Festival: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Village Feast Fac simile of a Woodcut of the Sandrin ou Verd Galant facetious Work of the End of the Sixteenth Century edition of 1609.png|right|thumb|upright= 1.35|Village Feast. Facsimile of a woodcut of the ''Sandrin ou Verd Galant'', facetious work end of 16th century (edition of 1609)]]

[[File:NavigiumIsidis.jpg|thumb|upright = 1.25|''Procession in Honor of Isis'' depiction of the Egyptian Navigium Isidis festival by [[Frederick Arthur Bridgman]] (1902) ]]

A '''festival''' or '''gala''' is an event ordinarily staged by a [[community]], centering on and celebrating some unique aspect of that community and its [[traditions]], often marked as a local or national [[holiday]], [[mela]] or [[eid]].

Festivals often serve to meet specific purposes, especially in regards to commemoration and/or thanksgiving. They are associated with [[Party|celebration]] and may also provide [[entertainment]], which was particularly important to local communities before the advent of mass-produced entertainment. These [[Party|celebration]]s offered a sense of belonging for [[religious]], social, or geographical groups. Festivals that focus on cultural or specifically ethnic topics also seek to inform members of their traditions and the involvement of community [[old age|elders]] sharing stories and experience provides a means for unity among [[family|families]].

A festival is a special occasion of feasting or celebration, usually with a religious focus. Aside from religion, and sometimes [[folklore]], another significant origin is [[agriculture|agricultural]]. Food (and consequently agriculture) is so vital that many festivals are associated with [[harvest]] time. Religious commemoration and thanksgiving for good harvests are blended in events that take place in [[autumn]] such as [[Halloween]] in the northern hemisphere and [[Easter]] in the southern.

In [[Ancient Greece]] and [[Ancient Rome|Rome]], festivals such as [[Saturnalia]] were closely associated with social organisation and political processes as well as religion.<ref name=Robertson>{{cite book|last=Robertson|first=Noel|title=Festivals and legends: the formation of Greek cities in the light of public ritual|year=1992|publisher=University of Toronto Press|location=Toronto|isbn=0802059880|edition=Repr.}}</ref><ref name=Brandt>{{cite book|last=Brandt|first=edited by J. Rasmus|title=Greek and Roman festivals : content, meaning, and practice|year=2012|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-969609-3|edition=1st ed.|coauthors=Iddeng, Jon W.}}</ref><ref name=Pickard-Cambridge>{{cite book|last=Pickard-Cambridge|first=Sir Arthur|title=The dramatic festivals of Athens|year=1953|publisher=At the Clarendon Press|location=Oxford|isbn=0198142587|edition=2nd ed.}}</ref> In modern times, festivals may be attended by strangers such as tourists, who are attracted to some of the more eccentric or historical ones.<ref name="Picard">{{cite book|last1=Picard|first1=David|last2=Robinson|first2=Mike|editor=David Picard and Mike Robinson|title=Festivals, Tourism and Social Change|year=2006|publisher=[[Channel View Publications]]|isbn=978-1-84541-267-8|pages=1–3|chapter=Remaking Worlds: Festivals, Tourism and Change}}</ref>

== Etymology ==

[[File:Een festival bij Anvers Alexander.jpg|thumb|upright= 1.10|A Festival at [[Antwerp]], 17th century]]

[[File:Ländliches Fest in Schwaben.jpg|thumb|upright= 1.10|Country Festival in [[Swabia]]]]

The word "festival" was originally used as an adjective from the late fourteenth century, deriving from [[Latin]] via [[Old French]].<ref name=oed1>"[http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/69567 festival, adj. and n.]". [[OED Online]]. March 2014. Oxford University Press. Accessed April 16, 2014.</ref> In [[Middle English]], a "festival dai" was a religious holiday.<ref>[http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/m/mec/med-idx?type=id&id=MED15806&egs=all festival (adj.)] at the [[Middle English Dictionary]]. Accessed April 16, 2014.</ref> Its first recorded used as a noun was in 1589 (as "Festifall").<ref name=oed1/> Feast first came into usage as a noun circa 1200,<ref>"[http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/68799 feast, n.]". [[OED Online]]. March 2014. Oxford University Press. Accessed April 16, 2014.</ref> and its first recorded use as a verb was circa 1300.<ref>"[http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/68800 feast, v.]". [[OED Online]]. March 2014. Oxford University Press. Accessed April 16, 2014.</ref> The term "feast" is also used in common [[secular]] [[idiom|parlance]] as a synonym for any large or elaborate [[meal]]. When used as in the meaning of a festival, most often refers to a [[religious festival]] rather than a film or art festival. In the [[Philippines]] and many other former Spanish colonies, the Spanish word '''fiesta''' is used to denote a communal religious feast to honor a [[patron saint]].

