Lemuria

Lemuria (festival)
en:Lemuria (disambiguation)

(historical) A religious feast of Ancient Rome during which rites were performed to exorcise the malevolent ghosts of the dead from their homes.


festival

en-adj

festival (comparative more festival, superlative most festival)

more festival (comparative)
most festival (superlative)
feastiuall (alternative obsolete)

From Middle English festival (adjective), from Old French festival (“festive”), from Late Latin fēstīvālis, from Latin fēstīvus (“festive”). Displaced native Old English frēols. The noun is shortened from festival day, from Middle English festival dai, festiuall day (“feast day, festival”).

the temple of the Gods […] / Whom all the people decke with girlands greene, / And honour in their festiuall resort […]

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

Pertaining to a feast or feast day; festive. (Now only as the noun used attributively.)


festival

en-noun

festival (countable and uncountable, plural festivals)

festivals (plural)
feastiuall (alternative obsolete)

All your males are to appear three times a year before the Lord your God in the place He chooses: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths. No one is to appear before the Lord empty-handed.

2009, “Deuteronomy 16:16”, in Holman Christian Standard Bible:

The Reading and Leeds festivals take place on the August bank holiday.

A Welsh eisteddfod is a literary festival.

An event or series of special events centred on the celebration or promotion of some theme or aspect of the community, often held at regular intervals.

(Caribbean, Jamaica, uncountable) Fried cornbread.


decennial

From Latin decennialis, from decennium (“10-year period”) + -ālis, from decennis (“10-year”) + -ium (“-ium”, suffix forming abstract nouns), from decem (“ten”) + annus (“year”) + -is (suffix forming compound adjectives).

Roman coins mentioning the vota publica for Macrinus are RIC IV.1 5–13; on vota publica for the decennials and vicennials of emperors in the 2nd and 3rd c. ad, see Chastagnol 1984.

2022, Martin Hallmannsecker, Roman Ionia..., p. 110

(historical) Synonym of decennalia, the festival and religious ritual held in the 10th year of a Roman emperor's reign.


Saturnalia

Saturn was an ancient Italian deity. It was attempted to identify him with the Grecian god Cronos, and fabled that after his dethronement by Jupiter he fled to Italy, where he reigned during what was called the Golden Age. In memory of his beneficent dominion, the feast of Saturnalia was held every year in the winter season.

1913, Thomas Bulfinch, chapter 1, in The Age of Fable:

(historical) An Ancient Roman holiday honoring the deity Saturn.


eisteddfod

eisteddfod (plural eisteddfods or eisteddfodau)

eisteddfods (plural)
eisteddfodau (plural)

Unadapted borrowing from Welsh eisteddfod (“session”), from eistedd (“to sit”) + bod (“to be”), literally “being sitting”.

affix

Any of several annual festivals in which Welsh poets, dancers, and musicians compete for recognition.


carnival

carnivals (plural)
carnaval (alternative obsolete)

→ Japanese: カーニバル (kānibaru)

From Middle French carnaval, from Italian carnevale, possibly from the Latin phrase carnem levāmen (“meat dismissal”). Other scholars suggest Latin carnuālia (“meat-based country feast”) or carrus nāvālis (“boat wagon; float”) instead. Doublet of carnaval.

Carnival of Brazil

Venice Carnival

Any of a number of festivals held just before the beginning of Lent.

antroxu

festival held just before the beginning of Lent

We all got to ride the merry-go-round when they brought their carnival to town.

When the carnival came to town, every one wanted some cotton candy.

(US) A traveling amusement park, called a funfair in British English.


carnival

en-verb

carnival (third-person singular simple present carnivals, present participle carnivalling or carnivaling, simple past and past participle carnivalled or carnivaled)

carnivals (present singular third-person)
carnivalling (participle present)
carnivaling (participle present)
carnivalled (participle past)
carnivalled (past)
carnivaled (participle past)
carnivaled (past)
carnaval (alternative obsolete)

The spot is a marvel of beauty and taste; and here, where dust and sun carnivaled for so many years, thousands of every class congregate to listen each evening to music discoursed for the amusement of oi polloi.

1870 July, “Life in the Mexican Capital”, in The Old Guard, volume VIII, number VII, [New York, N.Y.]: [C. Chauncey Burr & Co.], →ISSN, →OCLC, page 507:

Sitting in the Chevy, Saturday night on Main Street carnivaling around her, she told herself that she understood, that Ross had made a mistake, had pre-arranged this celebration for tonight and thought that his date with her was tomorrow.

1983, Alan Stratton, The Hunters, London, Sydney, N.S.W.: Futura, →ISBN, page 161:

A sudden bright white flash exploded before me. A kaleidoscope of silver lines drawn in rapid succession carnivalled in a blizzard of raging energy.

2007, Jonny Glynn, The Seven Days of Peter Crumb, New York, N.Y., […]: Harper Perennial, →ISBN, page 210:

(literary) To move about playfully or wildly.


fantasia

fantasias (plural)
phantasia (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-fantasia.wav

Borrowed from Italian fantasia (“imagination, fancy, fantasy; musical composition with improvisational characteristics”), from Latin phantasia (“fancy, fantasy; imagination”), borrowed from Ancient Greek φᾰντᾰσῐ́ᾱ (phăntăsĭ́ā, “appearance, look; display, presentation; pageantry, pomp; impression, perception; image”), from φᾰ́ντᾰσῐς (phắntăsĭs) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā, suffix forming feminine abstract nouns). Φᾰ́ντᾰσῐς (Phắntăsĭs) is derived from φᾰντᾰ́ζω (phăntắzō, “to make visible, show; to become visible, appear; to imagine”), from φαίνω (phaínō, “to appear; to reveal; to shine”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to shine”). The English word is a doublet of fancy, fantasy, phantasia, and phantasy.

doublet

As for the wonderful feats of horsemanship one hears of or sees among the Arabs, they are due to sharp spurs like razors, and to bits strong enough to break an animal's jaw. […] The favourite feat at their fantasias or fêtes of suddenly pulling up their horses short while at a hand-gallop, ruins their legs, and there is in consequence scarcely a horse to be seen whose hind-legs are not spavined.

1868, Mrs. H. Lloyd Evans, “Across the Atlas”, in Last Winter in Algeria, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 100:

These fantasias consist of sham fights, the men riding at full gallop at one another, and firing as they pass; the play might have ended more seriously than was intended, for one Spahi had unknowingly a ball in his rifle, which whizzed close to his enemy's head, but the man never winced, or took any more notice than if it had been blank cartridge, and the fantasia continued as before.

1875 February, “Biskra, in French Algeria, on the Verge of Sahara”, in Frank Leslie’s Pleasant Hours. Devoted to Light and Entertaining Literature, volume XVIII, number I, New York, N.Y.: Frank Leslie […], →OCLC, page 218, column 2:

Everyone was enjoying himself. Political differences seemed to be forgotten. The King was smarter than anyone realized. Bang! Bang! Bang! The fantasias went on and on, the Berber warriors in white, standing up in their silver stirrups on bay, gray, black, and chestnut stallions, firing their silver-chased rifles in perfect unison into the air. [...] The men cheered and the women ululated as each successful fantasia run was completed.

1976, Elizabeth Warnock Fernea, “The Feast of Accession to the Sultan’s Throne”, in A Street in Marrakech: A Personal View of Urban Women in Morocco, Long Grove, Ill.: Waveland Press, published 1988, →ISBN, part II, page 223:

Mimi was keen to ride a berber horse and Said arranged a Fantasia especially for us – or was it for her? – with the best riders around Marrakech.

1990 April 30, “Sisley: Relaxed Elegance [advertisement]”, in Edward Kosner, editor, New York, volume 23, number 17, New York, N.Y.: News America Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 199:

However, in the last few years, the stud farms in Morocco and elsewhere in the world have rediscovered the qualities of the barb [Barbary horse], which, in Berber tradition, remains the king of the "fantasias", a festival that is also becoming fashionable once again.

2009 October, Laurent Roustan, “The Horse, Present since the Dawn of Time”, in Alphatrad Internationale, transl., Au Royaume du Cheval: Les Haras Nationaux du Maroc [In the Kingdom of the Horse: The National Studs of Morocco], Souyri, Aveyron, France: Editions Au fil du Temps, →ISBN:

A traditional festival of the inhabitants of the Maghreb (in northwest Africa) featuring exhibitions of horsemanship.


Eid al-Fitr

From Arabic عِيد اَلْفِطْر (ʕīd al-fiṭr, “Festival of Breaking the Fast”) in reference to the previous avoidance of food from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.

derived

عِيد اَلْفِطْر

'Eid al-Fitr (alternative)
'Eid ul-Fitr (alternative)
Eid ul-Fitr (alternative)
Id ul-Fitr (alternative)
Eid'l Fitr (alternative Philippines)

Eid ul-Fitr is one of the main celebrations in the Islamic calendar. […] Prior to Eid ul-Fitr celebrations people give an extra donation of food or money that is distributed to needy people so that no one will be without the means to celebrate the event. This donation is called Zakat ul-Fitr.

1998, Barbara DuMoulin, Sylvia Sikundar, Celebrating Our Cultures: Language Arts Activities for Classroom Teachers, Markham, Ont.: Pembroke Publishers, →ISBN, page 27:

At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate one of the most important Islamic holidays, Eid al-fitr. It is a one-day celebration after the last day of fasting. In the evening on the twenty-ninth day of Ramadan, we go out to see if the moon has appeared. If the moon is not seen, we fast one more day. If it is seen, the next day is Eid al-fitr. During Eid al-fitr, we visit friends and family and have people over to our houses. It is a very happy and special holiday for children.

2003, Aisha Karen Khan, What You Will See Inside a Mosque, Woodstock, Vt.: SkyLight Paths Publishing, →ISBN, page 20:

At the end of Ramadan, there is an exuberant celebration called Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Fast-Breaking. […] Eid al-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal, the month that follows Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. In the morning, Muslims gather early in outdoor locations or mosques to perform the Eid prayer, which is a short congregational prayer followed by a sermon. After the sermon is finished, everyone leaves to visit family and friends. It is common to bring gifts, especially to children. The celebration can last as long as three days.

2015, Kathleen Tracy, Islamic Culture in the Middle East in Perspective (World Cultures in Perspective), Hockessin, De.: Mitchell Lane Publishers, Inc., →ISBN, page 27:

(Islam) The religious celebration at the end of Ramadan, on the first day of the tenth month of the Muslim lunar calendar.


Eid al-Adha

From Arabic عِيد اَلْأَضْحَى (ʕīd al-ʔaḍḥā).

bor

عِيد اَلْأَضْحَى

Arabic عِيد اَلْأَضْحَى (ʕīd al-ʔaḍḥā)

'Eid ul-Adha (alternative)
Eid ul-Adha (alternative)
'Eid al-Adha (alternative)
Eid'l Adha (alternative Philippines)

An Islamic festival commemorating the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail to Allah.

عِيد اَلْأَضْحَى

ʕīd al-ʔaḍḥā


quinquennial

Borrowed from Latin quīnquenniālis, from quīnquennium (“5-year period”) + -ālis, from quīnquennis (“5-year”) + -ium (“-ium: forming abstract nouns”), from quīnque (“five”) + annus (“year”) + -is (suffix forming compound adjectives).

(historical) Synonym of quinquennalia, the festival and religious ritual held in the 5th year of a Roman emperor's reign.


harvest festival

en-noun

harvest festival (plural harvest festivals)

Harvest Festival
Harvest Festival#English

Alternative letter-case form of Harvest Festival, a British harvest festival.


Harvest Festival

Harvest Festival (plural Harvest Festivals)

Harvest Festivals (plural)
harvest festival (alternative)

(UK) church festival celebrating the harvest, held at the end of September or the beginning of October


Oktoberfest

Oktoberfests (plural)
Octoberfest (alternative)

These Oktoberfests always resulted in bitter physical complaints, (“My liver is swelled to the thickness of seven inches, and I have spiders in my urine”), but they served for him the same peculiar function that all-night country-club gin parties were serving elsewhere.

