View source for Spring break

{{Redirect|Mid-term break|the poem by Seamus Heaney|Death of a Naturalist}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Short description|Recess in early spring at universities and schools}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2010}}

[[File:Spring Break hyper masculinity.jpg|thumb|American students enjoying spring break at a party in [[Negril]], [[Jamaica]], 2009]]
'''Spring break'''{{efn|Also known as '''[[Easter]] vacation''', '''Easter holiday''', '''Easter break''', '''spring vacation''', '''mid-term break''', '''study week''', '''reading week''', '''reading period''', '''Easter week''', or '''March break'''.}} is a [[vacation]] period at [[University|universities]] and [[School|schools]] that includes the [[Easter]] holiday, and takes place in early [[Northern Hemisphere]] [[Spring (season)|spring]]. Introduced in the [[United States|U.S.]] during the 1930s, spring break has been observed in [[Europe]] since the late 19th century, and is observed in many other countries. Spring break is associated with riotous partying at warm-weather locations.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Laurie|first1=John|title=Spring break: The Economic, Socio-Cultural and Public Governance Impacts of College Students on Spring break Host Locations|date=2008|isbn=9781109023091|page=17}}</ref>

According to ''CBS'', spring break's origins vary across the world, but many countries placed a relatively short school break near Easter, around March or April.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wagner |first=Jeff |date=2025-03-11 |title=Spring break is fast approaching. Where did the annual tradition come from? - CBS Minnesota |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/why-do-schools-have-spring-break/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

According to ''Bustle'', college students in the US have "almost always" had time off in the early spring.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2015-02-24 |title=A Brief History Of Spring Break, By The Gone-Wild Decade |url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/66030-a-brief-history-of-spring-break-by-the-gone-wild-decade |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Bustle |language=en}}</ref> The tradition of spring break vacations, however, began with Florida as a vacation destination, and was spread by popular books and films before expanding to more destinations.<ref name=":0" />

==By country==

===Asia===
====Japan====
In [[Japan]], the spring break starts with the end of the academic year in late March and ends around April 7 with the beginning of a new academic year.

==== Hong Kong ====
[[Hong Kong]] follows the British tradition of an Easter break of about one and a half weeks.

==== Iran ====
In [[Iran]], spring break starts at [[Nowruz]] and ends on [[Sizdah Bedar]]. All Iranians have the same spring break.

==== Macau ====
[[Macau]] follows the Portuguese tradition of Easter break.

====South Korea====
In [[South Korea]], the spring break originally lasted for two weeks in February with the new school year starting afterwards in March. However, due to a change in the academic calendar in 2015, the spring break was changed to a 1-week break in the first week of May, around [[Children's Day]] (although some schools still keep it in February).{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

Colleges only take the Children's Day itself off.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

==== Taiwan ====
In Taiwan, spring break usually refers to the consecutive days off of [[Tomb Sweeping Day]] and [[Children's Day]].

==== UAE (United Arab Emirates) ====
In UAE, spring break is usually two or three weeks long from late March to early/middle of April. It usually depends on the school or the emirate.

===Europe===
====Czech Republic====
In the [[Czech Republic]], only primary and secondary school students have a spring break. The break is one week long and the date of the break differs from county to county to avoid overcrowding of the break destinations in the Czech Republic (Czechs usually travel to the mountains to ski there). The counties are divided into six groups, each group containing counties evenly distributed across the country. The first group starts the holiday on the first Monday of February, the last group starts the holiday five weeks later (usually in early March). The last group of counties becomes the first one to have the spring break the next year.

====Georgia====
Before 2017, the spring break in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] was typically an Easter holiday, lasting from Thursday to Tuesday in Holy Week. In 2017 Minister of Education and Science Aleksandre Jejelava instead set the period from March 8 to 15 as a holiday for those in education, from preschool to university.

====Germany====
In Germany, universities typically schedule a semester break of five to eight weeks around March. The [[Whitsun]] ([[Pentecost]]) holidays around late May or early June are also considered a spring break.<ref>[http://www.studenten-wg.de/infos/semesterferien.html studenten-wg.de] – About semester breaks in Germany (German)</ref>

====Greece====
In [[Greece]], spring break takes place during [[Holy Week]] and the week following.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

====Lithuania====
In [[Lithuania]], spring break (called Easter holidays or spring holidays) takes place one week before Easter and one day after it (as it is the second day of Easter), all school students have this vacation. Primary school students have another week of holidays after Easter.