== Traditions ==

Many festivals have religious origins and entwine cultural and religious significance in traditional activities. The most important religious festivals such as [[Christmas]], [[Hanukkah]], [[Diwali]] and [[Eid al-Adha]] serve to mark out the year. Others, such as [[harvest festival]]s, celebrate seasonal change. Events of historical significance, such as important military victories or other nation-building events also provide the impetus for a festival. An early example is the festival established by [[Ancient Egypt]]ian Pharaoh [[Rameses III]] celebrating his victory over the Libyans.<ref name=Berrett>{{cite book|last=Berrett|first=LaMar C.|title=Discovering the world of the Bible|year=1996|publisher=Grandin Book Co.|location=Provo, Utah|isbn=0-910523-52-5|page=289|edition=3rd ed., rev.|coauthors=Ogden D. Kelly}}</ref> In many countries, royal holidays commemorate dynastic events just as agricultural holidays are about harvests. Festivals are often commemorated annually.

There are numerous [[Outline of festivals|types of festivals]] in the world and most countries celebrate important events or traditions with traditional cultural events and activities. Most culminate in the consumption of specially prepared food (showing the connection to "feasting") and they bring people together. Festivals are also strongly associated with national holidays. Lists of national festivals are published to make participation easier.<ref>See for example: [[List of festivals in Australia]]; [[List of festivals in Bangladesh|Bangladesh]]; [[List of festivals in Canada|Canada]]; [[Traditional Chinese holidays|China]]; [[List of festivals in Colombia|Colombia]]; [[List of festivals in Costa Rica|Costa Rica]]; [[List of festivals in Fiji|Fiji]]; [[Public holidays in India|India]]; [[List of festivals in Indonesia|Indonesia]]; [[List of festivals in Iran|Iran]]; [[List of festivals in Japan|Japan]]; [[List of festivals in Laos|Laos]]; [[List of festivals in Morocco|Morocco]]; [[List of festivals in Nepal|Nepal]]; [[List of festivals in Pakistan|Pakistan]]; [[List of festivals in the Philippines|Philippines]]; [[List of festivals in Romania|Romania]]; [[List of festivals in Tunisia|Tunisia]]; [[List of festivals in Turkey|Turkey]]; [[List of festivals in the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]]; [[List of festivals in the United States|United States]]; [[List of festivals in Vietnam|Vietnam]].

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=== Religious festivals ===

{{main|Religious festival}}

Among many [[religion]]s, a '''feast''' is a set of celebrations in honour of [[God]] or [[Polytheism|gods]].<ref name=Bleeker>Ancient Egyptian festivals could be either religious or political.{{cite book|last=Bleeker|first=C. J.|title=Egyptian festivals. Enactments of religious renewal|date=1967 [1968]|publisher=E. J. Brill|location=Leiden, The Netherlands}}</ref> A feast and a festival are historically interchangeable. Most religions have festivals that recur annually and some, such as [[Passover]], Easter and Eid al-Adha are [[moveable feast]]s - that is, those that are determined either by lunar or agricultural cycles or the calendar in use at the time. The [[Sed festival]], for example, celebrated the thirtieth year of am Egyptian [[pharaoh]]'s rule and then every three (or four in one case) years after that.<ref>{{cite web|title=Heb-Sed (Egyptian feast)|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/258986/Heb-Sed|work=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]|accessdate=16 April 2014}}</ref>

In the [[Christian]] [[liturgical calendar]] there are two principal feasts, properly known as the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord (Christmas) and the Feast of the Resurrection, (Easter). In the [[Catholic]], [[Eastern Orthodox]], and [[Anglican]] liturgical calendars there are a great number of lesser feasts throughout the year commemorating saints, sacred events or doctrines.

[[Buddhism|Buddhist]] religious festivals, such as [[Esala Perahera]] are held in Sri Lanka and Thailand.<ref name=Gerson>{{cite book|last=Gerson|first=Ruth|title=Traditional festivals in Thailand|year=1996|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Kuala Lumpur; New York|isbn=9676531111}}</ref> [[List of Sindhi festivals|Hindu festivals]], such as [[Holi]] are very ancient. The [[Sikh]] community celebrates the [[Vaisakhi]] festival marking the new year and birth of the [[Khalsa]].<ref name="Roy2005">{{cite book|last=Roy|first=Christian|title=Traditional Festivals, Vol. 2 &#91;M - Z&#93;: A Multicultural Encyclopedia|year=2005|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-57607-089-5|page=480|chapter=Sikh Vaisakhi: Anniversary of the Pure}}</ref>

{{Gallery

|title=Religious festivals

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|File:Golden Haggadah cleaning.jpg|Cleaning in preparation for [[Passover]] (c.1320)

|File:Radha celebrating Holi, c1788.jpg|Radha celebrating [[Holi]], Kangra, India (c1788)

|File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - A Christmas mass at the church of the holy Sepulchre, in Bethlehem (1).jpg|A [[Christmas]] mass at the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]], in [[Bethlehem]], Israel (1979)

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===Arts festivals===

{{main|Arts festival}}

Among the many offspring of general arts festivals are also more specific types of festivals, including ones that showcase intellectual or creative achievement such as [[science festival]]s, [[literary festival]]s and [[music festival]]s.<ref>See [[List of music festivals]].</ref> Sub-categories include [[comedy festival]]s, [[rock festival]]s, [[List of jazz festivals|jazz festivals]] and [[buskers festival]]s; [[poetry]] festivals,<ref>Some such as such as [[Cúirt International Festival of Literature]] started as a poetry festival and then broadened in scope.</ref> [[theatre festival]]s, and [[storytelling festival]]s; and re-enactment festivals such as [[Renaissance fair]]s.

