holiday season

American  

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

noun

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.

---

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.

Etymology

Origin of holiday season

First recorded in 1840–45

Example Sentences

Nia Rhys Jones from Anglesey has worked in the tourism sector for more than 30 years and said Easter is an important period marking the official start of the holiday season.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Then, in late December, during the busy holiday season, Horning’s roughly 75-person ski patrol voted to strike.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

The December 2025 retail sales report delivered a lackluster finish to what had otherwise been a better-than-feared holiday season.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

Both toymakers faced a difficult holiday season, marred by tariffs and intensive promotions.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 10, 2026

The good cheer of the holiday season was in everyone.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos