Whats the difference here: Spending your holidays in LA? VS Spending the holidays

[B45]

Whats the difference here:

Spending your holidays in LA?

VS

Spending the holidays in LA?

 

[emsr2d2]

Neither of them are full sentences or questions so you need more words and no question mark. You needed the question mark after "What's the difference here".

In BrE, "your holiday(s)" means any period of time when you are on holiday/leave from work or school and are travelling somewhere for leisure purposes.

Sarah - I can't wait for the school holidays.
Peter - Me neither. Are you going on holiday?
Sarah - Yes. We're spending our holiday in LA!
Peter - You lucky thing. We're just going on holiday to Bognor Regis.

As you can see, there are three uses/forms of "holiday" in that exchange.

 

[B45]

What about now:

Are you spending your holidays in LA?

VS

Are you spending the holidays in LA?

 

[emsr2d2]

The first works in BrE. The second doesn't because we don't use the phrase "the holidays" in this way. It's used extensively in AmE. I know that we're about to enter "the holidays" which consist of Christmas and New Year. If the same question were to be asked in BrE, it would be something like "Are you spending Christmas in LA?" or "Are you spending the Christmas holidays in LA?" We just don't abbreviate any of the annual breaks to "the holidays".

 

[oldbei]

The first works in BrE. The second doesn't because we don't use the phrase "the holidays" in this way. It's used extensively in AmE. I know that we're about to enter "the holidays" which consist of Christmas and New Year. If the same question were to be asked in BrE, it would be something like "Are you spending Christmas in LA?" or "Are you spending the Christmas holidays in LA?" We just don't abbreviate any of the annual breaks to "the holidays".

Is it correct to say: Christmas is coming and New Year is not faraway. Do you have a plan for the holidays?

 

[Rover_KE]

As ems explained, that's not colloquial in BE.

We'd say 'Have you any plans for Christmas and the New Year?'

Note that 'far away' should be written as two words here.

'Faraway' is an adjective. 'In a faraway land lived a wicked troll.'

 

[SoothingDave]

Is it correct to say: Christmas is coming and New Year is not faraway. Do you have a plan for the holidays?

Yes, in AmE.

"The holidays" without any other clarifying context refers to Christmas and New Year's.