When do schools break for summer, winter, and spring around the world? This quick guide maps global school holidays by hemisphere, highlights typical date ranges, and explains why they fall when they do. It also shows how breaks intersect with national holidays, religious observances, and exam seasons so you can plan travel, study abroad, or family schedules with confidence.

What determines school breaks?

School calendars are built on a few common pillars, even if dates vary by country or region:

• Seasonal weather: Long breaks align with the hottest or coldest months, depending on the hemisphere, and with agricultural or monsoon cycles in some regions.
• Instructional days: Systems aim for a yearly minimum (for example, roughly 175–180 days in the US, about 190 in England, and around 200 in Japan), then distribute breaks around these targets.
• Exam timetables: End-of-term or national exams (GCSEs/A levels, board exams, matriculation, university entrance tests) cluster before or after breaks.
• Religious and cultural observances: Christmas/New Year, Lunar New Year, Easter/Passover, Eid, Diwali, and others shape the timing and length of breaks.
• Tourism and transport: Some governments stagger regional holiday dates to smooth travel demand and reduce congestion.

Typical break windows by hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere (e.g., US, Canada, most of Europe, much of East and South Asia)

• Summer break: Late May or June to late August or early September. The classic long vacation after the school year ends.
• Winter break: Late December to early January, often spanning Christmas and New Year.
• Spring break: March or April, frequently tied to Easter in many countries.
• Autumn break: A shorter break in October or early November in some systems (often called half-term, fall break, or All Saints break).

Southern Hemisphere (e.g., Australia, New Zealand, much of Southern Africa and South America)

• Summer break: December to late January or early February, covering Christmas/New Year in the warm season.
• Winter break: June or July, typically 2–3 weeks.
• Spring break: September or early October, usually around 2 weeks.
• Autumn break: March or April, often around Easter.

Tropical and Equatorial Regions (e.g., Southeast Asia, parts of Africa and Latin America)

• Climate-led calendars: Breaks may align with monsoon seasons or peak heat, rather than classic four-season patterns.
• Festival-driven breaks: Significant pauses around Ramadan/Eid, Lunar New Year, Diwali, or national days, plus a long year-end break in many places.
• Term structures: Several shorter breaks spread across the year (for example, March, June, September, and November/December in Singapore).

Regional snapshots and examples

United States & Canada

Summer: Usually mid-June to late August/early September. Winter: Late December through New Year. Spring: March or early April, varying by district and often tied to university spring breaks in resort areas. Many districts also have a short fall break in October/November.

Why these dates? The calendar balances roughly 175–180 instructional days with severe winter weather in northern states/provinces and a long summer tradition. High-stakes testing tends to occur in late spring, with the year ending soon after.

United Kingdom & Ireland

The UK commonly follows three terms with week-long half-terms in October and February:

• Summer: Late July to late August/early September (about 6 weeks).
• Winter/Christmas: ~2 weeks at the end of December.
• Spring/Easter: ~2 weeks in March/April, aligned with Easter.

National exams (GCSEs and A levels) run May–June. Ireland follows a similar pattern, with a mid-term break in October, Christmas holidays, a February mid-term, Easter holidays, and a summer break from late May/June to late August.

Western & Central Europe (France, Germany, Benelux, Switzerland, Austria)

Europe often staggers breaks by region to reduce travel bottlenecks:

• France: Three zones (A, B, C) rotate winter and spring holidays to spread demand. Summer: Early July to early September. All Saints: ~2 weeks late October/early November. Christmas: ~2 weeks.
• Germany: Federal states have staggered Sommerferien (about 6 weeks, late June–early September depending on state), plus shorter winter, spring/Easter, and autumn breaks.
• Benelux/Alpine countries: Similar to Germany/France with winter sports breaks in February for ski season.

Nordics (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland)

• Summer: Typically mid-June to mid-August.
• Winter: 1–2 weeks over Christmas/New Year.
• Sports break: A popular ski/sport holiday in February/March (names vary, e.g., Sportlov in Sweden).
• Spring/Easter: Short break around Easter.

