|Vacation is a term used in North America to describe time
away from work or school, or also a trip abroad. In the rest of the English-speaking
world the word "holiday" is used. In Canada both terms are widely
used. The French term is similar to the American English: "Les Vacances".
The term derives from the fact that, in the past, upper-class families would
literally move to a summer home for part of the year, leaving their usual
family home vacant.
Most countries around the world have labour laws mandating a certain number of days of time off per year to be given to a worker. In Canada the legal minimum is two weeks, in most of Europe the limit is significantly higher. Many American companies give only one week, and then frequently only after completion of a year of employment.
In modern employment practice, vacation days are usually coupled with sick time, official holidays, and sometimes personal days.