Holiday

Holiday
/hol"i day'/, n.
Billie ("Lady Day"), 1915-59, U.S. jazz singer.

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▪ social practice
      (from “holy day”), originally, a day of dedication to religious observance; in modern times, a day of either religious or secular commemoration. Many holidays of the major world religions tend to occur at the approximate dates of more ancient, pagan festivals. In the case of Christianity, this is sometimes owing to the policy of the early church of scheduling Christian observances at dates when they would eclipse pagan ones—a practice that proved more efficacious than merely prohibiting the earlier celebrations. In other cases, the similarity of the date is due to the tendency to celebrate turning points of the seasons, or to a combination of the two factors.

      In many countries, secular holidays are based on commemoration of historic events and the birthdays of national heroes—e.g., Independence Day in the United States and Bastille Day in France. Forms of observance of national holidays range from display of the national flag to exemption of public employees from work, the latter practice generally being followed also by business organizations. Traditionally, many holidays are celebrated by family reunions and the sending of greeting cards and gifts. In Great Britain, the so-called bank holidays are marked by the closing of banks and other institutions. See also feast.

       Selected holidays and other observances Selected holidays and other observancesSelected holidays and observances are provided in the table.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Holiday — (engl. „Urlaub“) steht für: Holiday (Florida), Ort in den USA Holiday (Magazin), Illustrierte Holiday (Musik), Musikstil Holiday ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Billie Holiday (1915–1959), US amerikanische Jazzsängerin Clarence Holiday… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Holiday — Hol i*day, n. [Holy + day.] 1. A consecrated day; religious anniversary; a day set apart in honor of some person, or in commemoration of some event. See {Holyday}. [1913 Webster] 2. A day of exemption from labor; a day of amusement and gayety; a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Holiday — puede hacer referencia a: Contenido 1 Música 2 Cine y televisión 3 Personajes 4 Véase también Música …   Wikipedia Español

  • holiday — I noun celebration, day of festivities, day off, dies festus, feriae, festival, fete, furlough, gala, jubilee, leave, leisure, lull, recess, rest, time off, vacation associated concepts: general holiday, legal holiday II index furlough …   Law dictionary

  • HOLIDAY (B.) — HOLIDAY BILLIE (1915 1959) La chanteuse Billie Holiday débute à Harlem vers 1930. De 1935 à 1939, elle enregistre au sein de petites formations souvent dirigées par le pianiste Teddy Wilson, et travaille parallèlement avec l’orchestre de Count… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Holiday — (Морской Милан,Италия) Категория отеля: 3 звездочный отель Адрес: Viale Vittorio Veneto 8, 4 …   Каталог отелей

  • Holiday — Holiday, FL U.S. Census Designated Place in Florida Population (2000): 21904 Housing Units (2000): 12788 Land area (2000): 5.381647 sq. miles (13.938401 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.345342 sq. miles (0.894432 sq. km) Total area (2000): 5.726989… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Holiday, FL — U.S. Census Designated Place in Florida Population (2000): 21904 Housing Units (2000): 12788 Land area (2000): 5.381647 sq. miles (13.938401 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.345342 sq. miles (0.894432 sq. km) Total area (2000): 5.726989 sq. miles (14 …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • holiday — [häl′ə dā΄] n. [< ME holidei, with shortened first vowel < OE hāligdæg: see HOLY & DAY] 1. HOLY DAY 2. a day of freedom from labor; day set aside for leisure and recreation 3. [often pl.] Chiefly Brit. a period of leisure or recreation;… …   English World dictionary

  • Holiday — Hol i*day, a. 1. Of or pertaining to a festival; cheerful; joyous; gay. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. Occurring rarely; adapted for a special occasion. [1913 Webster] Courage is but a holiday kind of virtue, to be seldom exercised. Dryden. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Holiday —   [ hɔlɪdeɪ], Billie, eigentlich Eleonora Fagan [ feɪgən], genannt Lady Day [ leɪdɪ deɪ], amerikanische Jazzsängerin, * Baltimore (Maryland) 7. 4. 1915, ✝ New York 17. 7. 1959; trat ab 1929 in New Yorker Klubs auf und wirkte später u. a. in den… …   Universal-Lexikon

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