Congress of the United States changed the observance of Memorial Day and Presidents' Day from fixed dates to certain Mondays in 1968 (effective 1971). Several states had passed similar laws earlier.
In The Netherlands, Queens day - The Netherlands is celebrated on 30 April, Remembrance of the Dead on the 4 May and Liberation_Day_(The_Netherlands) every 5 years on the 5 May. When Queen's day falls on Friday and Liberation Day is celebrated, two days' break can result in a 10-day break.

Religious holidays Bahá'í holidays

Bahá'í Naw-Rúz (Bahá'í New Year)
1st Day of Ridván
9th Day of Ridvan
12th Day of Ridvan
Declaration of the Báb
Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh
Martyrdom of the Báb
Birth of the Báb
Birth of Bahá'u'lláh

Buddhist holidays

Vesak
Bon Festival (in Japan)
Blessed Rainy Day in Bhutan

Celtic, Norse, and Neopagan holidays In the order of the Wheel of the Year:

Samhain (Celtic): 31 October-1 November, Celtic New Year, first day of winter
Winternights (Norse): 29 October-2 November, Norse New Year
Yule (Norse): 21 December-22 December, winter solstice, Celtic mid-winter
Imbolc (Celtic): 1 February-2 February, Celtic first day of Spring (season)
Ostara/Easter (Norse): 21 March-22 march, vernal equinox, Celtic mid-spring
Beltane (Celtic): 30 April-1 May, Celtic first day of summer
Litha (Norse): 21 June-22 June, summer solstice, Celtic midsummer
Lughnasadh (Celtic): 1 August-2 August, Celtic first day of autumn
Mabon/Harvest End (Norse): 21 September-22 September, autumnal equinox, Celtic mid-fall

Christian holidays

Advent
All Saints' Day
All Souls' Day
Ascension Thursday (Ascension of Jesus into Heaven)
Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent)
Assumption of Mary (Assumption of the Virgin Mary)
Candlemas
Childermas
Christmas (Birth of Jesus)
Corpus Christi (feast) (Sacrifice of Jesus)
Easter (Resurrection of Jesus, end of Lent)
Easter Triduum

Holy Thursday (Celebration of The Last Supper)
Good Friday (Death of Jesus)
Holy Saturday
Easter Vigil

Easter Monday (Monday following Easter Sunday, not part of the Easter Triduum)
Epiphany (feast)
Lent (40 days of penance before Easter)
Pentecost or Whitsun (Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus)
Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras (last day of Carnival, last day before Ash Wednesday)
Winter Lent
Watch Night
Jesus Day a state holiday in Texas

The Catholic fiesta patronal are celebrated in each place's patron saint's day, according to the Calendar of saints.

Hindu holidays

Akshaya Tritiya
Baisakhi
RakshaBandhan
Dasara
Diwali

Diwali Amvasaya (Laxmi Puja)
Diwali (day 2)
Bhaubeej

Durga Puja
Ekadasi
Ganesh Chaturthi
Gokul Ashtami
Gudhi Padwa
Guru Purnima
Holi
Karthikai deepam
Krishna Janmaashtami
Mahashivratri
Mahalakshmi vrata
Bhogi
Makara Sankranti
Kanumu
Navratri
Onam
Pongal
Rama-Lilas
Ram Navami
Vaikunta Ekadasi
Vijayadashami
Ugadi

Muslim holidays

Aashurah Muharram
Eid (festival): date determined by the lunar calendar and observation of the moon:

Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Adha

Milad un Nabi - Celebration of Prophet Muhammad's birth
Mid-Sha'ban
Qur'an - First revelation of Quran
Ramadan
Isra and Miraj - Prophet Muhammad's ascension to heaven.
Arafah - Eve of Eid ul-Adha

Jewish holidays

Hanukkah (also: Chanukah; the Festival of Lights)
Passover
Purim (Deliverance from Marcus Mit C)
Rosh Hashanah (New Year)
Shavuot (Festival of Weeks; Harvest Festival)
Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles)
Tisha B'Av
Tu Bishvat (New year of the trees)
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

The American winter holiday season In the United States and periodically Canada, the winter holiday season is known as a period of time surrounding Christmas that was formed in order to Multiculturalism rather than only Christian celebrations. Usually, this period begins near the start of November and ends with New Year's Day on January 1. The holiday season is usually commercially referred to with a broad interpretation, avoiding the reference of specific holidays like Hanukkah or Christmas. Traditional "holiday season" festivities are usually associated with winter, including snowflakes and wintry songs. In some Christianity countries, the end of the festive season is considered to be after the feast of Epiphany (Christian), although this has only symbolic value.