====The Netherlands====

In the Netherlands, a week-long [[:nl:Voorjaarsvakantie|break]] is given to high school students and students in higher education in the early stages of spring (February-March). There are regional differences between mostly the north and south of the country in when this break takes place, because of [[carnival]], which is mostly celebrated in the southern parts of The Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zaken |first=Ministerie van Algemene |date=2009-12-08 |title=Schoolvakanties - Rijksoverheid.nl |url=https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/schoolvakanties |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=www.rijksoverheid.nl |language=nl-NL}}</ref>

====Portugal====
In [[Portugal]], spring break is mostly known as "Easter Holidays" and it gives two weeks to all students around the country.

====Russia====
Before 1917 there was an Easter Break in schools. In the [[Soviet Union]], spring break was always from March 24 to 31. Now, many schools in Russia still have the spring break, but the exact date is decided by the school itself. In the majority of cases it is set in the middle of April. Also, the public holidays in May, connected with Labour day and Victory day, can be an accurate equivalent of the spring break.

==== Slovakia ====
[[Slovakia]] gives a week-long break to its elementary school and secondary school students in the months of February and March. Instead of vacationing in warm weather destinations, Slovaks mostly associate spring breaks with skiing. The break is one week long and the date of the break differs from region to region to avoid overcrowding of domestic break destinations. The regions are divided into three groups, the first group starts the holiday on the end of February, the last group starts the holiday two weeks later (in early March).

There is also another shorter Easter break from Holy Thursday to Easter Tuesday.

====Spain====
In [[Spain]], spring break is celebrated around [[Holy Week in Spain|Holy Week]], and students usually get a two-week break.

====United Kingdom====
The Easter Break is typically over 2 weeks in either late March or April, depending on when Easter Sunday falls.<ref>{{Cite web | title=School holiday dates {{!}} Hantsweb | url=https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/schoolholidays | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218173751/https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/schoolholidays | access-date=2024-12-20 | archive-date=2017-02-18}}</ref>

===North America===
====Canada====
Canadian provinces give a one or two-week-long break to its elementary school and secondary school students in the month of March, with the time varying from province to province; {{citation needed span|date=March 2025|[[New Brunswick]] and [[Quebec]], for example, place their March breaks during the first week of March; [[British Columbia]], [[Nova Scotia]], and [[Ontario]] schedule theirs during the second or third week; the break in [[Alberta]] and [[Manitoba]] usually occurs in the last week of March.}} 

In primary and secondary school, this break is called "March break" and in higher education it is usually "reading week" or "reading break". Neither example is commonly associated with the party culture of American spring break. "Mid-term break" is a  generic term. Reading week in Canada usually coincides with [[Family Day (Canada)|Family Day]] in the month of February.

====Jamaica====
In [[Jamaica]], the spring break starts in the first week of Good Friday. The break may range from one week to two weeks, often two. This break starts depending on which month the Easter holiday begins, March or April.

====Mexico====
In Mexico, spring break takes place during the [[Holy Week]] and the one after it.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-15|title=20 Dumb Mistakes to Avoid in Cancun, Mexico|url=https://luxuryunderbudget.com/travel/20-dumb-mistakes-to-avoid-in-cancun-mexico/|access-date=2021-05-17|website=LUXURY under BUDGET|language=en-US}}</ref>

====United States====
{{citation needed span|date=September 2024|In the mid-1930s, a swimming coach from [[Colgate University]] decided to take his team down to [[Florida]] for some early training at a brand-new Olympic-size pool in sunny Fort Lauderdale. The idea clicked with other college swim coaches, and soon the spring training migration became an annual tradition for swimmers nationwide.}} Now, spring break is an academic tradition in various mostly western countries that is scheduled for different periods depending on the state and sometimes the region.

In the United States, spring break at universities, colleges, and many [[K–12|K-12]] school systems can take place {{citation needed span|date=September 2024|from March to April,}} depending on term dates and when [[Easter Sunday|Easter holiday]] falls. Spring break is usually a week or two long, although some schools schedule it for mid to late March, with separate days off for the Easter holiday.

====Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras====
In Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, it takes place during Easter; schoolchildren have a week off, and teaching staff typically three days.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

===South America===
====Colombia====
In Colombia, the Easter break is [[Holy Week]].

