holiday season

American  

[hol-i-day see-zuhn] / ˈhɒl ɪˌdeɪ ˈsi zən /

noun

• holiday seasons
  plural

1. a period of days or weeks in which two or more annual observances occur, especially in the United States, where it most often refers to the approximately 5–6 weeks from Thanksgiving in November to New Year’s Day in January.

   The kids will be singing Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa songs for the holiday season.

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Usage

What is the holiday season? The holiday season is the period that starts on Thanksgiving and continues until New Year’s Day. It includes the holidays of Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve. The holiday season is sometimes called the holidays. These terms are typically used to refer collectively to all of the holidays that occur during this time, regardless of whether the person using the term celebrates them or not. In contrast, the terms Christmas season and Christmastime specifically refer to the period leading up to Christmas. People often wish each other a happy holiday season by saying happy holidays. Example: I start feeling all warm and fuzzy as soon as the holiday season begins.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• holiday seasons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of holiday season

First recorded in 1840–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

holiday season

Levi Chief Executive said its direct-to-consumer business fell short of internal expectations, but is gaining momentum heading into the holiday season.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

It’s a proven formula that leans into the ridiculousness of mundane situations but earns its audience every holiday season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

Katy Nastro, aviation and travel correspondent for the flight-tracker app Flighty, said even people who typically book budget airlines might be out of luck ahead of the holiday season.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

Egg companies say they were largely unable to keep up with rebuilding their flocks amid ongoing outbreaks, the holiday season and panic buying by retailers, consumers and restaurants eager to secure egg supplies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

But Christmas Eve was like any other day during the holiday season.

From "The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzalez