holidays
Time off celebrations
Holidays are days of celebration or commemoration when normal activities—especially work and school—are suspended.
Some holidays are religious (Christmas, Eid), some patriotic (Independence Day), some cultural (Thanksgiving).
In British usage, holiday also means vacation: We're going on holiday to Spain.
The plural often refers to a festive season: Happy holidays!
The greeting sidesteps specifying which celebration, useful in diverse settings but occasionally criticized as evasive.
Leisure time away
- leisureFree time for relaxation
- downtimePeriod of non-operation
- respiteShort pause from hardship
- breakInterrupt continuity
time-off · repose · unwinding · sleeping in · lounging · staycation · retreat · escape
Organized public celebration
- carnivalTraveling amusement attraction
- fiestaFestive public celebration
- galaFestive formal occasion
- jubileeSpecial anniversary observance
feast · banquet · pageant · parade · fireworks · countdown · midnight · champagne
Intended arrival point
- tourismLeisure travel sector
- getawaySwift departure or retreat
- tripPlanned travel somewhere
- voyageJourney by sea
resort · booking · airport · flight · road trip · sightseeing · cruise · itinerary
Decorative embellishments for display
- lightsSources of illumination
- tinselMetallic decorative strips
- garlandsStrung decorative arrangements
- wreathsCircular decorative arrangements
candles · stockings · baubles · ribbons · bows · holly · mistletoe · poinsettias
Traditional practices or import taxes
- ritualsCeremonial repeated practices
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- ceremoniesFormal observances with ritual
- annualOccurring every year
seasonal · generations · heirlooms · recipes · carols · storytelling · gift-giving · greeting cards
Gathering after separation
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- homecomingReturning to one's origin
- relativesThose connected by blood
- grandparentsAncestors once removed
siblings · cousins · generations · bonding · togetherness · kinfolk · ancestors · in-laws
Keeping of customs
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
- sacredWorthy of reverence
- holyDedicated to the divine
- liturgyFormal worship structure
pilgrimage · fasting · prayer · mass · vespers · blessing · communion · advent
Intense positive emotion
- cheerJoyfulness or encouragement
- happinessJoyful emotional state
- warmthHeat you feel
- gratitudeThankfulness for kindness received
nostalgia · excitement · anticipation · wonder · generosity · goodwill · hope · peace
vacation
Leisure time away
break · time-off · repose · unwinding · sleeping in · lounging · staycation · retreat · escape · rejuvenation
festival
Organized public celebration
jubilee · feast · banquet · pageant · parade · fireworks · countdown · midnight · champagne · toast
destination
Intended arrival point
voyage · resort · booking · airport · flight · road trip · sightseeing · cruise · itinerary · luggage
ornaments
Decorative embellishments for display
wreaths · candles · stockings · baubles · ribbons · bows · holly · mistletoe · poinsettias · nativity
customs
Traditional practices or import taxes
- ritualsCeremonial repeated practices
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- ceremoniesFormal observances with ritual
annual · seasonal · generations · heirlooms · recipes · carols · storytelling · gift-giving · greeting cards · family gatherings
reunion
Gathering after separation
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- homecomingReturning to one's origin
- relativesThose connected by blood
grandparents · siblings · cousins · generations · bonding · togetherness · kinfolk · ancestors · in-laws · children
observance
Keeping of customs
liturgy · pilgrimage · fasting · prayer · mass · vespers · blessing · communion · advent · lent
joy
Intense positive emotion
gratitude · nostalgia · excitement · anticipation · wonder · generosity · goodwill · hope · peace · love
- celebrationsgraduation, festival, party, wedding, fireworks
- common knowledgegeneral knowledge, trivia, common sense, proverbs, sayings
- culturemusic taste, beliefs, food preferences, custom, festivals
- familymother, father, parents, siblings, parent
- kids booksworkbooks, activity books, primers, readers, young readers
- topicsnature, health, sports, science, politics
holidaysworkdays
Days of employment
working days · business days · office hours · nine-to-five · labor
holidaysordinary days
Unremarkable daily life
everyday life · routine · weekdays · humdrum · monotony
holidaysterm time
Academic instruction period
school term · semester · staying put · daily life · residence
- holiday seasonYear-end celebration weeks
- holiday weekendExtended break around celebration
- Happy HolidaysInclusive festive greeting
- holiday spiritSeasonal goodwill and merriment
- holiday mealSpecial occasion dinner
- holiday partySeasonal celebratory gathering
holiday, holidaying, holidayed, holidayer, holidaymakers, holidaymaker, holiday season, public holiday, bank holiday