A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tradition of cultural or religious significance. Holidays may be designated by governments, religious institutions, or other groups or organizations. The degree to which normal activities are reduced by a holiday may depend on local laws, customs, the type of job being held or even personal choices.
The concept of holidays often originated in connection with religious observances. The intention of a holiday was typically to allow individuals to tend to religious duties associated with important dates on the calendar. In most modern societies, however, holidays serve as much of a recreational function as any other weekend days or activities.
In many societies there are important distinctions between holidays designated by governments and holidays designated by religious institutions. For example, in many predominantly Christian nations, government-designed holidays may center on Christian holidays, though non-Christians may instead observe religious holidays associated with their faith. In some cases, a holiday may only be nominally observed. For example, many Jews in the Americas and Europe treat the relatively minor Jewish holiday of Hanukkah as a "working holiday", changing very little of their daily routines for this day.
The word holiday has differing connotations in different regions. In the United States the word is used exclusively to refer to the nationally, religiously or culturally observed day(s) of rest or celebration, or the events themselves, whereas in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth nations, the word may refer to the period of time where leave from one’s duties has been agreed, and is used as a synonym to the US preferred vacation. This time is usually set aside for rest, travel and/or the participation in recreational activities, with entire industries targeted to coincide or enhance these experiences. The days of leave may not coincide with any specific customs or laws. Employers and educational institutes may designate ‘holidays’ themselves which may or may not overlap nationally or culturally relevant dates, which again comes under this connotation, but it is the first implication detailed that this article is concerned with.
To give someone a cold shoulder - to keep someone sweet
To roll in money - to live from hand to mouth
To give the green light - to throw obstacles in one's way
To be all at sea - to know which way the wind blows
To take the heat out of something - to add fuel to the fire
To get straight to the point - to beat about the bush
1. Concentration
2. Supported
3. Beat
4. Talented
5. Painful
6. Tournament
7. Beating
<span>Look at the photo of my family. My mother is reading a book. My sister and my brother are watching TV. My father is playing computer games. My Granny and my Granddad are talking at the moment. My dog is sleeping. My cat is running over the room. What
am I doing? I am writing my homework! </span>
<span>I usually watch music channels, new and interesting films, funny cartoons and educational programs. I’d like to tell you a little bit about my favourite TV program. It’s an informative show called “Galileo”. It is named after a famous scientist Galileo Galilei, who liked making experiments. I watch this program regularly and try not to miss the next issue. It is usually shown at weekends.</span>