Why is it vacation?

[Dana49]

How come we go on "vacation" and not on "holiday"? Doesn't "holiday" seem to have that certain sound that makes it feel like you're really celebrating something? From now on, when I'm away from work, I'll be on "holiday." See you at Walt Disney World.

 

[Sparx]

my mom says the same thing.

 

[bicker]

"Holiday" though, has a specific etymological meaning:

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hAligdæg, from hAlig holy + dæg day

So the connotation is that a holiday has something to do with divinity.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

To me vacation & holiday have two different meanings.

Holiday is a special day set aside that I celebrate - Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, federal days off of work -- Independence, Memorial, and Labor Days...

Vacation is a break from my obligations - school when I was growing up and time off from work in today's life, or going away from the housework to another place to have fun for more than a day.

 

[aprilgail2]

a holiday is christmas, easter etc....vacation is my time off from work to do as I please.

 

[tmt martins]

Vacation

I'm Vacating the world no better place to do it then Disney.

I also make it a point to not take to much time off work around Holidays as they are slow anyhow.This way I get the Holidays when slow and Vacation when we are busy.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Our friends over on the UK board always use "holiday" for a vacation. And the OP is right, it does make it sound more special. Maybe it's because I've had so many 'vacations' from work where I haven't actually gone anywhere (just NOT to work).

Well, today is Boxing Day in the UK, so let's all have some Bubble and Squeek to help them celebrate their "holiday", holiday.

 

[NMAmy]

Dh is British so we always go on holiday. It does sort of have a festive air, doesn't it? However, he also says Happy Christmas which just doesn't sound as jolly as Merry Christmas to me.

 

[DisneyStar006]

We say holidays in the UK, but I actually think vacations for visits abroad and time off work would be better, (because they don't always fall on "holy days"!) and holidays just be saved for Christmas, Easter etc