06-11-2011, 03:25 AM
The word holiday means a period of rest and recreation. Work is good and necessary rest and recreation are equally good and necessary. But more pleasant. All the principal religions recognize this and the seventh day of the week is a religious holiday-a holy day devoted to rest and prayers. One dose not have to be a religious man to realize the blessings of holidays. Everyone who works, and work hard needs rest and has right to look forward to a holiday. It is an unpleasant fact that most of us find our daily work depressing and fatiguing. We do what we have to do whether our heart is in it our not. Even those who take pleasure in their work feel its burden. Work, mental or physical, demands full application of one, s attention and energies. There is a sense of compulsion in it. And no man can continue working without exhausting his strength. Muscles and nerves tire; mind gets dull; and one becomes weary. Then one needs some diversion. Holidays offer the chance of forgetting the boredom of daily routine, and doing something after one, s own heart. I remember reading about an ltaline works. He was a good work and came to the factory punctually whether it rained or snowed. One day he did not come. The manager went to his house and found him lounging in his tiny garden. When he asked him why he had not reported himself on duty, the map smiled and replied. ‘ Look at the weather. Is not it sunny and pleasant? Who will want to work on such a wonderful day? Not me ! I will not sell this sunshine and warm breeze.” Holidays bring relief and give us time to enjoy ourselves. They restore our energy spent during the working days. Sleep, of course, refreshes and soothes our tired nerves, but there is nothing like a full day, s rest. Everybody has his own ideas about rest and pleasure. One may like going on a short hiking trip; another many prefer a stroll in the garden. The important thing is that all need rest, and all must have holidays. Only those who work hard taste the genuine pleasure of holidays; idlers find none. Students are very fortunate in the matter of holidays. In addition to the weekly holiday, they get summer, winter and spring holidays. It is in these holidays that they go on walking tours, visit places of historical interest and get knowledge and pleasure.