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Angliholic Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

The annual celebration/festivity

Many people believe that the annual celebration stems from the pagan rituals of old Europe. The cold and dark winter months were thought to be the work of evil spirits. At the first sight of spring, loud festivities were held to scare them off.

Hi,

The above is from an article named "Behind the Mask of Carnival." Is "celebration" equal to "festivity," and vice versa?
  

Top answer

Hi I would say the two words are different A festivity is a loud occasion: people eat and drink and generally enjoy themselves A celebration can be quite a solemn ritual However, the two tend to become associated. An example - which your sentence may be referring to - is the Christian celebration of the passion of the Lord which is held in church and is solemn; compared with the more general festivities of Easter, when people have parties, play games, eat chocolate and so on Regards, Dave

— Dave_anon

  • Hi I would say the two words are different A festivity is a loud occasion: people eat and drink and generally enjoy themselves A celebration can be quite a solemn ritual However, the two tend to become associated.
  • An example - which your sentence may be referring to - is the Christian celebration of the passion of the Lord which is held in church and is solemn; compared with the more general festivities of Easter, when people have parties, play games, eat chocolate and so on Regards, Dave
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1 Answers
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Hi

I would say the two words are different

A festivity is a loud occasion: people eat and drink and generally enjoy themselves

A celebration can be quite a solemn ritual

However, the two tend to become associated. An example - which your sentence may be referring to - is the Christian celebration of the passion of the Lord which is held in church and is solemn
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