Vacation

Vacation is a term used in English-speaking North America to describe a lengthy time away from work or school, a trip abroad, or simply a pleasure trip away from home, such as a trip to the beach that lasts several days or longer. In the rest of the English-speaking world the word holiday is used, whereas in North America, "holiday" normally applies to a specific national holiday or long weekend related to such a day. In some cases "vacation holiday" is used in North America, which signifies that a vacation trip is taken during a traditional national holiday period, extended on either end of the period by taking additional time off from work—creating a longer time unencumbered by work, an extended "long weekend", as it were. This practice is common in the United States where employers give far fewer annual vacation days (see below) than European employers—so stretching the related national holidays tends to conserve one's accumulated total of eligible days available for longer quality vacation excursions.

In England the word "vacation" referred specifically to the long summer break taken by the law courts (and later universities)—a custom introduced by William the Conqueror from Normandy where it was intended to facilitate the grape harvest. 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 labor 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, while in most of Europe the limit is significantly higher. Neither the U.S. nor China requires that employees receive any vacation time at all. There are movements fighting for laws requiring more vacation time for American workers such as timeday.org.

In modern employment practice, vacation days are often coupled with Sick leave, official holidays, and sometimes personal days.

Americans and Canadians, especially those of recent British or European descent, may also use the word "holiday." "Annual Leave" is another expression used in Commonwealth countries. Many Canadians use both "holiday" and "vacation"; "...I'm taking holidays..." is a common expression, something not often heard in the United States.

Minimum vacation time around the world

Country	legally required
Argentina	14 calendar days (from 0 to 5 years seniority), 21 calendar days (from 5 to 10), 28 calendar days (from 10 to 20) and 35 calendar days (from 20)
Australia	As of 27 March 2006, 20 work days (4 weeks). 2 weeks can be "sold" to employer. Additional Long service leave is also payable. 10 public holidays as well are payable to employees.
Austria	5 weeks
The Bahamas	14 days after 1 year employment, 21 days after 5 years employment
Belgium	20 days, premium pay
Brazil	30 consecutive days, of which 10 can be sold back to the employer
Bulgaria	minimum 20 working days
Canada	Determined by provincial law. 10-15 working days depending on province. In addition, 10-12 public holidays depending on province.
Chile	15 working days
Colombia	15 working days for every year, vacations can be accumulated for up to 4 years (up to 60 working days of vacations)
Costa Rica	2 weeks after 1 year employment.
China	Not required - this is incorrect. while complicated by complex fluid laws there is a minumum of 20 days per year.
Croatia	18 working days. Saturdays can be incuded even if company offices are not open on Saturdays. This is left for employers and employees to agree.
Czech Republic	4 weeks
Colombia	14 days
Denmark	6 weeks, of which 5 days can be "sold" back to the employer - omsorgsdage (carer’s leave).
Dominican Republic	14 work days after one year employment, 20 work days after 5 years employment.
Estonia	28 calendar days
European Union	4 weeks, more in some countries
Ecuador	14 days
Finland	35 days
France	5 weeks[1] (+ 2 weeks of RTT (Reduction du Temps de Travail, in English : Reduction of Working Time) according to the contract)
Germany	4 weeks, i.e. 24 "workable" days based on a six day week (Mon - Sat). Normal work-week is Mo-Fr; plus 9 to 13 bank holidays; plus sick, pregnancy, mothership and personal leave
Greece	20 working days or more depending of the years in the company
Hong Kong	7 days
Hungary	20 working days
Ireland	20 days, plus 9 public holidays
India	60 Days
Israel	14 days
Italy	20-32 working days (exact amount depends on contract details) plus 12 public holidays
Japan	including sick leave: 18 days paid time off; officially, five weeks (in reaction to the karoshi problem)
Korea, South	10 working days
Latvia	4 weeks
Malaysia	Starts at 8 days for first 2 years employment with an employer. Increases to 12 days for between 2 and 5 years employment and 16 days for 5 or more years. Plus about 14 public holidays (depends on state).
Mexico	7 days
Netherlands	4 weeks
New Zealand	4 weeks as of April 1, 2007
Norway	25 working days
Paraguay	14 days
Peru	14 days
Poland	20 business days, 26 business days after 10 years of employment
Portugal	22 working days, up to 25 without work absences in previous year.
Puerto Rico	15 days
Romania	minimum 21 working days
Russia	28 calendar days[2]
Saudi Arabia	15 days
Serbia	20 working days minimum + 1 day extra for every 2 years of service (this extra is optional, employer can choose not to do that)
Singapore	14 days
Slovakia	20 days, 25 days after 15 years of employment
South Africa	21 consecutive days
Spain	30 calendar days
Sweden	25-32 working days, depending on age
Switzerland	28 calendar days (= 20 work days)
Taiwan	7 days
Turkey	12 work days
Tunisia	30 work days
Ukraine	24 calendar days
United Kingdom	4 working weeks, with no additional entitlement for bank holidays. Increases to 4.8 weeks from 1st October 2007, and to 5.6 weeks from 1st April 2009.[3]
United States	none[4]
Uruguay	14 days
Venezuela	15 paid days
Vietnam	10 working days.