| |
Vacation is a term used in English-speaking
North America to describe a lengthy time away from work or school,
a trip abroad, or simply a pleasure trip away from home, such
as a trip to the beach that lasts several days or longer. In the
rest of the English-speaking
world the word holiday is used, whereas in North America, "holiday"
normally applies to a specific national holiday or long weekend
related to such a day. In some cases "vacation holiday"
is used in North America, which signifies that a vacation trip
is taken during a traditional national holiday period, extended
on either end of the period by taking additional time off from
work—creating a longer time unencumbered by work, an extended
"long weekend", as it were. This practice is common
in the United States where employers give far fewer annual vacation
days (see below) than European employers—so stretching the
related national holidays tends to conserve one's accumulated
total of eligible days available for longer quality vacation excursions.
In England the word "vacation" referred specifically
to the long summer break taken by the law courts (and later universities)—a
custom introduced by William the Conqueror from Normandy where
it was intended to facilitate the grape harvest. The French term
is similar to the American English:
"Les Vacances."
The term derives from the fact that, in the past, upper-class
families would literally move to a summer home for part of the
year, leaving their usual family home vacant.Most countries around
the world have labor laws mandating a certain number of days of
time off per year to be given to a worker. In Canada the legal
minimum is two weeks, while in most of Europe the limit is significantly
higher. Many American companies give only one week, and then frequently
only after completion of a year of employment.In modern employment
practice, vacation days are often coupled with Sick leave, official
holidays, and sometimes personal days.Americans and Canadians,
especially those of recent British or European descent, may also
use the word "holiday." "Annual Leave" is
another expression used in Commonwealth countries. Many Canadians
use both "holiday" and "vacation"; "...I'm
taking holidays..." is a common expression, something not
often heard in the United States.
|
|
