religious holiday
- Noun:
- A day designated for religious observance: A specific calendar date set aside by a religious tradition or community for the purpose of worship, commemoration, fasting, or celebration. It is a day when normal activities may be suspended or altered in accordance with religious law or custom.
- The term "religious holiday" refers to the day itself as a period of observance.
- It is commonly used in formal, educational, and interfaith contexts to discuss days of significance across different religions.
- Example: "Schools are closed for the major religious holiday."
- Noun:
- Christmas is a widely recognized religious holiday in many Christian-majority countries.
- The company's policy allows employees to take time off for their religious holiday.
- Yom Kippur is a solemn religious holiday in Judaism.
"to observe a religious holiday": To participate in the rituals, customs, or rest associated with the day.
- They will observe the religious holiday by attending a special service and sharing a meal with family.
"to fall on a religious holiday": Used to describe when a secular event coincides with a day of religious observance.
- The election date unfortunately falls on an important religious holiday.
Holy day (n): A synonym often used interchangeably with "religious holiday," though sometimes "holy day" implies a more solemn or obligatory observance within a faith.
- Sunday is considered a holy day for many Christians.
Feast day (n): A type of religious holiday, often in Christian contexts, commemorating a saint or a sacred event, typically involving celebration and special foods.
- Fast day (n): A type of religious holiday involving abstinence from food or certain activities, such as Yom Kippur or Ramadan.
- Holy day: A day of religious significance and observance.
- Festival (in a religious context): A day or period of celebration, often public and communal, for a religious reason.
- Day of observance: A formal term for a day marked by following religious rules or rituals.
Religious observance: The act of following the rituals or customs of a religious holiday.
- The day was marked by prayer and other forms of religious observance.
Public holiday vs. religious holiday: A distinction where a "public holiday" is legally recognized by a government (and may or may not be religious in origin), while a "religious holiday" is defined by faith tradition, even if not a day off for the general public.
- a day specified for religious observance