The word “holy” is employed in literature as a versatile marker of sanctity and reverence, drawing on both religious tradition and wider cultural symbolism. In religious texts and narratives, “holy” describes divinely ordained spaces and actions—as seen in biblical imagery with holy stones, temples, and the Holy Ghost ([1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7])—invoking a sense of sacred protection and moral authority. At the same time, authors extend its use to characterize revered individuals, such as holy men or devotees ([8], [9], [10]), or even to imbue everyday events with a quasi-sacred quality as in the description of holy habits or vows ([11], [12]). In works that range from epic folklore to satirical novels, “holy” can also serve an exclamatory or ironic function, contributing both to the literary gravitas and the playful subversion of tradition (e.g., “Holy cow!” [13] and the scornful twist in [14]). This multifaceted use underscores the word’s power to bridge the sacred with the profane, the exalted with the quotidian, making it a key expressive tool in diverse literary traditions.