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The word holiday derived from the notion of "Holy Day", and gradually evolved to its current form.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.[edit] Regional meaningThe usage of the word holiday varies in different parts of the English-speaking world.For example the term "Happy Holidays" would mean "Happy Vacation" in the UK; whilst the UK term "Happy Christmas" is generally "Happy Holidays" in the US.[edit] Australia, Canada, UKIn Australia, Canada, and the UK, all usage of the word holiday means time away from normal employment or education. The meaning is further subdivided into two major sub-categories:1.Public holiday, a day decreed by government as a day when the bulk of the population is not normally expected to be at work, such as Australia Day, Anzac Day, Bank Holiday or Christmas Day.2.A non-working trip or stay away from one's normal home. This is similar to what is described elsewhere as a vacation, but that word is rarely used in Australia or the UK. Canadians variously use either the term vacation or the word holiday.Days referred to as holidays in other places but which do not involve formally decreed time away from work especially for that day, such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, are not described as holidays in Australia or the UK.[edit] U.S.A.In the U.S.A. holiday may refer to a day set aside by a nation or culture (in some cases, multiple nations and cultures) for commemoration, celebration, or other observance. Schools and businesses often close for certain holidays. The term "holiday" is also commonly used to refer to the December gift-giving season; businesses may announce, for example, that a product will be available "for Holiday 2011", meaning that it will be available in time for Christmas shopping.[edit] IndiaIn India holidays are days in which mainly schools or small firms get a free day because of some regional or religious reason. The term "Bank Holiday" in India is referred to as a day when the majority of the people get a leave due to national,international or major cultural reasons.[edit] Types of holiday (observance)Main article: Lists of holidays[edit] Religious holidaysSee also Category: Religious holidays.Many holidays are linked to faiths and religions (see etymology above). Christian holidays are defined as part of the liturgical year. 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. In Islam, the largest holidays are Eid ul-Fitr (immediately after Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (at the end of the Hajj). Hindus, Jains and Sikhs observe several holidays, one of the largest being Diwali (Festival of Light). 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 holidays as defined by the Bahá'í 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).[edit] Northern Hemisphere winter holidaysMain article: Christmas and holiday seasonWinter in the Northern Hemisphere features many holidays that involve festivals and feasts. The Christmas and holiday season surrounds the winter solstice, Christmas and Holiday, 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 is, somewhat, a commercial term that applies, in the US, 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.[edit] National holidaysMain article: National DaySovereign nations and territories observe holidays based on events of significance to their history. For example, Australians celebrate Australia Day.[edit] Secular holidaysSee also Category: Secular holidays. Several secular holidays are observed, such as Earth Day or Labour Day, both internationally, and across multi-country regions, often in conjunction with organizations such as the United Nations. Many other days are marked to celebrate events or people, but 。