Holidays traditionally in the winter holiday season

Thanksgiving - (Thanksgiving (Canada), Thanksgiving (United States)) — Holiday generally observed as an expression of gratitude, traditionally to God, for the autumn harvest. It is traditionally celebrated with a meal shared among friends and family in which turkey (bird) is eaten. It is celebrated by many as a secular holiday, and in the USA marks the beginning of the "holiday season".
Winter Solstice, Yule - (Winter solstice, around 21 December-22 December in the northern hemisphere and 21 June-22 June in the southern hemisphere) — The celebrations on the winter solstice, the longest night and shortest day of the year, are traditionally marked with anything that symbolizes or encourages life. Decorations of evergreens, bright objects and lights; singing songs, giving gifts, feasting and romantic events are often included. For Neopagans this is the celebration of the death and rebirth of the sun and is one of the eight sabbats on the wheel of the year.
Hanukkah - (26 Kislev - 2/3 Tevet - almost always in December) — Jewish holiday celebrating the defeat of Seleucid Empire forces who had tried to prevent Israel from practising Judaism, and also celebrating the miracle of the Menorah lights burning for eight days with only enough (olive) oil for one day.
Christmas Day - (25 December) — Christianity holiday commemorating the traditional birth-date of Jesus. Observances include gift-giving, the decoration of trees and houses, and Santa Claus folktales.
Kwanzaa (USA) - (26 December - 1 January) — A modern American invention held from December 26 to January 1 honoring African-American heritage, primarily in the United States. It was invented in 1966 by black activist and marxist Ron Karenga.
Boxing Day (26 December or 27 December) — Holiday observed in many Commonwealth countries on the first non-Sunday after Christmas.
St Stephen's Day or Second Day of Christmas (26 December) — Holiday observed in many European countries.
Eid ul-Adha (31 December 2006 or 22 December 2007) — The Festival of Sacrifice — Commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son for God. Marks the end of the Pilgrimage or Hajj for the millions of Muslims who make the trip to Mecca each year. Its presence in the Winter Holidays is mostly coincidental, and will move out of the holiday season within a few years.
New Year's Day - (1 January) — Holiday observing the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. Preceded by New Year's Eve on 31 December, which is celebrated with festivities in anticipation of New Year's Day.
A secular name for these holidays is a winter holiday. iTunes classifies "Christmas Music" as "Holiday Music" which can cause confusion for the English speaking world outside of the US, for whom "Holidays" are the same as "Vacations" - Annual Holidays, Easter Holidays, School Holidays, Summer Holidays, Skiing Holidays, Public Holidays etc.

Winter holiday greetings National holidays International holidays (secular) Many other days are marked to celebrate events or people, but are not strictly holidays as time off work is rarely given.

Valentine's Day (14 February)
International Women's Day (8 March, particularly in Eastern European Countries)
May Day (1 May in most countries. The United States and Canada both celebrate on the first Monday in September)
Mother's Day (second Sunday in May in North America, fourth Sunday in Lent in UK)
Halloween (31 October)

Other secular holidays Other secular holidays not observed internationally:

