winter break
School's holiday pause
Winter break is a vacation period during the winter months, typically spanning the end of December through the start of January.
In American schools, it usually includes Christmas and New Year's holidays: The kids are home for winter break.
Universities often have longer winter breaks than primary schools.
The term offers a secular alternative to "Christmas break."
Winter nativity celebration
- HanukkahEight-day Jewish celebration
- KwanzaaAfrican-American cultural holiday
- New Year's EveAnnual December celebration night
- carolsFestive religious songs
ornaments · gift-giving · decorations · stockings · candy canes · gingerbread · lights · eggnog
Leisure time away
- skiingSnow sport on runners
- snowboardingDescending slopes on single board
- resortPlace for getaways
- cruiseLeisurely ocean voyage
getaway · tropical · beach · mountains · flight · road trip · destination · tourism
Indoor structure for burning
- blanketsFabric bed coverings
- warmthHeat you feel
- cocoaGround cacao seed powder
- sweatersKnitted upper-body garments
snug · hearth · candles · quilts · fleece · flannel · slippers · pajamas
Pause in activity
- finalsConcluding tests or matches
- semester endConclusion of academic term
- studentsThose receiving instruction
- campusInstitutional grounds and buildings
dormitory · grades · syllabus · return · spring semester · college · high school · academic calendar
Gathering after separation
- traditionsLong-established customs passed down
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- relativesThose connected by blood
- grandparentsAncestors once removed
siblings · homecoming · holiday dinner · board games · catching up · cousins · multigenerational · storytelling
Christmas
Winter nativity celebration
- HanukkahEight-day Jewish celebration
- KwanzaaAfrican-American cultural holiday
- New Year's EveAnnual December celebration night
carols · ornaments · gift-giving · decorations · stockings · candy canes · gingerbread · lights · eggnog · parties
vacation
Leisure time away
- skiingSnow sport on runners
- snowboardingDescending slopes on single board
- resortPlace for getaways
cruise · getaway · tropical · beach · mountains · flight · road trip · destination · tourism · escape
fireplace
Indoor structure for burning
sweaters · snug · hearth · candles · quilts · fleece · flannel · slippers · pajamas · lounge
recess
Pause in activity
- finalsConcluding tests or matches
- semester endConclusion of academic term
- studentsThose receiving instruction
campus · dormitory · grades · syllabus · return · spring semester · college · high school · academic calendar · intersession
reunion
Gathering after separation
- traditionsLong-established customs passed down
- gatheringCollection of people meeting
- relativesThose connected by blood
grandparents · siblings · homecoming · holiday dinner · board games · catching up · cousins · multigenerational · storytelling · photo albums
- annual eventsanniversary, Christmas, birthday, Easter, Thanksgiving
- breakbreakaway, breakdown, breakout, breakthrough, breakup
- school calendaracademic calendar, semester, trimester, quarter, fall semester
- time offvacation, holiday, weekend, rest, day off
- Winter HolidaysChristmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day
- school absencessick day, snow day, field trip, suspension, expulsion
winter breaksummer vacation
Warm-season break from school
summer break · summer holiday · summer term · summer session · spring break
winter breakschool term
Division of academic year
academic term · semester · term time · class time · school year
break, winter, wintry, wintertime, winters, wintering, wintered, winterize, winterizing