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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
DespairAgony · 25/03/2024 13:42

am a teacher and guilty of calling all holidays half term! Sorry OP...

Epidote · 25/03/2024 13:41

You are completely right. It is the end of one term, Easter holiday. Only one term more. I'm sure I can make it this year.
I hate school runs, holidays are the best bit of have school age children for someone like me.

BlowDryRat · 25/03/2024 13:41

YANBU, it annoys and confuses me too. "Half term" is halfway(ish) through a term, not at the end of it!

TimetoPour · 25/03/2024 13:39

I can’t get worked up over something so pedantic.

It may be the end of term but, as there are two halves in a whole, it is also the end of a half term.

User36362537363344 · 25/03/2024 13:36

This annoys me too 😂

Flashinggreen · 25/03/2024 13:36

I started a thread on this this point years ago, got told to calm down, I’ve found me people!

CheapThrillsMeanNothing · 25/03/2024 13:34

Definitely annoying and confusing to whoever they are talking to.

Soigneur · 25/03/2024 13:31

I've never heard anyone refer to the Easter holidays as half term holidays. But then again I avoid associating with dimwits.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 25/03/2024 13:19

I teach in Scotland and we are actually working on Good Friday, then two weeks off. This is now referred to as "spring break" and the Christmas holiday is the "winter break". We don't have any half terms though, just the summer and tattie (October) holidays, and odd local days/bank holidays.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 25/03/2024 13:10

Bbq1 · 25/03/2024 10:15

Why should a largely Christian society have to stop using Christian labels? I am not against the celebrations of other religions nor Muslim families saying Spring break if they don't celebrate Easter. That's fine but the fact remains that the UK is largely Christian with many people who do view Easter etc in a religious way.

Show quote history

In the 2021 census less than 50% of the population identified as Christian - just sayin....( yes I know it has a g)

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 25/03/2024 13:01

Yeah, it's everywhere and really annoying. I don't even have kids and it annoys me!

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 25/03/2024 13:00

I haven’t been aware of this! I just say Easter holidays or holidays. Half term is May or October only. If I start hearing this now I’ll be super annoyed by it 😂

Butchyrestingface · 25/03/2024 12:55

2chocolateoranges · 25/03/2024 08:20

We are in Glasgow and never called any of the holidays half term, think it’s a regional thing. For us this is Easter holidays, then we have a few May long weekends, Summer holidays, September weekend, October break, then Christmas holidays, then February holiday etc.

never called them half term.

I'm NE of Scotland. Have lived in quite a few areas of Scotland. Never heard "half term" used to describe Easter, summer or Christmas holidays.

Must be an English thing. Nowt here for us to see. 😉

CrushingOnRubies · 25/03/2024 12:46

Annoys me too. People say such and such is happening after half term. And I automatically think May half term not Easter and get confused

shakeitoffsis · 25/03/2024 12:46

I wouldn't have a clue and nor would I waste a second being bothered by it.

Velvian · 25/03/2024 12:45

Really irritates me too. It's just factually incorrect.

Ladyluckinred · 25/03/2024 12:43

Oh it irritates me so much when people say ‘half term’. What a thick and ignorant thing to say. As other posters have pointed out, it’s the end of term.. NOT HALF TERM. I actively correct any imbecile who calls it bloody half term!!!!!

Anyway guys, wishing you all a lovely half term.

MarriedMama23 · 25/03/2024 12:41

Of all the things to be irritated about, this is not one of them.

Mnk711 · 25/03/2024 12:38

And the amount of people on this thread saying it is fine to call it half term is why the dictionary now notes that the use of the term 'literally' can also mean figuratively (the opposite of its actual meaning).

Chylka · 25/03/2024 12:37

Definitely not half term given it marks the end of a term…

Mnk711 · 25/03/2024 12:36

It's like people that say three semesters instead of terms - the clue is in the name, you can't have more than two in a year!!!

Mnk711 · 25/03/2024 12:34

I've never heard of this. Why not just say happy holidays like the Americans do?

Soubriquet · 25/03/2024 12:29

I really don’t care. It’s half term for me.

fashionqueen1183 · 25/03/2024 12:28

Yes I’ve seen people mention this online. And then people will reply saying that’s weird how is your area only on half term now- our half term was ages ago etc

It’s not half term that’s why!! How can end of term be a half 🙈

SilverSimca · 25/03/2024 12:27

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.

But surely the vast majority of parents/people went to school themselves, so they know what is a half term holiday (a week in the middle of term) and what is a Christmas/Easter/summer holiday (two weeks or longer, at the end of term). They don't have to work it out!

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