Holidays are special days when people celebrate or remember important events. There are also holidays when people take time off work to rest and travel. Learning holiday words helps you talk about celebrations and traditions.
Types of Holidays
Public Holiday: A special day when most people don’t work Example: “The bank is closed on public holidays.”
National Holiday: A day that celebrates something important in a country Example: “Independence Day is an important national holiday in the United States.”
Religious Holiday: A special day for a religion Example: “Christmas is a religious holiday for Christians.”
Family Holiday: Time when families get together to celebrate Example: “Thanksgiving is a family holiday in America.”
Vacation/Holiday: Time away from work or school to rest or travel Example: “We went to the beach for our summer vacation.”
Common Holidays Around the World
New Year’s Day (January 1): The first day of the year Example: “People celebrate New Year’s Day with fireworks.”
Valentine’s Day (February 14): A day to show love Example: “On Valentine’s Day, people give cards and flowers.”
Easter: A Christian holiday in spring Example: “Children hunt for Easter eggs during Easter.”
Halloween (October 31): A day when children wear costumes Example: “On Halloween, children say ‘trick or treat’ and get candy.”
Thanksgiving: A day to give thanks (November in USA, October in Canada) Example: “Families eat turkey on Thanksgiving.”
Christmas (December 25): A Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Example: “Many people give presents at Christmas.”
Holiday Activities
Celebrate: To do something special for a holiday Example: “How do you celebrate your birthday?”
Decorate: To make a place look special for a holiday Example: “We decorate the tree at Christmas.”
Give presents/gifts: To give someone something special Example: “I give presents to my family at Christmas.”
Send cards: To mail special holiday messages Example: “She sends birthday cards to all her friends.”
Have a party: To celebrate with friends and food Example: “We have a party on New Year’s Eve.”
Travel: To go to different places Example: “Many people travel during summer holidays.”
Holiday Places
Beach: Sandy place by the sea, popular for summer holidays Example: “We swim at the beach on our holiday.”
Mountains: High places where people hike or ski Example: “They go to the mountains for winter holidays.”
Hotel: A place where people stay during holidays Example: “We stayed in a nice hotel near the beach.”
Campsite: A place where people stay in tents Example: “The family slept in tents at the campsite.”
Resort: A place with many activities for holidays Example: “The resort has swimming pools and restaurants.”
Holiday Items
Present/Gift: Something you give to someone Example: “I bought a birthday present for my friend.”
Card: Paper with a message for a special day Example: “I received many cards on my birthday.”
Decoration: Something that makes a place look special Example: “Christmas decorations make the house look beautiful.”
Costume: Special clothes for Halloween or parties Example: “The child wore a ghost costume for Halloween.”
Fireworks: Colorful lights in the sky for celebrations Example: “We watched fireworks on New Year’s Eve.”
Holiday Food
Cake: Sweet food for birthdays and celebrations Example: “The birthday cake had candles on top.”
Turkey: A big bird often eaten at Thanksgiving and Christmas Example: “My grandmother cooks a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.”
Candy: Sweet treats given at Halloween Example: “Children collect candy on Halloween night.”
Special meals: Food made only for holidays Example: “Each country has special meals for holidays.”
Holiday Phrases
“Happy Birthday!” “Merry Christmas!” “Happy New Year!” “Happy Holidays!” “Have a nice vacation!” “When is your holiday?” “Where are you going on vacation?” “How do you celebrate…?”
Remember that different countries have different holidays. Some holidays are celebrated all over the world, and some are only in certain countries. Learning about holidays helps you understand different cultures!