Advent 09- Holidays

I don't think anyone's going to argue with me when I say that holidays are a Good Thing.  By holidays, I mean not just going away but any time off work.  It's only relatively recently (nineteenth century) that the idea of paid holidays and even weekends became part of working culture, and it's one development I'm certainly glad of!
  
Before industrialisation, most people worked on the land, and times of busyness and rest would follow the agricultural year- busy times in spring ploughing and planting and late summer harvesting, and slacker times in winter as it was too cold to work as much outside.  Once the busiest time of year- harvest- was over, there would be time to celebrate and relax for a while.  Midwinter (around the time we now celebrate Christmas) was also a festival in many early European- and probably other- cultures.

The other reasons people took time off work were for religious festivals.  The word 'holiday' comes, I believe, from 'holy day.'  In the middle ages in Europe there were many saints' days which people were required to keep either as full or part holidays, as well as Sundays, when of course people were not allowed to work.

I've never fully understood why certain Puritan groups in the seventeenth century were determined to ban Christmas.  They saw it as too close to the saints' days which they were determined to abolish as a relic of 'popery.'  But Sundays were to be kept with the strictest laws governing what you could and couldn't do, and harsh punishments if you disobeyed.

But it was in the nineteenth century when we first got the rhythm of weekdays and weekends which we know today.  Growing industrialism brought many people to towns and cities from the country, and people began to be appalled at the state, both physical and mental, in which the poor were forced to live, herded together, working from a very young age in noisy, factories or dirty mines.  Legislation began to be passed forcing employers to improve working conditions and give their employees days off- Bank holidays, and later paid holidays.  Modern transport, like the railways, and cheap holiday camps like Butlins were there to cater for the thousands of people who now had time and money for a holiday.  And thus the leisure industry was born.

Compared to our nineteenth-century ancestors we're very lucky today in our working conditions and holidays.  I'm glad I live now, not then, for all the problems in my life and the world.  Holidays are certainly a Good Thing.

What I did on my holidays.

I had a very nice bank holiday weekend. And in the spirit of what my friend is talking about hereI'm going to tell you about it.

A friend from university was getting married on the Saturday. Naturally, as he and his fiance live in Cambridge, they were marrying in St Andrews, Scotland. 

Holiday season

A friend of mine has just written a post about the idea of 'staycations,' ie holidays in your home country. Since pretty much every holiday I've ever had (unless you count a couple of school trips) is a 'staycation' by this definition I have to admit to being slightly puzzled by all the fuss. Is the difference between holidays abroad and holidays in the UK really so big? Why isn't the UK a good enough tourist destination for some people- why doesn't it count as a 'proper' holiday, which is an implication of the term 'staycation'?

I went on holiday with some friends last week. It was only 3 nights and I wish it had been a bit longer, but I enjoyed it. It didn't rain at all during the day (unlike last year!) which is an important factor when you're camping. We went by trains, which (most surprisingly!) all ran on time. We carried all our tents and camping gear with us, which isn't the easiest thing to do by train and by foot, although I admit we cheated and got a taxi from the station to the campsite and back because we couldn't face carrying it, and were a bit concerned about time.

We were camping in the Peak District- Buxton, to be precise. We were there, not just because it is a lovely area (although I can remember some good holidays in the Peaks as a child) but mostly because it's where the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival is held every year. This is the third year we've been. The first time, like this, was perfect camping weather during the day- not too hot, but pleasantly warm, with very little rain although it rather cold at night this year. Last year sadly was something of a washout, and a leaking tent didn't help! But we were close enough to civilisation and a warm, dry theatre to sit in in the evenings (not to mention local pubs!) so we survived!

So this year we were happy to divide our days between wandering the countryside looking for an elusive waterfall, patronising the local shops, (particularly the second hand bookshop!) and 'fringe' events at the festival. In the evenings there were G&S performances, we saw excellent productions of The Grand Duke, The Gondoliers and Princess Ida. Not to mention disturbing the local wildlife (and probably the local population) with our singing. And drinking tea.

The point I'm trying to make is that we had a good time. Obviously this kind of trip wouldn't be to everyone's tastes! But would I rather do that or have what many people consider a 'proper' holiday lounging on a Spanish beach? Well, I think that might get a bit boring after a day or two. Of course, I wouldn't mind a bit of sunshine, and a swim in the sea. But do you know, I think I'd choose Buxton with my friends. And the G&S.