[[Film festival]]s involve the screenings of several different films, and are usually held annually. Some of the most significant film festivals include the [[Berlin International Film Festival]], the [[Venice Film Festival]] and the [[Cannes Film Festival]].

{{Gallery

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|File:RIAN archive 100588 All-Union Pushkin Poetry Festival.jpg|[[Alexander Pushkin|Pushkin]] Poetry Festival, Russia

|File:Plage du Martinez.jpg|Television studio at the Hôtel Martinez during the [[Cannes Film Festival]], France (2006)

|File:Swami opening.jpg|The opening ceremony at the [[Woodstock]] [[rock festival]], USA (1969)

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=== Food and drink festivals ===

{{main|Food festival}}

A food festival is an event celebrating food or drink. These often highlight the output of producers from a certain region. Some food festivals are focused on a particular item of food, such as the [[National Peanut Festival]] in the United States, or the [[Galway International Oyster Festival]] in Ireland. There are also specific beverage festivals, such as the famous [[Oktoberfest]] in Germany for [[Beer festival|beer]]. Many countries hold festivals to celebrate [[wine festival|wine]]. One example is the global celebration of the arrival of [[Beaujolais nouveau]], which involves shipping the new wine around the world for its release date on the third Thursday of November each year.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hyslop|first=Leah|title=Beaujolais Nouveau day: 10 facts about the wine|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/wine/10465236/Beaujolais-Nouveau-day-10-facts-about-the-wine.html|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=21 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="Haine2006">{{cite book|last=Haine|first=W. Scott|title=Culture and Customs of France|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=qCf6aOTZsuYC&pg=PA103|year=2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-32892-3|page=103}}</ref> Both Beaujolais nouveau and the Japanese rice wine [[sake]] are associated with harvest time.

{{Gallery

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|File:SowetoWineFestival.JPG|[[Soweto]] Wine Festival, South Africa (2009)

|File:La Tomatina (25.08.2010) - Spain, Buñol 30.jpg|[[La Tomatina]], Spain (2010)

|File:031 Trachtenumzug Bierwagen Hofbraeu.JPG|Beer horse cart from the Hofbräuhaus brewery at [[Oktoberfest]] Germany (2013)

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=== Seasonal and harvest festivals ===

Seasonal festivals, such as [[Beltane]] are determined by the [[solar calendar|solar]] and the [[lunar calendar]]s and by the cycle of the [[season]]s, especially because of its affect food effect on food supply, as a result of which there is a wide range of ancient and modern [[List of harvest festivals|harvest festivals]]. Ancient Egyptians relied upon the seasonal [[inundation]] caused by the [[Nile River]], a form of [[irrigation]], which provided fertile land for crops.<ref name="Bunson">{{cite book|last=Bunson|first=Margaret|title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=-6EJ0G-4jyoC&pg=PA277|year=2009|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1-4381-0997-8|page=278|chapter=Nile festivals}}</ref> In the [[Alps]], in autumn the return of the cattle from the mountain [[pasture]]s to the stables in the valley is celebrated as ''[[Almabtrieb]]''. A recognized winter festival, the [[Chinese New Year]], is set by the lunar calendar, and celebrated from the day of the second new moon after the [[Dongzhi (solar term)|winter solstice]]. [[Dree Festival]] of the Apatanis living in Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh is celebrated every year from July 4 to 7 by praying for a bumper crop harvest.<ref name="GoAP PR">{{cite web|url=http://arunachalpradesh.nic.in/press/04-05/050704a.htm|title=Press release – Dree festival|date=5 July 2004|publisher=Directorate of Information, Govt of Arunachal Pradesh|accessdate=2009-07-13}}</ref>

[[Midsummer]] or St John's Day, is an example of a seasonal festival, related to the [[feast day]] of a Christian saint as well as a celebration of the time of the [[summer solstice]] in the northern hemisphere, where it is particularly important in Sweden. [[Winter carnival]]s also provide the opportunity to utilise to celebrate creative or sporting activities requiring snow and ice.

{{Gallery

|title=Seasonal and harvest festivals

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|File:Midsommardans av Anders Zorn 1897.jpg|Midsummer dance by [[Anders Zorn]] (1897)

|File:Grand Parade 3.jpg|Grand Parade at the [[Royal Easter Show]], [[Sydney]] (2009)

|File:Calabaza de Halloween.jpg|Halloween pumpkins show the close relationship between a harvest and religious festivals

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== See also ==

{{portal|Culture|Holidays}}

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* [[Procession]]

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== References ==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==

* {{cite book|title=Festival and events management: an international arts and culture perspective|year=2004|publisher=Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann|location=Amsterdam|isbn=9780750658720|edition=1st ed., repr.|editor=Ian Yeoman}}

==External links==

{{NIE Poster|year=1905|Festivals}}

* {{Commonscategory-inline|Festivals}}

* {{Wiktionary-inline|fest|Festival}}