====Chile====
In Chile, many schools and universities take vacations in the middle of September in the southern hemisphere spring, coinciding with the celebration of the country's [[Fiestas Patrias (Chile)|Patriotic Holidays]].

==Spring break festivals==
{{more citations needed section|date=March 2014}}
Large annual spring break festivities take place in various countries, often in the form of music festivals and joined by special [[nightclub]] [[Party|parties]], beach activities and accommodation offers. People on the Easter break may travel to other countries.

===Pacific===
The [[Pacific Ocean|South Pacific]] takes spring break in November. Some tour companies charter out entire island resorts for the festivities.<ref>[http://remixmagazine.com/springbreak-the-exclusive-island-get-away-you-dont-want-to-miss-out-on/ Island Party Fiji]</ref>

====Fiji====
* [[Fiji]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11552879 |title=PM's son among Kiwi partygoers forced off Beachcomber Island by blaze |date=November 29, 2015 |access-date=March 21, 2020 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/74753411/what-on-earth-is-spring-break|title=What on earth is Spring Break?|website=Stuff|date=December 4, 2015 |access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>

====Cook Islands====
* [[Rarotonga]]

===Europe===
European party destinations are increasingly becoming popular for international spring break guests.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kressmann|first1=Jeremy|title=Budget Travel: European Spring break|url=http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/10/budget-travel-european-spring-break/|access-date=June 23, 2014|date=February 10, 2009}}</ref> Tour agencies have cited the lower [[Legal drinking age|drinking ages]] in these places and that even then, they are rarely enforced. Some tour companies put on special chartered flights for spring break at discounted rates.

====Croatia====
[[File:Papaya club @ Zrche beach day.jpg|thumb|Spring break at [[Novalja]] ([[Zrće|Zrće Beach]]), Croatia]]
* [[Novalja]] ([[Zrće|Zrće Beach]])<ref>[https://www.croatiaspringbreak.com/ Croatia Spring break]</ref><ref>[https://springbreak-island.com/ Spring break Island] Croatia</ref>

====Germany====
* [[Pouch, Germany|Pouch]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sputnik.de/springbreak|title=SPUTNIK SPRING BREAK – SPUTNIK SPRING BREAK 2018|last=mdr.de|website=MDR SPUTNIK|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Rügen|Rugia]] ([[Binz]]/[[Prora]]) and [[Usedom]] islands ([[Heringsdorf, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|Kaiser Spa]])<ref>[http://www.balticspringbreak.de/ Annual Baltic Spring break], Usedom Island, Germany</ref>

====Greece====
* [[Mykonos]]<ref>[http://www.firstpost.com/topic/place/mykonos-springbreakgr-the-official-springbreak-of-greece-video-BxDODNMN6vc-38615-1.html Firstpost video] of Mykonos Spring break</ref>

====Hungary====
* [[Siófok]] ([[Lake Balaton]])<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-chatfCBYms Spring break 2011. Balaton], video</ref>

====Italy====
* [[Rimini]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUBKkstn7oA Spring break Rimini 2012], video</ref>

====Spain====
* [[Ibiza]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stoketravel.com/trips/spring-break-ibiza/|title=Spring Break Ibiza 2018 – Parties & Accommodation – Stoke Travel|website=stoketravel.com|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Lloret de Mar]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springbreak-espagne.com/|title=Spring break 2018 : springbreak européen en Espagne Voyage étudiant Lloret Salou Jeunes etudiants Open Bar Festival|website=www.springbreak-espagne.com|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Magaluf]] ([[Mallorca]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seemallorca.com/events/calendar/mallorca-spring|title=Mallorca Spring Break - SeeMallorca.com|website=SeeMallorca.com|date=October 24, 2014 |access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Salou]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6vvc1hqbNg 2015 SpringBreak Salou by Funbreak], video</ref>

====Sweden====
* [[Linköping]]<ref>[https://www.scbmasteri.com/festkalender], Spring break party by students </ref>

