What do they call actual holidays like Christmas and so on?
2007-03-18 05:48:00 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
It is more affordable for European English teachers to travel to England (vs. the USA). As result of that speaking experience and a good deal of indoctrination, they continue to make insulting claims that "English" English is more "educated".
Not surprisingly the Brits were also successful in convincing all European institutions that their's is the only "correct" English. This to the point where for your homework in a European high school you must set the spell checker to UK English. Everything remotely American is graded "F".
To confuse you further, UK National Holidays are also called "Holidays", rather than taking the idea of needing to be different from the US all the way "Vacation Days".
And speaking of confusion, the second day of Christmas in the UK is "Boxing Day". A remnant when they had servants serving the upper class on Christmas proper -- the servants were graciously given the 2nd day off, and any unwanted and left-over presents, were wrapped for them in new gift "boxes". Thus the name.
Finally, Pentecost is called "Whitsun" or "Whit Sunday" ..
2007-03-18 06:48:46 · answer #1 · answered by Heinz H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A holiday is time off work or school. We might go on a trip during the holiday, or just stay at home.
2007-03-19 18:21:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all semantics.
Might as well ask, why do the British call a hood a bonnet, a trunk a boot, and an elevator a lift. They just do.
2007-03-18 12:55:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