Over time, holiday grew to mean any special day when schools, offices, and businesses close so people can celebrate or remember something important. The Fourth of July celebrates America's independence. Labor Day honors workers. Martin Luther King Jr. Day remembers a leader who fought for civil rights. Some holidays, like Thanksgiving, bring families together for special meals and traditions.

In British English, holiday also means what Americans call a vacation: time away from school or work for rest and travel. A British family might say they're “going on holiday to Spain,” while an American family would say they're “going on vacation to Spain.”

When something happens on holiday, it means it occurs during this time off. A holiday weekend gives people an extra day to relax because the holiday falls near a weekend. The holiday season usually refers to the busy, festive period from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, when multiple celebrations happen close together.