Popular Festivals of Different Countries.

The word “festival” was originally used as an adjective from the late fourteenth century, deriving from Latin via Old French. In Middle English, a “festival dai” was a religious holiday. Its first recorded use as a noun was in 1589 (as “Festifall”). Feast first came into usage as a noun circa 1200, and its first recorded use as a verb was circa 1300. The term “feast” is also used in common secular 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 honour a patron saint.

Many festivals have religious origins and entwine cultural and religious significance in traditional activities. The most important religious festivals such as Christmas, Rosh Hashanah, Diwali, and Eid al-Adha serve to mark out the year. Others, such as harvest festivals, 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 a festival established by Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses III celebrating his victory over the Libyans.^[9] In many countries, royal holidays commemorate dynastic events just as agricultural holidays are about harvests. Festivals are often commemorated annually.

There are numerous types of festivals around 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.

List of Festivals Around the World:

Famous Food Festival around the World: