Holidays
The word holiday has similar meanings in English-speaking countries.
It is a contraction of the words Holy and Day, because holidays originally represented special religious days. The word evolved later to more general usage to mean any special day of rest. In some English-speaking countries, one can go on “holiday” as a period spent away from home in travel or recreation.
In Australia, the term refers to a vacation or public holiday but not to a day of commemoration like Halloween or Mother’s Day. When translated to and from other languages, the meanings of the word may become “observance” or “celebration”.
See also