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Original poster

It's not bloody half term!

369 replies

Dotdashdottinghell · 25/03/2024 08:13

Why / when did every school holiday become half term?

The half term holidays are February, Whitsun and October, not Easter, Christmas and thr summer.

People keep saying "Happy half term" or "Enjoy the half term" etc. Why is this an accepted thing?

OP posts:
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7
cockeyedoptimist · 25/03/2024 12:26

lol Ive just popped on mumsnet on my lunch break and seen this .
A senior colleague has just spoken to me about what we’re doing after the ‘half term holiday ‘ -I raised my eyebrows but didn’t correct her.
Guess what job we do - yes that’s right we’re teachers !
If teachers can’t get it right what hope for anyone else

medianewbie · 25/03/2024 12:23

Elebag · 25/03/2024 08:23

Yes, it's weird. It's either Xmas hols, easter hols or summer hols.

Half term holidays are Oct, Feb and May.

Exactly! Our Easter school Hols start on Friday this year too.

ChedderGorgeous · 25/03/2024 12:22

Happy Easter Half term everyone ! Enjoy the time off teachers !!

User79853257976 · 25/03/2024 12:06

Mumof2teens79 · 25/03/2024 09:00

But that is the half term?
The week off is the half-term holiday.
The term is the period in school. Between summer and Xmas or Xmas and Easter etc. And each one is split into two halves

No, Christmas, Easter and summer are at the end of term, not half way through.

Zyq · 25/03/2024 12:05

ImAlwaysknackered · 25/03/2024 08:22

Does anyone really get annoyed by this? It’s so trivial.

It causes confusion unnecessarily. If someone tells me now that they're planning to go away for half term, I assume they mean the end of May, not Easter.

Farmwifefarmlife · 25/03/2024 12:03

Can’t believe how many people are annoyed by this! I call every holiday half term have two primary aged DC think it’s quite normal.

Zyq · 25/03/2024 12:01

ThePotholeHelpline · 25/03/2024 08:49

because when most of us were growing up there were 3 terms in the school year and each of these breaks marked half a term or end of term. It';s just beasier to say 'can't wait till half term', than 'cant wait till the easter school holidays'.

But even easier to say "Can't wait until the holidays".

ALunchbox · 25/03/2024 12:00

Yes, I guess technically this is incorrect but I suppose in many people's eyes, any holidays whether half term or end of term are synonymous with a break. Most people wouldn't be thinking: oh wait, we are only half way through the Egyptians/photosynthesis/whatever the kids are doing, the term is clearly not over, it is only half term.
Schools could scrap the notion of terms altogether and that would have no effect on much really. As for confusion, well fine, those who use half-term are in the wrong but I couldn't get particularly worked up about it.

Some universities have terms, some have semesters. Do you correct your children and fellow parents if they use the wrong terminology? This could mean students missing their exams but really the onus is on them to double check.

456pickupsticks · 25/03/2024 11:57

This is my pet peeve!

Lifeinlists · 25/03/2024 11:52

TheTigerWhoCameToEatMyHusband · 25/03/2024 11:30

@Lifeinlists if sitting on mumsnet being upset about Easter holidays being referred to as half term is a hobby then that's pretty sad.

Being on Mumsnet is the hobby (for some people).
Nomenclature of school holidays is the current discussion on this thread.

No one is 'upset'. Puzzled, confused, irritated, amused or even bored are probably more accurate.

Apart from castigating others for taking part, what was your point?

SnapdragonToadflax · 25/03/2024 11:52

icelolly12 · 25/03/2024 11:02

God forbid you look after your own children.

Show quote history

Good luck getting much done in life if all the parents suddenly stop working (sorry... mothers, obvs).

Padamae · 25/03/2024 11:49

Glad it's not just me who is sitting on my hands to stop myself from commenting on people's posts!

SaucePot3000 · 25/03/2024 11:46

It's Easter holidays yes but it's stupid being annoyed by some people calling it half term. Get a life 🙄

AloeVerity · 25/03/2024 11:40

People are thick.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 25/03/2024 11:38

TheTigerWhoCameToEatMyHusband · 25/03/2024 11:05

You all need to get hobbies if this is the type of thing you're losing sleep over.

But spending time on Mumsnet telling people off for spending time on here talking about the wrong things is a good use of your time?

TheTigerWhoCameToEatMyHusband · 25/03/2024 11:30

@Lifeinlists if sitting on mumsnet being upset about Easter holidays being referred to as half term is a hobby then that's pretty sad.

Fullfatandfortyplus · 25/03/2024 11:23

Yes it really riles me. My eldest is in year 8 and I never heard anyone call the main holidays half terms as she was going through primary but my youngest is in year 2 and lots of parents say this now. I do correct them.

RaraRachael · 25/03/2024 11:13

To me "Half Term" means it's (roughly) half way through the term. If it comes at the end of one term, then it's not half term. It's a proper holiday.

Lifeinlists · 25/03/2024 11:12

TheTigerWhoCameToEatMyHusband · 25/03/2024 11:05

You all need to get hobbies if this is the type of thing you're losing sleep over.

It's 11.12 am in the UK. I'm not losing any sleep.
Mumsnet is a hobby for some people btw. You may - or may not - approve.

Wexone · 25/03/2024 11:12

Oh its so annoying - all last week the radio was offering a competition for a prize to use over mid term break ( this week) the amount of people texting telling her it was Easter holidays not mid term was unreal and by Wed they corrected it to Easter. I don't get it at all, the term has finished a new one will start in 2 weeks time, therefore its not mid term. Why is it that the shops are allowed to cover the place with Easter eggs, happy Easter signs and decorations, and your not allowed to call it Easter Holidays. Regardless is you are relgouse or not, the Days are called Easter Sunday

Acornsoup · 25/03/2024 11:11

I couldn't get excited about it. Not everyone celebrates Easter etc. It's more inclusive language. I've got bigger fish to fry.

TheTigerWhoCameToEatMyHusband · 25/03/2024 11:05

You all need to get hobbies if this is the type of thing you're losing sleep over.

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 25/03/2024 11:02

icelolly12 · 25/03/2024 11:02

God forbid you look after your own children.

Show quote history

Actual LOL.

icelolly12 · 25/03/2024 11:02

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 25/03/2024 08:20

Who cares? All it means for many is an inconvenient time trying to look after kids and work. Call it what you like - it’s not a break either way!

God forbid you look after your own children.

BobnLen · 25/03/2024 11:00

NDN who drives for the schools called it half term, I wondered what he was on about