1951, William Manchester, Disturber of the Peace: The Life of H. L. Mencken, page 143:

Joe Rogers writes that he and Jean are headed for Germany and are quite pleased with the prospect. They must have heard about these Oktoberfests.

This includes interpreters for many of the world’s languages and 50 dirndl-clad waitresses versed in the intricacies of serving at Munich Oktoberfests.

A two-week public festival in Munich (Bavaria, southern Germany), held yearly in late September and early October, known especially for the large party tents in which revellers consume beer on long benches.


vicennial

From vicennium + -al or directly from Latin vīcenniālis, from vīcennium (“20-year span”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjective-forming suffix), from vīcennis (“20-year”) + -ium (“-ium”, suffix forming abstract nouns), from vīciēs (“20 times”) + annus (“year”) + -is (suffix forming compound adjectives). Equivalent to vice- (“twenty”) + -ennial.

The feast of Constantine's vicennials fell on the 25th of July this year: it was the commencement of the twentieth year of his reign. It is supposed, that to avoid interrupting affairs or greater moment, this ceremony was deferred till the end of the council, which broke up the 25th of August.

1776, Charles le Beau, The History of Constantine the Great, page 267:

Roman coins mentioning the vota publica for Macrinus are RIC IV.1 5–13; on vota publica for the decennials and vicennials of emperors in the 2nd and 3rd c. ad, see Chastagnol 1984.

(historical) Synonym of vicennalia, the festival and religious ritual held in the 20th year of a Roman emperor's reign.


Spring Festival

Spring Festival (plural Spring Festivals)

A calque of Chinese 春節 /春节 (Chūnjié), the usual modern name for the holiday.

Although the Hui in the northwest do not celebrate the Han holidays of Zhongqiu, Qingming, or even Chun Jie (Spring Festival), the Hui in most of China's cities gladly participate.

2020, Dru C. Gladney, Muslim Chinese..., page 192:

Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year#English

(chiefly China) Synonym of Chinese New Year.


Eostre

A learned borrowing from Old English Ēostre, the Northumbrian variant of West Saxon Ēastre (“a word referring to "the rising dawn" to indicate the season of Spring”) and ēastre (“Easter”), from Proto-West Germanic *austrā, from Proto-Germanic *Austrǭ (“Easter, springtime”). Doublet of Easter.

der

There were also Nature deities, Hrede, the personification of the brightness of Summer, and Eostra, the radiant creature of the Dawn. It will be remembered that it was the worship, not of Balder, but of Eostra, which the Christian missionaries found so deeply imbedded that they adopted her name and transferred it to Easter.

1922, Eleanour Sinclair Rohde, The Old English Herbals, London: Longmans, Green and Co., page 3:

A hypothesised West Germanic goddess, supposedly of the spring season, but of uncertain provenance.


decennials

en-noun

decennials pl (normally plural, singular decennial)

(historical) Synonym of decennalia, the festivals and religious rituals held in the 10th year of a Roman emperor's reign.


Quinquatria

Quinquatrias (plural)
Quinquatrus (alternative)

An ancient Roman festival in honour of Minerva.


Chinese New Year

en-prop

Chinese New Year (plural Chinese New Years)

From Chinese + New Year, the latter component also matching the traditional name of the holiday, 新年 (xīnnián, “New Year”) = 新 (xīn, “new”) + 年 (nián, “year”).

An annual Chinese holiday, marking the beginning of the Lunar New Year according to the traditional Chinese calendar.


SXSW

From S (“south”) + X (“by”) + SW (“southwest”).

Initialism of South by Southwest: an annual festival held in Austin, Texas.


Dragon Boat Festival

Calque of Chinese 龍船節 /龙船节 (Lóngchuánjié) or 龍舟節 /龙舟节 (Lóngzhōujié), an alternative name for 端午節 /端午节 (Duānwǔjié) from the races traditionally held on that day in southern China, now popularly connected with the legend of townspeople racing to throw zongzi into the Miluo River to preserve the body of the Chu poet and statesman Qu Yuan.

calque

Behind the Dragon Boat Festival is the tragically heroic story of a famous Chinese poet and statesman of ancient times, Chu Yuan, who ended his life by jumping into a river. His reason: he was not able to save his country, which he saw heading toward destruction.

1977 June 19, T. K. Yang, “Dragon Boat Festival Honors famed statesman-poet”, in Free China Weekly, volume XVIII, number 24, Taipei, page 2:

In the folk tradition, rites, festivals, and myths began an early accretion around an apotheosized Ch'ü Yuan. The most famous of these, the Dragon Boat Festival (Tuan-wu chieh), takes place on the summer solstice, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, ostensibly to search for Ch'ü Yuan's body.

1988, Lyman P. Van Slyke, Yangtze: Nature, History and the River, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., →ISBN, page 137:

A Chinese holiday on Duanwu, the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar


correfoc

Borrowed from Catalan correfoc (literally “run [through] fire”).

bor

The correfoc (‘fire run’) is a frenzy of pyromania. Groups of horned devils dance through the streets, brandishing tridents that spout fireworks and generally flouting every safety rule in the book.

2013, Time Out Barcelona, 15th edition, Ebury Publishing, →ISBN:

Any of several forms of parade-like celebrations in Catalonia involving pyrotechnics in the middle of a crowd.


Schützenfest

A "marksmen's festival": a traditional festival or fair in Germany or Switzerland, featuring a target-shooting competition.


Mid-Autumn Festival

en-noun

Mid-Autumn Festival (plural Mid-Autumn Festivals)

A calque of Chinese 中秋節 /中秋节 (Zhōngqiūjié).

A harvest festival celebrated by ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese people, held on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar (between early September and early October).

(collective) The East Asian festivals originating, inspired, or co-opted from the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.


quinquennalia

quinquennalia (plural quinquennalia or quinquennalias)

quinquennalia (plural)
quinquennalias (plural)

From Latin quīnquennālia, from quīnquennium (“5-year period”) + -ālia (“-alia: forming the names of festivals”), from quīnquennis (“5-year”) + -ium (“-ium: forming abstract nouns”). Equivalent to quinquennium + -alia.

