On the Illusive Nature of Space

"holiday (n.) 1500s, earlier haliday (c. 1200), from Old English haligdæg "holy day, consecrated day, religious anniversary Sabbath," from halig "holy" (see holy) + dæg "day" (see day) in 14c. meaning both "religious festival" and "day of exemption from labor and recreation," but pronunciation and sense diverged 16c. As an adjective mid-15c. Happy holidays is from mid-19c., in British English, with reference to summer vacation from school. As a Christmastime greeting, by 1937, American English, in Camel cigarette ads. [...] The primary (pre-Christian) meaning is not possible to determine, but ...