Bible Dictionaries
Holiday

Holman Bible Dictionary

Day of Celebration. Early in the life of the Christian church, certain days began to hold special significance. Easter, Christmas, Epiphany, dates commemorating the death of some martyrs, and all Sundays were considered to be especially holy. Thus, in English these days came to be called “Holy-Days.” Over the centuries the word was contracted into the present word “holiday.” Since Christians regarded these holy days as times of special celebration and joy, many people came to connect special periods of celebration and leisure with “holy days” whether or not the celebration focused on religion. Thus, the term “holiday” came to have the largely secular connotation it often carries today.

Fred A. Grissom