(historical) The festival and religious rituals sometimes observed celebrating a Roman emperor's 5th year of rule.


Twelfthtide

Twelfth tide (alternative)
Twelfth-tide (alternative)

Plough Monday, next after that Twelftide is past, / bids out with the plough, the woorst husband is last. / If ploughman get hatchet or whip to the skreene, / maides loseth their cock if no water be seene.

1580, Thomas Tusser, “The Ploughmans Feasting Daies”, in W[illiam H.] Payne, Sidney J[ohn Hervon] Herrtage, editors, Fiue Hundred Pointes of Good Husbandrie. … The Edition of 1580 Collated with those of 1573 and 1577. Together with a Reprint, from the Unique Copy in the British Museum, of “A Hundreth Good Pointes of Husbandrie,” 1557 (Series D., Miscellaneous; vol. 8, nr. 21), London: Printed for the English Dialect Society by Trübner & Co., 57 and 59, Ludgate Hill, published 1878, →OCLC, page 180:

The Earl of Shrewsbury to Sir John Talbot. […] Therefore I will propose all the ways that I can think of and desire your opinion which is the safest, whether by a coach that often passes by here in its way to London, but the inconvenience of that is that it goes no more till towards Twelfthtide, or else by my own horses either publicly or privately, or else post.

1678 December 14, Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, Report on the Manuscripts of the Duke of Bucculech & Queensberry, K.G., K.T., Preserved at Montagu House, Whitehall (Cd. 930), volume II, part 1 (The Shrewsbury Papers), London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office by Mackie & Co. Ld., published 1903, →OCLC, page 28:

The custom of eating twelfth cake, and especially of drawing for king and queen, on the Epiphany, or twelfth day, or twelfth tide, or old Christmas day (January 6), as it is variously termed, is antique. In the ancient Calendar of the Romish Church, is an observation on the fifth day of January, the vigil of the Epiphany, "Kings created or elected by beans;" and the sixth is called "The Festival of Kings," with the additional remark, "that the ceremony of electing kings was continued with feasting for many days."

1828 December 20, “Popular Superstitions. [Chapter II. The New Year.]”, in The Extractor; or Universal Repertorium of Literature, Science, and Arts: Comprehending, under One General Arrangement, the Whole of the Instructive and Amusing Articles from All the Reviews, Magazines, and Journals. The Whole Carefully Compiled, Digested, and Methodised, volume I, number VIII, London: Printed for the proprietor, and published at The Extractor Office, 150, Fleet Street, →OCLC, page 280:

The cost of the Revels at Christmas, New-year-tide, Twelfth-tide and Shrovetide, all falling within the four months from the end of October, 1573, to the beginning of March, 1573–4, was 672l. 14s. 2d.: it included the expenses of preparations, &c., for plays and masks (each mask having its torchbearers), a list of which, as performed at Christmas, New-year-tide, and Twelfth-tide, is given as follows, in the account of the Office of the Auditors of the Imprest.

1831, J[ohn] Payne Collier, “Annals of the Stage, from the Year 1558 to the Year 1575”, in The History of English Dramatic Poetry to the Time of Shakespeare: and Annals of the Stage to the Restoration, volume I, London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, →OCLC, page 207:

SUPERNATURAL BEINGS OF TWELFTHTIDE. In the greater part of the north of Germany the belief is not yet wholly defunct, particularly among the peasantry, of the wandering of certain supernatural beings during the twelve days of Christmas; […]

1852, “North German Customs and Superstitions”, in Benjamin Thorpe, compiler, Northern Mythology, Comprising the Principal Popular Traditions and Superstitions of Scandinavia, North Germany and the Netherlands. Compiled from Original and Other Sources, … In Three Volumes, volumes III (North German and Netherlandish Popular Traditions and Superstitions), London: Edward Lumley, Southampton Street, Bloomsbury Square, →OCLC, page 153:

[T]he highlight of medieval Twelfthtide festivities was the food, where a variety of meats, sweets, and drinks were served.

2010, Michele Sinclair, chapter 4, in The Christmas Knight (Zebra Historical Romance), New York, N.Y.: Zebra Books, →ISBN:

Vevčani has held a Twelfthtide carnival on 13 and 14 January every year since the middle of the 6th century. The 12 days after Christmas, which in the Orthodox calendar is on 7 January, are meant to be a time when evil spirits are at their most active with regards to wreaking havoc on the coming year.

2012 May, Thammy Evans, “Pelagonia, Prespa and Pelister”, in Macedonia: The Bradt Travel Guide, 4th edition, Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire: Bradt Travel Guides, →ISBN, page 200:

(archaic or obsolete) The season including Epiphany (the twelfth day after Christmas) and the evening of the preceding day (Twelfth Night), regarded as the end of the Christmas season; Epiphany itself.


Dionysia

From Ancient Greek Διονῡ́σια n pl (Dionū́sia), from Διόνῡσος (Diónūsos, “Dionysus”).

der

The greater Dionysia were held at Athens in March or April, and were celebrated with elaborate performances of tragedies and comedies.

(historical) Any of the ancient festivals held in honour of the Olympian god Dionysus, and corresponding to the Roman Bacchanalia.


Terminalia

(historical) In Ancient Rome, a festival to Terminus, the god of boundaries.


Vijayadashami

Borrowed from Sanskrit विजयादशमी (vijayādaśamī), from विजय (vijaya) + दशमी (daśamī, “tenth”).

(Hinduism) A Hindu festival marking the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.


Quinquatrian

en-adj

Quinquatrian (comparative more Quinquatrian, superlative most Quinquatrian)

more Quinquatrian (comparative)
most Quinquatrian (superlative)

the great Quinquatrian feast


Tanabata

An annual Japanese festival, starting on 7 July, celebrating the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair), said to be separated at other times by the Milky Way.


Panathenaea

/ˌpænˌæ.θəˈni.ə/

Learned borrowing from Latin Panathēnaea, and from its etymon Ancient Greek Πᾰνᾰθήναιᾰ (Pănăthḗnaiă), a noun use of the neuter plural of Παναθηναῖος (Panathēnaîos, “Panathenian”) (in Παναθήναια ἱερᾰ́ (Panathḗnaia hierắ, “Panathenian solemnities”)), from πᾰν- (păn-, prefix meaning ‘all; every’) + Ἀθηναῖος (Athēnaîos, “of or relating to Athens, Athenian”) + -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā, suffix forming feminine abstract nouns). Ἀθηναῖος (Athēnaîos) is derived from either Ἀθῆναι (Athênai, “Athens”) or Ᾰ̓θήνη (Ăthḗnē, “Athena, patron goddess of Athens”) + -ῐος (-ĭos, suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives).

ref

From the collection of the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

lbor

VVhen Panathænea vvere celebrated at Athens, an olde man gooing to take a place vvas mockingly reiected, at the laſt comming among the Lacedemonians all the youth gaue him place, vvhich yͤ Athenians liked vvell off, then one of the Sparthans cryed out: Uerily yͤ Athenians knovv vvhat ſhould be done, but they neuer doe it.

[1578], Iohn Lylly [i.e., John Lyly], “Euphues and His Ephæbus. [Of the Education of Youth.]”, in Euphues. The Anatomy of Wyt. […], London: […] [Thomas East] for Gabriell Cawood, […], →OCLC, folio 57, verso:

Panathenæa. A ſolemnity held at Athens: vvherein the vvhole city men, vvomen and children vvere aſſembled. And ſuch games, dances and plaies as vvere then exhibited; or vvhat orations vvere then and there made, they called Panathenaik.

[1603, Plutarch, “[https://books.google.com/books?id=xMdjAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP645 [An Explanation of Sundry Hard Words and Obscure Terms, in this Translation of Plutarch, […].] Panathenæa]”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC, page 645:

Ion.— […] [T]here were contests in every species of music. […] I bore away the first prize at the games, O Socrates. / Socrates.—Well done! You have now only to consider how you shall win the Panathenæa.

a. 1823 (date written), Plato, “[Essays, Letters from Abroad, Translations and Fragments] Ion; or, Of the Iliad; Translated from Plato”, in Percy Bysshe Shelley, transl., edited by [Mary Wollstonecraft] Shelley, The Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, new edition, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 67, column 1:

(Ancient Greece, historical) A festival formerly held annually in Athens to honour the city's patron goddess Athena, involving animal sacrifices, a grand procession, and, every fourth year, athletic and musical contests.

Panathenaia

festival formerly held annually in Athens to honour the city’s patron goddess Athena


Qingming

From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese 清明 (Qīngmíng, literally “Pure & Bright”).

bor

Chingming (alternative)
Ching Ming (alternative)
Ching-ming (alternative)
Ch'ing-ming (alternative)
Ch'ing Ming (alternative)
Qing Ming (alternative)
Tsing Ming (alternative)

Tomb Sweeping Day
Tomb Sweeping Day#English

(chiefly China) Synonym of Tomb Sweeping Day, a Chinese holiday observed on that day.


Qingming Festival

the Qingming Festival (canonical)
Chingming Festival (alternative)
Ching Ming Festival (alternative)
Ching-ming Festival (alternative)
Feast of Tsing Ming (alternative)
Qing Ming Festival (alternative)

A partial calque of Mandarin 清明節 /清明节 (Qīngmíngjié), using the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese 清明 (Qīngmíng, “Pure & Bright”), the solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar on which the holiday is celebrated. Doublet of Pure Brightness Festival.

partial calque

Chinese lunisolar calendar
Qingming Festival


Pure Brightness Festival

A calque of Chinese 清明節 /清明节 (Qīngmíngjié), from 清明 (Qīngmíng, “Pure & Bright”), one of the 24 solar terms of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. Doublet of Qingming Festival.


Onam

A harvest festival celebrated in Kerala, India.


Sweet Festival

Synonym of Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan.


Vertumnalia

An Ancient Roman festival in honour of Vertumnus, held on 13 August.


quindene

From Medieval Latin quindena, from Latin quīndēnī (“15 each”), from the distributive form of quīndecim (“15”). It is used for a period of 14 days owing to the Roman and medieval practice of counting inclusively.

(chiefly Christianity) The 14th day after a festival.


Thingyan

/ˈθɪnd͡ʒɑːn/

Borrowed from Burmese သင်္ကြန် (sangkran), from Sanskrit संक्रान्ति (saṃkrānti, “passage of the sun from one celestial position to another”).

der

The Burmese New Year festival, celebrated from 13 to 16 April.


Vulcanalia

The Ancient Roman festival of the god Vulcan, celebrated on August 23, during which live fish or small animals were thrown into bonfires as a sacrifice.


Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Melas (plural)
Kumbha Mela (alternative)

Borrowed from Hindustani کُن٘بھ میلَہ (kuṉbh mela) / कुंभ मेला (kumbh melā). Related to kumbha and mela.

Kumbh Mela (The Pot Fair) is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage and a religious festival where millions of sadhus, pilgrims, and devotees come for historical ritual bathing at four sites on the banks of Rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari and Shipra, considered sacrad.

2005, Kartar Sing hBhalla, Let's Know Festivals of India, →ISBN, page 7:

Kumbh Mela is the single largest religious congregation or, in fact, human gathering of any kind on Earth.

2010, Badri Narain, Kedar Narain, Christopher N. Burchett, Kumbh Mela and the Sadhus: The Quest for Immortality, →ISBN:

Once every twelve years a great Kumbh Mela takes place, when the propitious timing is amplified many thousands of times over. And, in keeping with the lunar cycles, every twelfth great Kumbh Mela is the 'Maha' -- held ever 144 years.

2013, Tahir Shah, Three Essays: Cannibalism, The Kumbh Mela, The Legacy of Arab Science, →ISBN:

Kumbh Melas are held every 12 years. The last Haridwar Kumbh Mela was held in 2010.

