Difference Between Holiday and Vacation

Holiday vs Vacation
 

As both holiday and vacation seem to bring the same meaning, let us see what the difference between holiday and vacation is. Holiday and Vacation are two words that give different meanings in different English speaking countries. They, holiday and vacation, are at times interchangeable too in their usage. If you look at the word holiday, it is used as a noun as well as a verb. As a verb, it is used to say “spend a holiday in a specific place.” Vacation too is used as a noun and a verb. The verb vacation is used to mean “to take a holiday.” For vacation, there are even derivatives such as vacationer and vacationist in North American usage.

What does Holiday mean?

A kind of absence from the routine of work is called a holiday. The absence can be for the sake of rest or recreation. In many countries, a holiday can mean festivities associated with some cultural or a political event as official observances. For example, Christmas is a holiday. So are Diwali and Vesak. All three days have religious value and are considered holidays in different countries. Shorter breaks with the members of the family in the form of trips to resorts and such other places is called holiday. In fact, it is to be known that holiday can be split as holy day. Thus , you tend to give a kind of religious importance to the day. As an extended meaning, it is understood as weekend. A holiday, furthermore, can be of various kinds such as a religious holiday, a national holiday, secular holiday and unofficial holiday.

What does Vacation mean?

A vacation can be defined as a consecutive string of holidays without working days in between. It is interesting note that in a country like the United Kingdom the word vacation is understood to mean a long summer leave taken along with the members of the family. On the contrary to a holiday, a vacation might mean a special trip to some other place preferably a resort for the purpose of rest and recreation. A vacation, unlike a holiday, is a specific holiday observance. While shorter breaks with the members of the family in the form of trips are known as holidays, longer breaks with the members of the family in the form of trips to holiday resorts may be called vacation.

What is the difference between Holiday and Vacation?

In many other countries, you would find that the words holiday and vacation are interchanged. They use expressions such as summer vacation and summer holidays in such a way that both have the same connotation. The way these two words are used depends on the linguistic practice prevalent in a particular country.

• A kind of absence from the routine of work is called a holiday.

• A vacation can be defined as a consecutive string of holidays without working days in between.

• A vacation, unlike a holiday, is a specific holiday observance.

• In many countries, a holiday can mean festivities associated with some cultural or a political event as official observances.

• Shorter breaks with the members of the family in the form of trips to resorts and such other places is called holiday.