BEDA 4 : Holiday vs. Vacation

I have a bunch of homework to do over the holiday. Yes, I did just say "holiday." Yes, I am aware that I am from America and we do not refer to a break from school/work as a "holiday." An explanation of one of my many oddities is provided for your enjoyment (and, possibly, education) below. 

The word holiday comes from the English "holy day". Easter, the holiday that I will be celebrated while away from home, is a holy day. (If you did not previously know this, I highly suggest "Google-ing" the History of Easter because I am very very worried about you) We here in the United States, Americanized the term "holy day" and created "holiday." 

So that establishes where we get the term holiday from, but why do we Americans say "I'm going on vacation," rather than, "I'm going on holiday?" The word "vacation comes from the verb "to vacate," which basically means "to leave, usually in a hurry." For some reason in America, we associate vacations with exotic beaches, attractive lifeguards, suntans, mixed drinks, and hair braiding. Is this because we are spoiled or, more probably, because we idealize things that we are not exposed to? In even scarier situations, people ignore the things that they live with and then go and pay upwards of a thousand dollars for a beautiful "vacation." 

For example, I am lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful places on this planet. I have been to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Mexico, not to mention many fabulous places in the US, but I have never seen something as amazing as my small hometown. Minutes away from prime fishing locations, seconds away from some of the most amazing beaches on the Atlantic seaboard, conveniently located between the city and the country. It's beautiful. And yet, many families in this town go on beautiful vacations whenever the opportunity presents itself. I get the fact that it's very cold in the North Eastern Seaboard during the late Autumn through early Spring months, and also that it's nice to get away, provided you have the money and the desire, but you should still appreciate how lucky you are. 

Back to the difference between the two terms. Vacation implies, at least to me, that you want to, need to, get the hell out of dodge. So when I go on holiday, it's usually near or including some holy day. 

In the end, the two terms now mean the same thing to most people. I will forever go with the European term of holiday. I do the same thing with journey, rather than "trip." Yeah, I'm a nerd. 

In conclusion, Good Bye. 

Books read this year: 8

Out of state journeys: 4