2021 April 20, Shuddhabrata Sengupta, “Kumbh 2021: Astrology, Mortality and the Indifference to Life of Leaders and Stars”, in The Wire, archived from the original on 2021-01-09:

A Hindu festival, held every twelve years at four locations in India, at which pilgrims bathe in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers for purification from sin.


Ghost Festival

A traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival in Asia, when ghosts and spirits are said to emerge from the lower realm, and deceased ancestors are venerated.


Lantern Festival

en-noun

the Lantern Festival (plural Lantern Festivals)

the Lantern Festival (canonical)
Lantern Festivals (plural)

From the carrying and displaying of lanterns during such festivals.

A festival marking the end of the Chinese New Year period, celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the Chinese calendar when the first full moon of the year is seen (in February or early March).


Raya

I will be back home for Raya.

Raya traffic jams, Raya makeover

Hari Raya Aidilfitri
Hari Raya Aidilfitri#English

(Malaysia, informal) Ellipsis of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim festival that marks the end of the Ramadan fast.


Double Ninth Festival

Double Ninth Festival (plural Double Ninth Festivals)

Before the double ninth festival [ninth day of ninth lunar month], Hsiangfen County, Shansi Province, saw a promising year--the output of all autumn grain crops increased 10 percent.

1978 October 24 [1978 October 15], Ma Ho-ching, “Shansi Commune Rejects County Directive, Earns Greater Income”, in Daily Report: People's Republic of China, volume I, number 206, Foreign Broadcast Information Service, sourced from Peking NCNA Domestic Service, translation of original in Chinese, →ISSN, →OCLC, People's Republic of China: North Region, page K 3:

A traditional Chinese holiday falling on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar.


Twelfth Day

From the fact that Epiphany is the twelfth day after Christmas Day.

A Sermon preached by Maiſter Hugh Latimer on Tvvelfth day, at Grimſtrope. Anno. 1553.

1607, Hugh Latimer, “A Sermon Preached by Maister Hugh Latimer on Tvvelfth Day, at Grimstrope. Anno. 1553.”, in Fruitfull Sermons Preached by the Right Reuerend Father, and Constant Martyr of Iesus Christ, M. Hvgh Latimer, Newly Imprinted with Others not heeretofore set forth in Print, to the Edefying of All which will Dispose Themselues to the Reading of the Same. Seene and Allowed according to the Order Appointed in the Kings Maiestes Iniunctions, London: Printed [by William Jaggard] for the Company of Stationers, →OCLC, chapter title, page 290:

A Preſbyter of the Church of England has long officiated in a Meeting Houſe of this ſeceding deſcription, in London; but that is not all, he ordains too: […] But I would ſay both to the ordainer and the ordained, by what authority doſt thou theſe things, and who gave thee this authorty? […] [A]s to any legality to be derived from ſuch pretended orders, without the permiſſion I have alluded to, thoſe who draw Kings and Queens over a twelfth-day cake, have as good claims to the Crown of England!

1799, Edward Barry, The Friendly Call of Truth and Reason to a New Species of Dissenters, Reading, Berkshire: Printed for the author, and sold by Elmsley & Bremner, in the Strand, London; Smart & Cowslade, Reading, & all other booksellers, →OCLC, footnote, pages 12–13:

The Epiphany is called Twelfth Day, because it falls on the twelfth day after Christmas Day. Epiphany signifies Manifestation, and is applied to this day because it is the day whereon Christ was manifested to the Gentiles.

1828, William Pulleyn, “Section X. Eras, Months, Weeks, Days, &c.”, in The Etymological Compendium, or Portfolio of Origins and Inventions; …, London: Printed for Thomas Tegg, 73, Cheapside; Glasgow: R. Griffin and Co.; Dublin: J. Cumming, →OCLC, page 185:

It is indeed remarkable that the twelfth day nearly coincides in the time of the year with the Saturnalia; and Fosbrooke even finds that the king of the Saturnalia was elected, like the king of the twelfth night, by a bean. […] As all the various customs of different countries on this day concur in the common object of commemorating the visit of the three wise men, or kings, to the birthplace of Christ, a king is in some way or other always a conspicuous personage in the entertainments which take place. In France, previously to the revolution, this mode of celebrating twelfth day prevailed as well at court as among the people in general. At the former, one of the nobles was chosen king, and at the entertainment which followed, the twelfth-day monarch was attended by the king and courtiers.

1847, Robert Sears, “France”, in Scenes and Sketches in Continental Europe: Embracing Descriptions of France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Sicily, Switzerland, Belgium, and Holland, together with Interesting Notices of Their Principal Cities and Towns. Carefully Prepared from the Best and Latest Sources, New York, N.Y.: Published by Robert Sears, 128 Nassau Street; J. S. Redfield, Clinton Hall, →OCLC, page 38:

[W]e fell into a discussion upon the merits of those family meetings which this season brought with it; and it was agreed that the celebration of Christmas, of New Year's and Twelfth-days, the birthday and saint's day of the head of the family, and other festivals, were favourable to the maintenance of domestic harmony, and were therefore worthy of being preserved.

1855, Duchess D'Abrantes (Madame Junot), chapter LXXVII, in Memoirs of Napoleon, His Court and Family. … In Two Volumes, volume I, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton and Company, 346 & 348 Broadway, →OCLC, page 533:

[…] Epiphany is a Christian feast, also known as Twelfth Day, as it is the twelfth day after Christmas. Traditionally, this coincides with the visit of the Magi. The day is marked by feasting and celebration.

2008, Susan Wiggs, “Epiphany”, in Snowfall at Willow Lake (The Lakeshore Chronicles; 4), Don Mills, Ont.: Mira Books, →ISBN:

(Christianity) Synonym of Epiphany (“an annual Christian feast on the twelfth day after Christmas Day (6 January) celebrating the appearance of Jesus Christ to the Magi”).


Regifugium

From Latin [Term?], literally "Flight of the King".

(historical) An annual festival on February 24 in Ancient Rome, commemorating the expulsion of the last king of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus, in 510 BC.


