eHoli.com http://www.eholi.com Holidays around the world Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:03:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Holidays http://www.eholi.com/2007/10/26/holidays/ http://www.eholi.com/2007/10/26/holidays/#comments Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:37:41 +0000 admin http://www.eholi.com/2007/10/26/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

]]> http://www.eholi.com/2007/10/26/holidays/feed/ Worldwide Public Holidays http://www.eholi.com/2007/10/26/worldwide-public-holidays/ http://www.eholi.com/2007/10/26/worldwide-public-holidays/#comments Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:37:12 +0000 admin http://www.eholi.com/2007/10/26/worldwide-public-holidays/ A public holiday or a legal holiday is a holiday endorsed by the state.
Public holidays may be religious and reflect the dominant religion in a country or it can be secular, related to a political or historical moment.

United Kingdom Holidays

A public holiday is called a “bank holiday” in the UK because these are the days the banks are not traditionally open.

United STates Holidays

A “legal holiday” is the primary term used within the United States, although the term “bank holiday” is still sometimes used.

In the US, the observances of holidays like Memorial Day or Washington’s Birthday were fixed on a Monday so as to lengthen the weekend and increase the holiday length.

Japan Holidays

In the late 1990s, the Japanese government passed a law that increased the likelihood of consecutive holidays, not unlike the US making holidays on a Monday or a Friday. Well known consecutive holidays are the golden-week in Japan, lasting a full week.

Consecutive holidays are a string of holidays taken together without working days between them. They tend to be holidays in which short trips can be taken.

China Holidays

In the People’s Republic of China, the spring festival, Labor Day and National Day are week-long holidays.

Poland Holidays

In Poland, during the holidays on May 1st and May 3rd, an individual can take just a few days leave to get a total of nine days holiday called the Picnic.

]]> http://www.eholi.com/2007/10/26/worldwide-public-holidays/feed/ The American Winter Holiday Season http://www.eholi.com/2007/10/26/the-american-winter-holiday-season/ http://www.eholi.com/2007/10/26/the-american-winter-holiday-season/#comments Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:36:52 +0000 admin http://www.eholi.com/2007/10/26/the-american-winter-holiday-season/ Know as the period of time surrounding Christmas.

In the US and in Canada, the winter holiday season was formulated to embrace all cultural and religious beliefs other than Christianity.

The period begins with Thanksgiving and ends on New Year’s Day, incorporating holidays like Hanukkah, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Kwanzaa, and secular holidays like New Year’s Eve and Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a day to express gratitude for a bountiful harvest, while the Winter Solstice celebrates the shortest solar day of the year.

Kwanzaa is a modern American invention held during the last week in December honoring African-American heritage in the United States.

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