===North America===
====Caribbean====
* [[Montego Bay]], [[Jamaica]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springbreak.com/Caribbean/Montego_Bay/Montego_Bay.html|title=Spring Break 2018 in Montego Bay|website=www.springbreak.com|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Nassau, Bahamas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springbreak.com/Caribbean/Nassau.html|title=Spring Break 2017 in Nassau|website=www.springbreak.com|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Punta Cana]], [[Dominican Republic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ststravel.com/spring-break/dominican-republic/punta-cana/|title=Punta Cana Spring Break 2018 Packages – STS Travel|website=STSTravel.com|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>

====Mexico====
* [[Acapulco]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.springbreak.com/MX_Cities/Acapulco/Acapulco.html|title=Spring Break 2017 in Acapulco, Mexico|website=www.springbreak.com|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Cancún]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQDc0Kcd8Iw Epic Spring break in Cancun, Mexico], video</ref>
* [[Cabo San Lucas]]

====United States====
In the US, many people take the holiday off. The holiday is celebrated near Easter, and many families hold easter egg hunts, or celebrate with Easter activities.

=====Panama City Beach, Florida=====
Starting in the late 1990s, [[Panama City Beach, Florida|Panama City Beach]] began advertising the destination hoping to attract crowds that had formerly gone to Fort Lauderdale and then Daytona Beach before those communities enacted restrictions.  From 2010 to 2016, an estimated 300,000 students traveled to the destination. The spawn of social media and digital marketing helped boost the beach town into a student mecca during March. Following well-publicized shootings and a [[gang rape]] in 2015, several new ordinances were put into effect prohibiting drinking on the beach and establishing a bar closing time of 2{{nbsp}}a.m.{{nbsp}}[[Central Time Zone|CT]]. Reports showed a drop in Panama City Beach's spring break turnout in March 2016,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/Some-local-businesses-say-the-smaller-spring-break-crowds-have-had-a-negative-impact-on-the-local-economy-373795851.html|title=Some businesses see negative economic impact this spring break|first=Kelly|last=Baumgarten|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref> followed by increased family tourism in April 2016.  Both are attributed to the new ordinances by the [[Bay County, Florida|Bay County]] Community Development Corporation (CDC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsherald.com/news/20160626/panama-city-reports-record-bed-tax-numbers-in-april|title=Panama City reports record bed tax numbers in April|first=KATIE|last=LANDECK|access-date=March 15, 2018}}</ref>

=====Daytona Beach, Florida=====
After Fort Lauderdale started discouraging college students from vacationing there for spring break in the mid-1980s, [[Daytona Beach, Florida|Daytona Beach]] mayor [[Larry Kelly]] appeared on national television to encourage college vacationers to come to Daytona Beach instead.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/3/florida-spring-break-destinations-tire-of-partyers/|title=Florida spring break destinations tire of partyers' bad behavior, seek revenue elsewhere|last=Quimby|first=Tom|date=June 3, 2015|work=The Washington Times|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/fl-spring-broke-documentary-20160304-story.html|title='Spring Broke' documentary on Fort Lauderdale-Daytona rivalry to air Friday|last=Diaz|first=Johnny|work=Sun-Sentinel.com|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en-US}}</ref> Soon after, beer and cigarette brands started advertising in Daytona Beach for spring break. ''[[MTV Spring Break]]'' coverage moved to Daytona Beach in 1986.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.papermag.com/a-history-of-mtv-spring-break-part-1-the-80s-1426028000.html|title=A History of "MTV Spring Break," Part 1: The '80s|date=2012-03-28|work=PAPER|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144920/http://www.papermag.com/a-history-of-mtv-spring-break-part-1-the-80s-1426028000.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Kelly later called that decision a mistake, as locals experienced many problems during spring break every year.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-07-12/news/9301230616_1_black-college-reunion-tourism-officials-spring-break-s|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726215852/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1993-07-12/news/9301230616_1_black-college-reunion-tourism-officials-spring-break-s|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2014|title=Daytona Beach May Kiss Spring Breakers Good-bye|work=tribunedigital-sunsentinel|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1989/06/21/daytona-debates-spring-break/|title=Daytona Debates Spring Break|work=tribunedigital-orlandosentinel|access-date=2018-05-29|language=en}}</ref> Kelly's efforts to rein in the revelry included promoting athletic competitions called "Spring Games" to channel youthful energy in a wholesome direction,<ref name="SpringGames">{{cite news |title=Spring Games USA competes with bacchanalian traditions for minds and bodies of college students |work=Los Angeles Times |date=25 March 1989|id={{ProQuest|1249381954}} }}</ref> and proposing that hotels be billed for the cost of sending police to respond to calls during spring break.<ref name="BreakPatrols">{{cite news |title=Mayor: Bill Hotels for Police Calls Report Says $60,000 Spent for Spring Break Patrols |publisher=Orlando Sentinel |date=1 June 1989|id={{ProQuest|277532149}} }}</ref> In 1993, Kelly lost his bid for re-election as mayor, and Daytona Beach officials cut their spring break marketing budget and ties with MTV.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.papermag.com/a-history-of-mtv-spring-break-part-2-the-90s-1426029465.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206020140/http://www.papermag.com/a-history-of-mtv-spring-break-part-2-the-90s-1426029465.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 6, 2016|title=A History of "MTV Spring Break," Part 2: The 90s|date=2012-03-29|work=PAPER|access-date=2018-06-11|language=en}}</ref>