Fugalia

Synonym of Regifugium (“ancient festival”).


rushbearing

rushbearings (plural)
rush-bearing (alternative)

(historical) A rural festival when the parish church was strewn with rushes, between haymaking and harvest.


Anthesteria

From Ancient Greek Ἀνθεστήρια (Anthestḗria).

a Dionysian flower festival in ancient Athens


Punkie Night

From punkie (“lantern similar to a jack-o’-lantern”) + night.

(South West England, chiefly Somerset) A night near the end of October, related to Halloween, observed in parts of South West England by the displaying of punkies (“lanterns similar to jack-o'-lanterns”), and traditionally by children begging for candles for their punkies and threatening people who refuse their requests.


Coachella

/koʊˈt͡ʃɛlə/

Coined in 1901 as the name of the city in California; origin unknown, but perhaps a misspelling of Spanish conchilla (“little shell”).

Riverside County
Riverside County#English

A city in Riverside County, California, United States.


Dashain

(Hinduism) The Nepali version of the Vijayadashami festival.


Kaapse Klopse

Directly borrowed from Afrikaans Kaapse Klopse.

A minstrel festival held in the Western Cape on the 2nd of January every year, in which Cape Coloured minstrels dress in bright colours, accompanied by instruments.


Zhongyuan

From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese 中元節 /中元节 (Zhōngyuánjié), from 中元 (Zhōngyuán, “central & fundamental”), a name for the 15th day of the 7th month of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, on which the festival is celebrated.

/ˈd͡ʒɔŋ.juˌɑn/


Laba

From Laba Festival, a partial calque of the Mandarin form of Chinese 臘八節 /腊八节 (Làbājié), q.v.


Apaturia

From Ancient Greek Ἀπατούρια (Apatoúria).

(historical) Ancient Greek festivals held annually by most of the Ionian towns, with banqueting, discussions, etc.


Qixi

/ˈt͡ʃiːˌʃiː/

From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese 七夕 (Qīxī, “Night of the Sevens”).

bor

A Chinese festival celebrating the mythological annual meeting of Zhinü and Niulang, held on the seventh day of the seventh Chinese lunisolar month.


Chinese Valentine's Day

From a supposed similarity of the Chinese festival with the European observances around Valentine's Day.


tshechu

From Dzongkha ཚེས་བཅུ (tshes bcu, literally “day ten”).

Any of the annual religious festivals held in each district or dzongkhag of Bhutan on the tenth day of a month of the lunar Tibetan calendar.


Chung Yeung Festival

A partial calque of Cantonese 重陽節 /重阳节 (cung⁴ joeng⁴ zit³), from Chinese 重陽 /重阳 (Chóngyáng, “Doubled Yang”), a traditional name for the date of its occurrence, the 9th day of the 9th month in the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar.

der

Double Ninth Festival
Double Ninth Festival#English

(Hong Kong) Synonym of Double Ninth Festival.


Chunjie

Chunjies (plural)
Chun Jie (alternative)

/ˈtʃʊnˌdʒiːə/

From the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of the Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese 春節 /春节 (Chūnjié, “Spring Festival”).

bor

(chiefly China) Synonym of Chinese New Year.


Makar Sankranti

en-noun

Makar Sankranti (plural Makar Sankrantis)

Borrowed from Hindi मकर संक्रांति (makar saṅkrānti).

bor+

मकर संक्रांति

A Hindu harvest festival, usually observed in 15 January, marking the first day of the Sun's transit into Capricorn.


Poush Sankranti

en-noun

Poush Sankranti (plural Poush Sankrantis)

Borrowed from Bengali পৌষ সংক্রান্তি (pōuś śoṅkranti).

bor+

পৌষ সংক্রান্তি

A Bengali harvest festival, observed in 14 January (29 Poush), marking the first day of the Sun's transit into Capricorn.


Magh Bihu

Borrowed from Assamese মাঘ বিহু (magh bihu).

An Assamese harvest festival, observed in 14 January (29 Puh), marking the first day of the Sun's transit into Capricorn.


Da Jiu Festival

(Hong Kong) A Taoist ritual and festival for requesting peace and harmony in a locality.


Tuen Ng Festival

Partial calque of Cantonese 端午節 /端午节 (dyun¹ ng⁵ zit³), from Chinese 端午 (Duānwǔ, “Opening of the Seventh”), one name for the day of the festival in the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. Doublet of Duanwu Festival.

der

Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon Boat Festival#English

(Hong Kong) Synonym of Dragon Boat Festival.


vicennals

From Latin vīcennālia, from vīcennis (“20-year”) + -ālia (“-alia: forming festival names”), from vīciēs (“twenty times”) + annus (“year”) + -is (“forming compound adjectives”).

(historical, rare) Synonym of vicennalia: the festival and religious ritual held on the 20th anniversary of a Roman emperor's reign.


vicennalia

en-noun

vicennalia (plural vicennalia or vicennalias)

vicennalia (plural)
vicennalias (plural)
Vicennalia (alternative)

From Latin vīcennālia, from vīcennium (“20-year period”) + -ālia (“-alia: forming the names of festivals”), from vicennis (“20-year”) + -ium (“forming abstract nouns”), from vīciēs (“twenty each”) + annus (“year”) + -is (“forming compound adjectives”). Equivalent to vicennium + -alia.

Apart from the Vicennalia, 136 was an eventful year for the imperial family: the serious illness of Hadrian in the spring, the adoption of Aelius in the summer and the death and consecration of Sabina at the end of the year.

1971, P.V. Hill, "The Dating and Arrangement of Hadrian's COS III", Mints, Dies and Currency, p. 52

The exact timing of the tenth and twentieth anniversaries, the decennalia and the vicennalia, has already been discussed at length. The most straightforward solution, that it took place on the emperor's dies imperii ten years after the accession, has its adherents. However, a date earlier in the year, perhaps even the day of the beginning of the tenth year, may also be considered—at least in the second century AD.

