Holiday Orphan

What is a holiday orphan?

A person with nowhere to go on a holiday

A holiday orphan is someone who has no gathering to attend for a holiday, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. They may have no family, are estranged from family, or live far away from family and cannot travel back for the gathering.

Being a holiday orphan is a lonely experience. Not only are you alone, but you are also unable to celebrate a holiday that focuses on not being alone.

Because of a holiday orphan's isolation, they sometimes do drastic things to connect with others and get "adopted" into someone else's gathering. For example, they may ask a friend what they are doing for the holiday and express that they have no plans in the most depressing way possible to squeeze out a pity invite. Or, they may band together with friends and create their own holiday gathering, a la Friendsgiving.

Example

What are you doing for the 4th of July?
Going to my family's cabin. WBU?
Nothing, just gonna watch TV alone ... as a holiday orphan
.... You wanna come to my cabin?
Sure!

Being a holiday orphan on Christmas is the worst

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Updated November 23, 2022

Holiday orphan definition by Slang.net

This page explains what the slang term "Holiday orphan" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the Slang.net team.

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