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The word holiday has related but different meanings in English-speaking countries. Based on the words holy and day, holidays originally represented special religious days. 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 is a day set aside by a nation or culture (in some cases, multiple nations and cultures) typically for celebration 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".
Contents
1Public holidays
2Consecutive holidays
3Religious holidays
3.1Bahá'í holidays
3.2Buddhist holidays
3.3Celtic, Norse, and Neopagan holidays
3.4Christian holidays
3.5Hindu holidays
3.6Muslim holidays
3.7Jewish holidays
4The American winter holiday season
4.1Holidays traditionally in the winter holiday season
4.2Winter holiday greetings
5National holidays
6International holidays (secular)
6.1Suggested international observances
7Other secular holidays
8Unofficial holidays
9No holidays?
10Further reading
11See also
12References
13External links
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 state holidays 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:
In Japan, golden-week, lasting roughly a full week.
In Poland during holidays on the 1st and 3 May, when taking a few days of leave can result in 9-day-long holidays; this is called The Picnic (or Majówka).
In Australia, Canada 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 U.S. Congress changed the observance of Memorial Day and Washington's Birthday from fixed dates to certain Mondays in 1968 (effective 1971). Several states had passed similar laws earlier.
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 embrace all cultural and religious celebration rather than only Christian celebrations. Usually, this period begins near the end 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 Christian countries, the end of the festive season is considered to be after the feast of Epiphany, although this has only symbolic value.
Holidays traditionally in the winter holiday season
Winter Solstice, Yule - (Winter solstice, around 21-22 December) — The Neopagan celebration of the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. The shortest day of the year, this is the celebration of the death and rebirth of the sun. The celebration is traditionally marked with anything that symbolizes or encourages life. Decorations of evergreens, bright objects and lights; singing songs, giving gifts, feasting and romantic events can all be included. One of the eight sabbats on the wheel of the year, also one of the four minor sabbats. In the southern hemisphere this date marks the celebration of Litha, the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
Hanukkah - (26 Kislev - 2/3 Tevet - almost always in December) — Jewish holiday celebrating the defeat of Seleucid 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.
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.
Eid ul-Adha (31 December2006 or 22 December2007) — 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.
A secular name for these holidays is a winter holiday. iTunes clasiffies "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.
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
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.
Decemberween (25 December Created from the popular internet Cartoon Homestar Runner, as a way to celebrate the holiday season, without crediting any organized Religious Holidays, the date is apparently, 'just a coincidence' as Decemberween takes place exactly 55 days after Halloween)
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 awhile, but I gave it up. No holidays!"
Although Youngman's jest suggests that the list of holidays for a non-believer would necessarily be the "empty set", many non-believers honor various secular holidays and other "holy" days, and those of one faith often honor holidays of other faiths.
Further reading
Susan E. Richardson (Jul 2001). Holidays & Holy Days: Origins, Customs, and Insights on Celebrations Through the Year. Vine Books. ISBN 0-8307-3442-2.
Lucille Recht Penner and Ib Ohlsson (September 1993). Celebration: The Story of American Holidays. MacMillan Publishing Company. ISBN 0-02-770903-5.
Barbara Klebanow and Sara Fischer (2005). American Holidays: Exploring Traditions, Customs, and Backgrounds. Pro Lingua Associates. ISBN 0-86647-196-0.
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