2005, Jakob Munk Højte, Roman Imperial Statue Bases from Augustus to Commodus, p. 157

As a chronological list of Roman emperors makes clear, several rulers reign long enough to enjoy their decennalia, but relatively few were fortunate enough to celebrate their vicennalia, their twentieth imperial anniversary; and from the second century onwards Constantine alone ruled long enough to celebrate a tricennalia.

2012, Gary Forsythe, "Magna Mater and the Taurobolium", Time in Roman Religion, p. 111

(historical) The festival and religious rituals celebrating a Roman emperor's 20th year of rule.


decennalia

decennalia (plural decennalia or decennalias)

decennalia (plural)
decennalias (plural)
Decennalia (alternative)

From Latin decennālia, from decennium (“10-year period”) + -ālia (“-alia: forming the names of festivals”), from decennis (“10-year”) + -ium (“-ium: forming abstract nouns”). Equivalent to decennium + -alia.

Seven pieces celebrate the Decennalia of Arcadius, which were due on Jan. 15, 393.

1915, Arthur Evans, "Notes on the Coinage and Silver Currency in Roman Britain from Valentinian I to Constantine III", Numismatic Chronicle..., 4th Ser., Vol. 15, p. 436

(historical) The festival and religious rituals celebrating a Roman emperor's 10th year of rule.

Antoninus Pius
Julian the Apostate
decennalia


tricennalia

tricennalia (plural tricennalia or tricennalias)

tricennalia (plural)
tricennalias (plural)
Tricennalia (alternative)

From Latin trīcennālia, from trīcennium (“30-year period”) + -ālia (“-alia: forming the names of festivals”), from trīcennis (“30-year”) + -ium (“forming abstract nouns”), from trīciēs (“thirty each”) + annus (“year”) + -is (“forming compound adjectives”). Equivalent to tricennium + -alia.

In 336, the city was ready. Constantine the Great could celebrate his Tricennalia, his thirty-year jubilee, in his new capital. One year later, he was baptised and died.

2008, Jona Lendering, “Constantine's City”, in Livius:

(historical) The festival and religious rituals celebrating a Roman emperor's 30th year of rule.


quindecennalia

quindecennalia (plural quindecennalia or quindecennalias)

quindecennalia (plural)
quindecennalias (plural)

From Latin quīndecennālia, from quīndecennium (“15-year period”) + -ālia (“-alia: forming the names of festivals”), from quīndecennis (“15-year”) + -ium (“-ium: forming abstract nouns”). Equivalent to quin- + decennalia, quindec + ennalia, or quindecennium + -alia.

There is evidence, that the quindecennalia, of fifteenth anniversary of Trajan's proconsular authority, and of his adoption to the empire, was celebrated in 111, or the year after Pliny's arrival in Bithynia.

1837, Edward Burton, Lectures upon the Ecclesiastical History of the First Three Centuries..., Vol. II, "Lecture XIV", p. 40

There is good literary evidence for Honorius' tricennalia in 422, which is at the end of perfect quinquennial sequence from 393, as well as consular vot xxx mvlt xxx solidi, though there do not appear to be any vota coins marking his quindecennalia or quinta quinquennalia.

1988, Richard W. Burgess, “Quinquennial Vota and the Imperial Consulship in the Fourth and Fifth Centuries, 337-511”, in Numismatic Chronicle, number 148, page 85:

On 1 January 112... the year opened with a series of celebrations to mark the quindecennalia of the emperor's ascension.

1997, Julian Bennett, Trajan Optimus Princeps: A Life and Times, page 186:

(historical) The festival and religious rituals sometimes observed celebrating a Roman emperor's 15th year of rule.


Ridván

A twelve-day-long festival in the Baháʼí Faith commemorating a declaration by Baháʼu'lláh that he was a Manifestation of God.


Ayyám-i-Há

Borrowed from Classical Persian اَیَّامِ هَاء (ayyām-i hā', “Days of Ha”).

bor+

اَیَّامِ هَاء

A period lasting four or five days before the last month of the Baháʼí calendar, celebrated by Baháʼí Faith believers as a festival.


Kwaak Taanba

Borrowed from Manipuri ꯀ꯭ꯋꯥꯛ ꯇꯥꯟꯕ (k͟wāk tānba).

a Meitei festival held on the 10th of Mera of the Meitei calendar.


Ningol Chakkouba

Borrowed from Manipuri ꯅꯤꯉꯣꯜ ꯆꯥꯛꯀꯧꯕ (ningol cākkouba).

ꯅꯤꯉꯣꯜ ꯆꯥꯛꯀꯧꯕ

a traditional Meitei festival celebrated and held on the second day of Hyangei (October-November).


Sajibu Cheiraoba

Borrowed from Manipuri ꯁꯖꯤꯕꯨ ꯆꯩꯔꯥꯑꯣꯕ (sajibu ceirāʼoba).

ꯁꯖꯤꯕꯨ ꯆꯩꯔꯥꯑꯣꯕ

an annual Lunar New Year festival celebrated by Meiteis on the month of Sajibu.


Double Seventh Festival

By analogy with the Chinese and English names of the holidays on similar doubled dates in the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar such as the Double Fifth and Ninth Festivals.


Magpie Festival

From the importance of the Magpie Bridge (鵲橋) in the legends surrounding the Chinese holiday.


Thaipusam

Borrowed from Tamil தைப்பூசம் (taippūcam).

A Hindu festival celebrated on the first full moon of the Tamil month of Thai.


Dumpling Festival

From the tradition of consuming zongzi during the holiday.


Laba Festival

the Laba Festival (canonical)
Laba (alternative)
Laba festival (alternative)

A partial calque of the Mandarin form of Chinese 臘八節 /腊八节 (Làbājié), named for its occurrence on the 8th day (八) of the 12th month of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, sometimes known by the name Là (臘月) from an ancient end-of-year sacrifice.

A moveable Chinese festival day occurring between December 30th and January 28th on the Gregorian calendar, historically variously associated with propitiatory end-of-year sacrifices, ancestral veneration, and the Enlightenment of the Buddha, now chiefly observed by the consumption of Laba porridge.

Vesak

other celebrations of the Buddha's enlightenment