A History Of Vacations | Volume 1, Issue 1
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A HISTORY OF VACATIONS

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Volume I, Issue 1

The British call it going on holiday. We call it taking a vacation. And today, families (as well as individuals) spend months planning their vacation: where to go ­ what to see ­ mountains or seashore ­ adult or child oriented ­ travel by car or air. Entire industries have been created to help with these decisions, offering vacation packages, vacation deals and weekend getaways. There are pamphlets and books extolling the virtues of various destinations: how to spend your summer, what is the historical significance of a particular area, how to get the most out of your vacations dollar, where to find the best deals.

But vacations are a fairly modern phenomenon. In fact, the first known use of the word “vacation” in print didn’t occur until 1506. But it was over 400 years later before it became to be a “vacation” as we know it today. Prior to the mid and latter 19 century, most families (meaning with children) were farmers, and the children in the family were required to help
out on the farm, particularly in the crop-growing months. In fact, it was this need that created the school year of September to early June. After which teachers and students “vacated” the school.

It is also true that the more “blue-blooded” and affluent members of society usually sent their children abroad for their senior year of school (or sometimes just afterward) in order to broaden their education and knowledge of the world. These were not truly vacations but it showed that there was some traveling taking place, particularly among the well heeled. Teddy Roosevelt packed up his entire family and spent 1869-1870 in Europe and 1872-1873 in the Middle East.

But it wasn’t until the middle of the 19 century that Americans used the word vacation, the way the English used the word “holiday”, as a time when teachers and students vacate the school premises and go off on their own. In those days a vacation was also a mark of privilege.

Over time, the vacation became a middle class institution, as well as a time for physical, mental and spiritual self-improvement, not to mention a time for sheer enjoyment and entertainment.

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