The definition of the word “holiday” in IATE tool is “A day on which work is suspended by law or custom, such as a religious festival, bank etc” and continues “A period in which a break is taken from work or studies for rest, travel or recreation”. The meaning of the term contains different concepts of the “putting a pause in workflow” in one word.
In the beginning, the word referred only to religious celebrations, when people should pray and perform religious duties in a specific day. The etymology of this term comes from the Old English word hāligdæg (hālig “holy” + dæg “day”). Within the years, the word is used to describe any day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Moreover, in our days we use the term “holiday” as synonym of vacations and trip. These are a few examples of the use of this term:
-Patricia is on holiday next week. –>Vacation
-How many days’ holiday do you get with your new job? –> Days off
-Surely the school holidays start soon. –> Summer vacations
-St Patrick’s Day is a holiday in Ireland. –> Bank day
-She seems very tired and upset at the moment. She needs a holiday. –> Rest
-Happy holidays. –> Happy Christmas
Sources:
Holiday and Holidays, Cambridge Dictionary, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/holiday-and-holidays, Accessed on 16 December 2019.
Holiday, Cambridge Dictionary, https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/holiday, Accessed on 16 December 2019.
Holiday, Wikipedia, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/holiday, Accessed on 16 December 2019.
Holiday, Etymonline, https://www.etymonline.com/word/holiday, Accessed on 16 December 2019.
The use of the term “Holiday”, Google, https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-e&sxsrf=ACYBGNRis4YQma7IasiQHlXeiJ3pHbMx1A%3A1576502195817&ei=s4P3XbjDMaWC1fAP4NmS-Ag&q=holiday+etymology&oq=holiday+etymology&gs_l=psy-ab.3..35i39j0j0i22i30l8.10270.12619..12977…0.2..0.141.885.8j2……0….1..gws-wiz…….0i71j0i67j0i10j0i203j0i273j0i20i263.UOYHqIL6E2s&ved=0ahUKEwj46PmqoLrmAhUlQRUIHeCsBI8Q4dUDCAo&uact=5, Accessed on 16 December 2019.
Antonia Pappa – Communication trainee at the Terminology Unit
Born in Greece in 1992. She holds a Bachelor degree of Communication, Culture and Media and she worked, for three years, for a newspaper and food magazines in Greece. Antonia is now taking a Master’s degree in International Marketing and Communication and is working her thesis about social media advertising. In her free time, she likes travelling, doing yoga and going for a walk with her dog.