From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A holiday is 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) observation or activity.
Based on the English words holy and day, holidays originally represented special days of the Christian Church calendar. The word has evolved in general usage to mean any special day, or even non-special day on which school and/or offices are closed such as Sunday.
In late 20th century, Saturday has become increasingly considered holiday as well as Sunday.
In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, a holiday is also a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation (e.g. "I'm going on holiday to Majorca next week."), like an American "vacation".
A public holiday or legal 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 character.
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, for example. In late 1990s, the Japanese government passed a law that increases the likehood of consecutive holidays by moving holidays fixed on certain day to a relative position in a month such as the second Monday. A well-known consecutive holiday in Japan is golden-week, roughly lasting a whole week.
Public Holiday
Consecutive holidays
Religious holidays
Jewish holidays
Main article: Jewish holidays
Christian holidays
See liturgical year for a detailed list.
Islamic/Muslim holidays
Hindu holidays
National holidays
Australia
For more information see Australian public holidays.
Canada
See list at http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/jfa-ha/index_e.cfm
China
(changes every year but occurs sometimes in January or February. It is China's most important holiday season.)
*See Also Chinese Traditional Holidays
Cyprus
France
Germany
See Holidays in Germany.
Ireland
See Public Holidays in the Republic of Ireland.
Italy
Japan
See Japanese Holidays.
Mexico
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Puerto Rico
Mondays are public holidays for any public holiday that falls on a Sunday.
See also Holidays in Puerto Rico for a detailed list.
- July 4 - United States Independence Day
- July 25 - Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- November 11 - Veteran's Day
- December 25 - Christmas Day
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr (third Monday in January)
- Labor Day (first Monday in September)
- Columbus Day (second Monday in October)
- Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
Singapore
Mondays are public holidays for any public holiday that falls on a Sunday.- New Years Day
- Lunar New Year (2 days) - varies (based on the Chinese Calendar,Lunar Calendar), Jan 22 & 23 2004
- Hari Raya Haji - varies, Feb 1 2004
- Good Friday - Apr 9 2004
- Labour Day aka May Day - May 1
- Vesak Day - varies (Buddhist calendar), Jun 2 2004
- National Day aka Independence Day - August 9
- Deepavali - varies, Nov 11 2004
- Hari Raya Puasa aka Ramadan - varies, Nov 14 2004
- Christmas
South Africa
- New Years Day
- Human Rights Day (March 21)
- Freedom day (April 27)
- Youth Day (June 16)
- National Womens Day (August 9)
- Heritage Day (September 24)
- Day of Reconciliation (December 16)
- Christmas
Sweden
See Holidays in Sweden.
United Kingdom
United States
Unlike countries where holidays are required by law, there are no national holidays in the United States. However, the United States Congress has created federal holidays for employees of the United States Government. While these are not legal holidays outside of the District of Columbia, most states have declared state holidays to coincide with these federal holidays. In spite of numerous attempts, the United States has never established true national holidays.
The holidays, and the days on which they are normally celebrated, are:
- New Year's Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January)
- Presidents' Day (third Monday in February)
- Memorial Day (fourth Monday in May; originally May 30)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (first Monday in September)
- Columbus Day (second Monday in October; originally October 12)
- Election Day (first Tuesday in November; originally November 3)
- Veterans Day (second Monday in November; originally November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
Farmy Holiday
See Agriturismo.
Others
Many other days are marked to celebrate events or people, but are not strictly holidays as time off work is rarely given.
Related Topics
Federal holiday, Bank Holiday, D-Day
External links
