Holiday
A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are
suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tradition 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, the type of job held or personal
choices.
The concept of holidays often originated in connection with 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 any other weekend days or activities.
In many societies there are important distinctions between holidays designated by governments and holidays designated by religious
institutions. For example, in many predominantly Christian nations, government-designed holidays may center on 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 Hanukkah as a
"working holiday", changing very little of their daily routines for this day.
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 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.
Etymology
The word holiday comes from the Old English word hāligdæg . The word originally referred only to special religious days. In modern
use, it means any special day of rest or relaxation, as opposed to normal days away from work or school.
Types of holiday
Northern Hemisphere winter holidays
Winter in the Northern Hemisphere features many holidays that involve festivals and feasts. The Christmas and holiday season
surrounds the Christmas and other holidays, and is celebrated by many religions and cultures. Usually, this period begins near the
start of November and ends with New Year's Day. Holiday season in the US corresponds to the period that begins with Thanksgiving
and ends with New Year's Eve. Some Christian countries consider the end of the festive season to be after the feast of Epiphany.
National holidays
Sovereign nations and territories observe holidays based on events of significance to their history. For example, Americans celebrate
Independence Day, celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Other secular holidays
Other secular holidays are observed nationally, internationally, and across multi-country regions. The United Nations Calendar of
Observances 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.
Another example of a major secular holiday is the Lunar New Year, which is celebrated across 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, Labor Day, and
Earth Day .
Unofficial holidays
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 Fool's Day on April 1 and Liberation Day on
May 31. Various community organizers and marketers promote odd social media holidays.
Religious holidays
Many holidays are linked to faiths and religions . 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's. 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. In Islam, the largest holidays are Eid ul-Fitr
and Eid al-Adha . 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 . Japanese holidays contain references to several different faiths and beliefs. Celtic, Norse, and Neopagan holidays follow the
order of the Wheel of the Year. Some are closely linked to Swedish festivities. The Bahá'í Faith observes 11 annual holidays on dates
determined using the Bahá'í calendar. Jews have two holiday seasons: the Spring Feasts of Pesach and Shavuot ; and the Fall Feasts of
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Shemini Atzeret .
See :Category:Religious holidays for complete listings of holidays associated with particular religions.
See also
Christmas and holiday season
Christmas controversy
Holiday heart syndrome
Public holiday
National Day
List of holidays by country
Commemoration
Commemorations and tributes
References
External links
National, secular, religious, unofficial holidays
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