Canada Day (1 July) in Canada, celebration of the date of the British North America Act, although Canada was not completely independent from Britain until the proclamation of the Constitution of Canada, 17 April, 1982.
Independence day (4 July in the United States; many other nations refer to the holiday celebrating their independence as Independence Day as well. )
Lee-Jackson-King Day (20 January) Combined holiday celebrated in the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1984 to 2000
Confederate Memorial Day Celebrated by the original Confederate States at various times during the year; still celebrated on the fourth Monday in April in Alabama
Robert E. Lee's birthday and Martin Luther King's birthday (third Monday in January in Alabama)
Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January in the United States)
Groundhog Day (2 February in United States and Canada)
Presidents Day honoring the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln (Third Monday in February in United States; US federal holiday)
Spring Holiday, a secular euphemism for Easter or Good Friday. Counterpart of "Winter holiday".
Patriot's Day (third Monday in April in Massachusetts and Maine, United States)
Koninginnedag (30 April in the Netherlands)
Labour Day (Many European and South American countries celebrate Labour Day on May 1)
Juneteenth (19 June) Official holiday in 14 states that commemorates the abolition of slavery in Texas (unofficial in 5 other US states)
Victoria Day (Monday on or before May 24 in Canada, also in some parts of Scotland)
Flag Day (14 June in the United States)
Pioneer Day (Utah) (24 July in Utah, United States)
Labor Day (first Monday in September in the United States (federal holiday) and Canada)
Grandparents Day (Sunday after September Labor Day - proclaimed in the United States by Jimmy Carter in 1978)
Saint Patrick's Day (17 March in Ireland)
Melbourne Cup Day (held on the first Tuesday of November - the day of the Melbourne Cup in the Melbourne metropolitan area)
Sinterklaas (05 December in the Netherlands, 06 December in Belgium)
Boxing Day (26 December in the Commonwealth of Nations)
:Category:Latvian holidays

Unofficial holidays see also :Category:Unofficial observances
These are holidays celebrated by various groups and individuals. Some are designed to promote a cause, others recognize historical events not recognized officially, and others are "funny" holidays, generally intended as humorous distractions and excuses to share laughs among friends.

Bloomsday (16 June based on James Joyce's novel Ulysses (novel))
Buy Nothing Day (The Day After Thanksgiving)
Devil's Night (October 30)
Festivus (23 December)
Friendship Day (first Sunday in August)
GIS Day (The Wednesday during Geography Awareness Week in November)
Husband Appreciation Day (April 21))
International Cannabis Day (20 April)
International Dadaism Month (4 February, 1 April, 28 March, 15 July, 2 August, 7 August, 16 August, 26 August, 18 September, 22 September, 1 October, 17 October, 26 October)
International Talk Like a Pirate Day (19 September)
International Kitchen Garden Day (4th Sunday of August)
Mischief Night (30 October) Notorious night of vandalism the night before Halloween
Mole Day (23 October)
Monkey Day (December 14))
National Gorilla Day (31 January)
No Pants Day (first Friday of May)
Pi Day (14 March) or Pi Approximation Day (22 July)
Tax Freedom Day
Towel Day (25 May) (a tribute to the late Douglas Adams)
Wife Appreciation Day (September 16))
Winter-een-mas (The season lasts all of January, however the actual holiday itself is 25 January - 31 January)
X-Day (Church of the SubGenius) (5 July in the Church of the SubGenius)
Thank Krishnesh Nayak Day (24 September)
Russian Reversal Day (7 July)

No holidays? Referring to the original meaning of the term, Henny Youngman included this joke among his vast catalog of one-liners: "I was an atheist for a while, but I gave it up. No holidays!"

Although Youngman's jest suggests that the list of holidays for a non-believer would necessarily be Empty set, many non-believers honor various :Category:secular holidays and other :Category:Holy days, and those of one faith often honor holidays of other faiths.

See also

Federal holiday
Bank Holiday
Holiday heart syndrome
Adventure tourism
List of holidays by country
Annual observances in the United States
Annual observances in the United Kingdom
Christmas controversy
Easter/Good Friday controversy
Luxury resorts
Scientology holidays
:Category:Holiday characters
Japanese holiday

References Print

External links

Holiday Stress Brings Anxiety and Abuse (ABC News)
U.S. Mail holidays - UPS holidays - FedEx holidays - Internet Accuracy Project
Seguinet French Holidays (Holiday in France)
Cyprus Holidays with Mercury Direct (Sri Lanka Holidays)
Holidays in Germany in the Spreewald

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