Vacation

A vacation or holiday is a leave of absence from a regular occupation, or a specific trip or journey, usually for the purpose of recreation or tourism. People often take a vacation during specific holiday observances, or for specific festivals or celebrations. Vacations are often spent with friends or family.

A person may take a longer break from work, such as a sabbatical, gap year, or career break.

The concept of taking a vacation is a recent invention, and has developed through the last two centuries. Historically, the idea of travel for recreation was a luxury that only wealthy people could afford (see Grand Tour). In the Puritan culture of early America, taking a break from work for reasons other than weekly observance of the Sabbath was frowned upon. However, the modern concept of vacation was led by a later religious movement encouraging spiritual retreat and recreation. The notion of breaking from work periodically took root among the middle and working class.

Etymology

In the United Kingdom, vacation once specifically referred to the long summer break taken by the law courts and then later the term was applied to universities. The custom was introduced by William the Conqueror from Normandy where it facilitated the grape harvest. In the past, many upper-class families moved to a summer home for part of the year, leaving their usual home vacant.

Vacation (The Go-Go's album)

Vacation is the second studio album by the American rock band The Go-Go's, released in 1982 on the I.R.S. Records label. The album reached No. 8 in the U.S. Billboard 200, and was certified gold. The title track was a U.S. summer smash, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard pop singles chart. The Go-Go's were riding high at the time of the album's first release, their future to all outward appearances looking bright. Future problems were beginning to take shape, as the members' drug use and internal fighting began to escalate.

Besides the title track, two more singles were pulled from the album at the time: "Get Up and Go" and "This Old Feeling", which were minor hits in the United States. A fourth song featured on the album, the cover version of the 1960s hit "Cool Jerk", appeared as a single in 1991 to promote the band's first compilation album, Greatest. The single "Vacation" was also issued as what was perhaps the first cassette single ever.

The song "Speeding," which is not on the album, is a Caffey/Wiedling composition that was used as B-side of the single for "Get Up and Go," and is also part of the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack.

Vacation (G.R.L. song)

"Vacation" is the debut single recorded by American-British-Canadian girl group G.R.L., for their debut studio album. The song was written by Bonnie McKee, Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin and Henry Walter with production handled by the latter three. "Vacation" is an upbeat breakup song.

Background and composition

Following the disbandment of The Pussycat Dolls in 2010, Robin Antin suggested that the group would be "revamped" with new members. After different incarnations of the group Antin along the guidance of manager Larry Rudolph formed the group under a new name, G.R.L. with members: Lauren Bennett, Paula Van Oppen, Natasha Slayton, Simone Battle, and Emmalyn Estrada. Bennett was the first cast as a member for group with members being added gradually over the next year and a half. The group was officially unvelied at Chateau Marmont in April. On June 16, "Vacation" temporarily bundled and available for free as a B-side to Britney Spears' "Ooh La La for the soundtrack of The Smurfs 2. The song was available for digital download on June 18, 2013 and was sent to mainstream radio on September 3, 2013.