The Consequences of Working at the Same Time

In the States, we have Christmas and Hanukkah and most people take off a few weeks of work. I've often wondered if it's because we're all not working at the same time that contributes to that sense of joy or collective effervescence they describe about it. And actually in my experience living in the States, obviously you guys don't do well on vacation time in general,. But the public holiday side of it is actually rather more prominent than it is in the UK.