Holiday vs. Christmas — What's the Difference?

A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tradition of cultural or religious significance.

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration by billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, it is preceded by the season of Advent or the Nativity Fast and initiates the season of Christmastide, which historically in the West lasts twelve days and culminates on Twelfth Night.

An extended period of leisure and recreation, especially one spent away from home or in travelling.

A Christian feast commemorating the birth of Jesus.

A short period during which the payment of instalments, tax, etc. may be suspended

December 25, the day on which this feast is observed as a public holiday in many countries.

Spend a holiday in a specified place

Christmastide.

A day free from work that one may spend at leisure, especially a day on which custom or the law dictates a halting of general business activity to commemorate or celebrate a particular event.

An annual church festival (December 25) and in some States a legal holiday, in memory of the birth of Christ, often celebrated by a particular church service, and also by special gifts, greetings, and hospitality.

A religious feast day; a holy day.

Period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

Chiefly British A vacation. Often used in the phrase on holiday.

A Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland

To pass a holiday or vacation.

Spend Christmas;

A day on which a festival, religious event, or national celebration is traditionally observed.

A day declared free from work by the state or government.

A period of one or more days taken off work for leisure and often travel; often plural.

A period during which pupils do not attend their school; often plural; rarely used for students at university (usually: vacation).

(finance) A period during which, by agreement, the usual payments are not made.

A gap in coverage, e.g. of paint on a surface, or sonar imagery.

(intransitive) To take a period of time away from work or study.

To spend a period of time in recreational travel.

A consecrated day; religious anniversary; a day set apart in honor of some person, or in commemoration of some event. See Holyday.

A day of exemption from labor; a day of amusement and gayety; a festival day.

A day fixed by law for suspension of business; a legal holiday.

Of or pertaining to a festival; cheerful; joyous; gay.

Occurring rarely; adapted for a special occasion.

Leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure;

A day on which work is suspended by law or custom;

Spend or take a vacation