These calendars reflect daylight/seasonality and strong winter sports traditions.

East Asia (Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan)

• Japan: The academic year starts in April. Summer: Late July to end of August. Winter: Late December to early January. Spring: Late March to early April, bridging the school year change.
• South Korea: Year starts in March. Summer: Late July–August. Winter: Late December–January; some schools also take a short February break before the new year begins.
• China:Summer: July–August. Winter: A 3–4 week break centered on Lunar New Year (Jan/Feb), which is the main national holiday. National Day Golden Week: Early October, a week-long break during term time.
• Taiwan: Similar to China with a substantial Lunar New Year break and a summer holiday roughly July–August.

High academic intensity and entrance examinations strongly shape these calendars; the total number of school days is often higher than in many Western systems.

South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal)

Calendars vary widely by state, climate, and festival calendar:

• India: Many northern and central states take a long summer break from May to June due to heat; southern states may have different rhythms. Winter break occurs in late December in cooler regions. Major festivals (Diwali, Durga Puja, Eid, Pongal, Onam) bring multi-day closures during term time. Board exams typically fall Feb–April.
• Pakistan & Bangladesh: Year-end winter breaks in December, plus closures for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Hot-weather breaks may extend during peak summer in some areas.
• Sri Lanka & Nepal: Multiple short term breaks spread through the year; closures align with Vesak, Dashain/Tihar (Nepal), and other observances.

Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam)

• Singapore: Four terms with breaks in March, June (longer), September, and late November–December. Key holidays like Chinese New Year and Hari Raya/Eid fall within terms but prompt closures.
• Malaysia: Term breaks across March, May/June, August/September, and November/December, with additional days for Hari Raya and other festivals.
• Indonesia: A long Idul Fitri (Lebaran) break moves with the Islamic calendar (often April–June window), plus semester breaks mid-year and year-end.
• Thailand & Vietnam: Year structures differ; expect a long break around March–May in some systems and closures for Songkran (Thailand) or Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year).
• Philippines: Historically April–May was the long summer break; in recent years some shifts moved the school year to start closer to August, with year-end breaks around June–July and closures for Christmas.

Oceania (Australia & New Zealand)

Both countries use four terms with a major summer break in December–January:

• Term 1 break: April (autumn, around Easter).
• Term 2 break: June/July (winter).
• Term 3 break: September/early October (spring).
• Summer break: Mid-December to late January/early February, encompassing Christmas/New Year.

Secondary and university entrance exams often occur Oct–Nov, just before the long summer holidays.

Latin America & the Caribbean

• Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay):Summer: December–February. Winter: July (2–3 weeks). Spring: September/October breaks vary.
• Brazil: Long summer break spans December–January; mid-year break in July; schools often close for Carnival (Feb/March) for several days.
• Mexico & Central America (Northern Hemisphere):Summer: Late June–August. Winter: Christmas/New Year. Spring: Holy Week (Semana Santa) in March/April.
• Caribbean: Generally Northern Hemisphere-style calendars with significant hurricane-season contingencies in late summer/early fall.

Middle East & North Africa

Most systems run from late August/September to June, with adjustments for the Islamic calendar:

• Summer: Late June to late August/early September (heat is a factor).
• Winter: Late December, 1–2 weeks in many places.
• Spring: A short break around March/April in some countries.
• Eid breaks: Closures for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha move by about 10–11 days earlier each Gregorian year.

Israel has a long summer break (July–August), a substantial Passover break in spring, and multiple closures in early autumn for the Tishrei holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot).

Sub-Saharan Africa

Calendars vary widely:

• South Africa: Four terms with breaks in March/April, June/July (winter), September/October (spring), and a long summer break December–January.
• Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda: Multiple term breaks through April, August, and December; national exam periods in late year shape term end dates.
• West Africa (e.g., Ghana, Nigeria): Often follows a Northern Hemisphere pattern: long summer July–August/September, Christmas break, and shorter mid-term breaks; calendars can flex for elections, weather, or public health needs.

