Canadian English - Vacation or Holiday?

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a little of both, mostly holidays though bc of our British heritage.

Randy B

We do both. As others have said, many of us take holidays so that we can go on vacation. If we don't go anywhere then we just tend to take holidays and not go on vacation (leave home for a while).

I love lamp

we take holidays so that we can go on vacation

Baby A K

I grew up on the East Coast and we always say vacation.. but I noticed when i moved to Ontario they say holidays... its strange

Chris I

I can't speak for all Canadians but in my mind "Vacation" is time off work or school, while a "Holiday" is a trip somewhere.

SteveN

Where I am located (Montreal, Quebec), we refer to a holiday as a day of the year that is considered a legal day off work. Holidays are things like Canada Day, Labor Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.

A vacation is more often a string of days that you take off work so that you can go someplace, or just relax and recharge your mental batteries.

This is also notable in French Canadian households, where they often distinguish vacations (des vacances) from holidays (des fetes).

But it may depend on who you talk to. For example, some students I talk to will say that they are getting a job for the "summer holidays". Others will say they are on "summer vacation".

Goddess of Grammar

I say vacation.

Lindy

Canadians say both. But most Canadians I know say holidays which is more British. Vacation is an American expression.

Rahrah

To me a holiday is a specific event, like Christmas, whereas a vacation is time off or time spent somewhere else to relax. EX: I love the holiday season! vs I went on vacation to Hawaii.

j d

We use both, but the meaning is slightly different form the American and British uses. Vacation is used to describe an extended, and usually paid, time away from work. It is also used to describe the time students have off school in the summer.

Holiday is used to designate one day off work (usually with pay) or school. Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving are examples of Canadian holidays.

Oot in Aboot

We do both. As I use them, holiday is time off and can be spent at home or away. But a vacation is an extended period of time off and usually spent further away.
Example Christmas holiday spent in Calgary, AB with my mom or a vacation to Disneyland for the week.

But generally I'd say they are interchangable. If you said vacation to me, I'd know what you mean and vice versa.

knh959

Generally both are used. But mainly specific days are "holidays" like Christmas, Canada Day, Labour Day etc are called 'holidays' People take holiday time from work to go on vacation.

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