The Meaning and Purpose of Holiday

Holiday is a word derived from the term Holy Day, which is associated with the commemoration of Christian events, such as Christmas, Good Friday and Easter.

It is only relatively recently that in Britain today their significance as Christian Festivals has been replaced by the secular term holiday. We talk about certain periods of the year as the Christmas holidays or the Easter holidays. The Monday that used to be Whit Monday – the day following what used to be Whit Sunday or Pentecost – became Spring Bank Holiday.

The term holiday is no longer associated with a religious festival, but means a period of vacation – a time of leisure away from work and the everyday duties and responsibilities of life.

This may remind you of Sir Cliff Richard’s song: We’re all goin’ on a Summer Holiday – No more workin’ for a week or two.

Nowadays, holiday-goers going abroad are travelling by air, rather that driving a bus, but increasing numbers are having their “staycation” in this country.

If you are holidaying in the UK, you will be thinking of different ways of occupying your time.

Between July 21, and Sunday, July 23 – the start of the peak holiday season – it is estimated that an additional 4.8 million road journeys were undertaken, compared with a normal week-end.

We have two suggestions to make. The first is that you take a Bible with you and spend a little time each day reading a short section – perhaps from one of the gospels – all of which have the earthly ministry of Jesus as their theme.

Our second idea is that on your Sunday mornings you attend a church where the Bible is preached. Lots of churches in tourist locations are used to welcoming visitors in the Summer and would be delighted to have you with them. If you are not used to listening to sermons, you will be greatly benefited by listening to someone explaining Bible truths and applying them to the circumstances of today’s world. Make sure you choose a Bible-preaching church. We can help you find one.