Festival is an event that usually lasts for several days and celebrates something special. A festival can be religious or cultural in nature and may include a variety of different activities such as music, dance, poetry and movies. It can also be an event that is themed around a specific food or drink such as beer, garlic or hot air balloons.
The word festival comes from the Latin festivus, which means “feast day.” A festival is a special celebration that centers on a theme or aspect of community identity. Many festivals are cultural, such as a yearly harvest festival or a city’s Italian heritage festival. Others are based on religion, such as the Christmas and Easter holidays, or political events such as royal victories or independence movements.
Some festivals are both cultural and religious, such as Diwali or the Hindu festival of lights. These are typical cases of glocalization, or the interrelationship between local cultures and religious traditions. In addition, some festivals celebrate natural or seasonal changes. This is particularly true for harvest festivals, which are often combined with religious commemorations and thanksgivings.
Other festivals are centered on a particular activity, such as a sports competition or a concert. The most famous examples are probably the Summer festivals of hip-hop dance theatre or the Berlin film festival. These festivals offer an escape from the everyday, a chance to express oneself creatively and interact with likeminded people.
Festivals can have a great impact on the economy, especially those that attract visitors from outside a region. They generate revenue from ticket sales, sponsorship and local commerce. In addition, they can also help to build community cohesion and a sense of belonging.
Moreover, festivals can teach kids the importance of family, tradition and values. They can also help kids develop a sense of appreciation, understanding and tolerance. Religious festivals such as Dussehra and Diwali teach kids that good virtues are essential to life and evil actions will be punished.
The Word Of The Week is a weekly feature that takes a look at a single word and explores its meaning, origin, history, usage and more. The word of the week is chosen by the team of Collins Dictionary authors and is accompanied by a selection of related content such as articles, quotes, videos and more.
You can follow the discussion on this topic by using the hashtag #wordoftheweek on Twitter or Instagram.
Do you have a question about language that you would like to see us investigate? Contact our editorial team at [email protected] or tweet us @ClintDictionary.
This article was originally published on January 2022. It has been updated.
The editors at Merriam-Webster take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information. This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. If you need legal or medical advice, please consult a qualified attorney or physician.
The definitions of festival and festive are similar, but they are different when used as adjectives. Festive refers to having the atmosphere or decoration of a festival, holiday or celebration and festival refers to an event or community gathering that centers on some theme.