=====Fort Lauderdale, Florida=====
[[Fort Lauderdale]]'s reputation as a spring break destination for college students started when the [[Colgate University]] men's swim team arrived to practice there over Christmas break in 1934.<ref>{{cite news |last= Marsh |first= Bill |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/19/weekinreview/19marsh.html |title= The innocent birth of the spring bacchanal |work= [[The New York Times]] |date= March 19, 2006}}</ref> Attracting approximately 20,000 college students in the 1950s, spring break was still known as 'Spring vacation' and was a relatively low key affair. This began to change when [[Glendon Swarthout]]'s novel, ''Where the Boys Are'' was published in 1960, effectively ushering in modern spring break.<ref>{{cite book|last=Laurie|first=John|title=Spring Break: The Economic, Socio-Cultural and Public Governance Effects of College Students on Spring break Host Locations|year=2008|isbn=9781109023091|page=12}}</ref> Swarthout's 1960 novel was quickly made into a movie of the same title later that year, ''[[Where the Boys Are]]'', in which college girls met boys while on spring break there. The number of visiting college students immediately jumped to over 50,000.<ref name="sfhm">{{Cite news |url=http://historymiamiarchives.org/pdfs/sfh-1991-1.pdf |title=Where the boys were |last=George |first=Paul S. |date=1991 |work=South Florida History Magazine |access-date=November 16, 2017 |publisher=Historical Association of Southern Florida |issue=1 |pages=5–8 |via=[[HistoryMiami]] |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702041609/http://historymiamiarchives.org/pdfs/sfh-1991-1.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> By the early 1980s, Fort Lauderdale was attracting between 250,000 and 350,000 college students per year during spring break. Residents of the Fort Lauderdale area became so upset at the damage done by college students that the local government passed laws restricting parties in 1985. At the same time, the [[National Minimum Drinking Age Act]] was enacted in the United States, requiring that Florida raise the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21 and inspiring many underage college vacationers to travel to other competing locations in the United States for spring break. By 1989, the number of college students traveling to Fort Lauderdale fell to 20,000, a far cry from the 350,000 who went four years prior.<ref name="sfhm" /><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bohn|first=Lauren|title=A brief history of spring break|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1888317,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331062345/http://www.time.com//time//nation//article//0,8599,1888317,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2009|magazine= [[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=October 3, 2012|date=March 30, 2009}}</ref>

=====South Padre Island, Texas=====
In the early 1980s, [[South Padre Island]] became the first location outside of Florida to draw a large number of college students for spring break. With only a few thousand residents, South Padre Island consistently drew 80,000 to 120,000 spring breakers into the 2000s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Laurie|first=John|title=Spring break: The Economic, Socio-Cultural and Public Governance Impacts of College Students of Spring break Host Locations|year=2008|isbn=9781109023091|page=66}}</ref>

==Corporate marketing==
It is common for major brands that cater to the youth market, such as [[Coca-Cola]], [[Gillette (brand)|Gillette]], [[MTV]], and branches of the [[United States Armed Forces]], to market at spring break destinations.{{clarify|date=April 2013}}

==See also==
* [[Girls Gone Wild (franchise)]]
* [[Schoolies week]]
* [[Senior Week]]
* [[Wet T-shirt contest]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}

{{Public holidays in Algeria|state=collapsed}}
{{U.S. Holidays|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Types of secular holidays]]
[[Category:Spring (season)]]
[[Category:Student culture]]
[[Category:Types of tourism]]