Festival
/ˈfɛs.tɪ.vəl/noun
A day or period of celebration, often marked by public events, feasting, or religious observance.
Did you know?The word entered English through Old French from Medieval Latin, where it referred to a church feast day—proof that many “celebrations” began as formal acts of sacred timekeeping.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
festivus
“Festive, joyous, pertaining to a feast or holiday”
Medieval Latin
ML
festivālis
“Pertaining to a feast day or holiday”
Old French
OF
festival
“A feast day; holiday observance”
Middle English
ME
festival
“A religious feast day or celebration”
Modern English
English
festival
“A public celebration or organized series of performances”