Why breaks fall when they do

Understanding the underlying drivers helps explain global differences:

• Seasonality and comfort: Long breaks move to hot or cold extremes for comfort and safety (heatwaves, snow/ice) and to reduce energy costs.
• Assessment cycles: Terms are shaped around exam windows. Breaks commonly follow major testing periods to mark progression or year-end.
• Religious calendars: Floating observances like Ramadan/Eid and Lunar New Year shift the timing of winter or spring breaks in parts of Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
• Economic and social patterns: Tourism high seasons, agricultural cycles, and national events (elections, national days) influence scheduling.
• Policy and logistics: Countries like France and Germany stagger break dates across regions to ease travel pressure and balance demand.

Planning across borders: practical tips

• Check official calendars: Ministry of Education or local authority websites publish term dates and regional variations.
• Watch exam windows: Late spring (Northern Hemisphere) and October–November (Southern Hemisphere) are packed with exams; avoid academic travel then.
• Mind movable feasts: Lunar New Year, Ramadan/Eid, and Easter shift annually; confirm dates for the year you are planning.
• Factor in staggering: Even within one country (France, Germany, Canada), dates can differ by zone, state, or province.
• Year-round schools exist: Some districts operate shorter terms with frequent intersessions instead of one very long summer.
• Travel pricing peaks: Expect higher fares and occupancy during national breaks (e.g., Golden Week in China, Obon in Japan, Semana Santa in Latin America, December holidays almost everywhere).

Month-by-month: where breaks cluster

• January: Southern Hemisphere on summer break (Australia, New Zealand, Southern Africa, much of South America); Northern Hemisphere winter holidays end early in the month; Lunar New Year break may begin late January in some years.
• February: Nordic winter sports breaks; many European winter holidays by region; Lunar New Year commonly falls this month; some Middle Eastern schools close for mid-year.
• March: Northern Hemisphere spring breaks begin; Easter-related closures in some years; Ramadan/Eid closures when they occur in spring; Southeast Asia term breaks (Singapore).
• April: Peak of Northern Hemisphere spring breaks and Easter/Passover; Australia/NZ autumn term break; Thailand’s Songkran; some African and Latin American breaks.
• May: Exams ramp up in many Northern Hemisphere systems; fewer breaks, though some regions observe late spring holidays; Philippines often nearing year-end (in traditional calendars).
• June: Start of Northern Hemisphere summer vacations; Australia/NZ winter break; Eid or school closures may occur depending on lunar timing.
• July: Northern Hemisphere deep summer; Southern Africa winter break; Southern Cone mid-year winter break; Japan/Korea summer break starts late month.
• August: Northern Hemisphere still on summer break; Southern Hemisphere in term but with winter vacations in some places; travel at global peak.
• September: Many Northern Hemisphere schools return; France/Germany regions finish staggered summers; Australia/NZ spring break later in the month or early October.
• October: European autumn breaks; China’s National Day Golden Week; Australia/NZ spring breaks; some US districts have fall break.
• November: All Saints/half-term breaks in parts of Europe; Thanksgiving break in the US; exam periods in Southern Hemisphere secondary schools.
• December: Universal year-end closures; Southern Hemisphere begins long summer; Christmas/New Year worldwide; extended breaks across many systems.

Key comparisons at a glance

• US/Canada vs. Europe: North America often has a longer single summer (10–12 weeks); many European countries opt for ~6 weeks in summer plus more frequent week-long breaks.
• Europe vs. East Asia: East Asian systems frequently have shorter summer breaks but more total school days; winter breaks center on Lunar New Year in parts of the region.
• Northern vs. Southern Hemisphere: Seasons flip: December–January is summer vacation in Australia/New Zealand and much of South America, while it is winter break in Europe and North America.
• Tropical calendars: Less about summer/winter, more about rain, heat, and festivals, with several shorter breaks over the year.

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