11 Nov Words Associated with Festival and How They Affect Us
In this article, we will discuss words associated with festival and how they affect us as humans.
This follows from last week’s blog publication – Festival and Words. We were looking at how words affect us – words associated with festival and how they affect us. The first 8 words in our list include – dance, food, feast, dresses, costume, worship, prayer, and praise.
Just like other words, festival has many words associated with it. The words associated with festivals remind of the celebrations and the fun. They also speak of beauty and music. Here are 18 more words that are associated with festivals.
Arts
Arts come in many forms. The word makes images in our minds and plays music to our taste. The images come in many colours and the different genres of music have dancers and singers. Sometimes we see processions and a drumline as well as some drama, clowns, and jesters. Arts associated with festivals spells FUN.
Holiday
Holiday is a time to getaway; when you are free to do things not associated with no work; a time for family and friends; a time to eat what you want, as you want, and whenever you want. The word ‘holiday’ is associated with festivals is all these. It is also a time to get new clothes, travel the world, and try new things.
Words associated with festival and how they affect us – the words excite us.
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Carnival
For many, this says Rio de Janeiro – Brazil’s popular festival. For others, it says carousels, flowers, arts, dress up and lots of food. Carnivals are colourful and memorable.
Gala
Unless you come from a place like Nigeria where gala is a popular sausage roll, you will only have one thing on your mind when you hear the word ‘gala’. The one thing that comes to mind when you hear this word will be party or fun. I guess Nigerians like myself will have to decide if you are talking about food, snacks, or an event. Nonetheless, those also suggest enjoyment. So, we agree.
Competition
This word says ‘get ready to go’. You are pumped full of adrenaline and energy. You suddenly become alert. Your mind is more receptive and your brain coordinates faster, and more easily. Your blood runs hot and your heart pumps faster. You may get sweaty palms – may be from anxiety or excitement or anticipation. In a competition, you listen for the words – ‘set’ and ‘go’. You wish to win or for your team to win. No wonder people bet on the soccer team they support and on horses.
Words associated with festival and how they affect us – the words arouse the spirit of healthy competition.
Commemoration
Commemorations are events organized in memory of a person or a past event. They are sometimes referred to as anniversaries. Commemorations cause us to be alert and somber. It triggers the reflective part of our minds as we look back on a certain occasion or someone’s life in remembrance. This action makes us consider the past, the present, and the future. It develops the hunger for a better tomorrow in us, making us better.
Read Also:
Why The Tortoise and Squirrel are not Friends
The Tortoise and The Feast in Heaven
Historical
During the Roman Empire, gladiator fights were a major entertainment ceremony that the people count down to the season of the gladiator fights and the major players buy slaves to train as gladiators. From these events emerged names like Spartacus – the Thracian gladiator, Crixus, and Oenomaus (See Britannica).
Stories have been told about someone throwing tomatoes during a carnival causing a fight. This food fight has now become a well-attended festival in Valencia. Participants are given about an hour to throw as many tomatoes at other participants. There is even a ticketing service to control the number of attendees. You guessed right! The festival is La Tomatina, held in Bunol, Spain. (see history extra)
After planting season, farmers spend most of their time waiting for harvest. They depend on cereals and other plants that mature within two to three months to keep their families. Those that their vegetables thrive are envied. When the crops mature and are ready for harvest, it is a thing of joy. It comes with a celebration with special dishes, tattoos, and masquerades. (Visit the Igbos in Nigeria).
These are examples of how historical events birth festivals. Be it an occasion of war prisoners owning the arena, or some thrill-seeking fellows throwing tomatoes at one another, or a humble farmer happy that harvest is due, what matters is that a festival is born and will forever be listed as a part of the people.
Words associated with festival and how they affect us – the words take us back in time and teach us about past events.
Ceremony
A ceremony is a public or religious occasion. It is an event designed to celebrate an achievement or anniversary. Common ceremonies around the world include weddings, baptisms, 16th birthday, graduation, retirement, etc.
‘Ceremony’ is also used to describe grand openings to certain events. For instance, the opening of the Olympics has the touch bearer run. Such acts trigger expectation and anticipation. For the players in the event, they are anxious, ready, listening, and waiting. The spectators are counting, sitting up, and hoping the side they are rooting for wins.
Parade
Parades are public processions. They mark special days. A parade usually has a large number of people walking, marching, or riding on horses or vehicles. For instance, the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil begins with a parade, Military parades mark special occasions and the military men dress in their ceremonial regalia, and the drumline makes music festivals.
Parades come with special costumes; they do not have to be new; they just have to be prime and proper. I remember Children’s Day and Independence Day celebrations growing up. They were big occasions for elementary and secondary schools as we have march pass competition. Those days were very special especially if you are one of those selected to represent your school in the parade. I often got brand new footwear during this occasion or took extra care in cleaning, polishing, and colouring my shoes. My school uniform had every pleat standing straight and my shirt sparkling white. Even those who were not in the parade team made it a point to look extra clean and tidy as they come to cheer us and enjoy the celebration. If you have an occasion that you look forward to, you will agree with me that it is always full of anticipation and pure joy, a wish to win, and a secret hope that those you love and those that love you see you, have fun, and feel proud – just like the little girl I was, did. Parades spell routine, but they also scream fun.
Culture and Tradition
Culture: the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society (Oxford Languages).
Traditions: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behaviour such as a religious practice or a social custom (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
These two words often overlap as a people’s culture birth their traditions and the traditions uphold the culture. There are unique things that are associated with these words that make you tick. For instance, when Africa is associated with music, you think energy, dance, smiles, beads, special dressings, and depending on the country, a unique beat. When you hear a piece of Indian music, you just know this is Indian, you do not need to understand Hindi. This speaks of culture.
When it comes to traditions, it embodies how people put the different aspects of culture together to make their day-to-day living. For instance, if you have not done the ceremony of ‘ibu ive la okwa’ where I come from, you are not considered married to your wife even if you are ready for a court or church wedding. To buttress the importance of this, the court and the church will demand that these traditional rites be fulfilled first.
Because culture and traditions are unique to a people, they are associated with festivals. Different people share a part of them with others through celebrations that are unique to them.
Gathering
Festivals are known to draw crowds. This is characteristic of entertaining scenes. How do you feel when you are walking along the street and suddenly you see a crowd in a place that is usually quiet? Your first thought is something is wrong. But then you see people happy and many more heading towards the spot. This time you think, ‘should I go and see’? Let’s assume you get there and see a magician performing. Now you have to decide if you want to stay longer or leave.
It is in the nature of festivals to have people from all works of life come together. It is one time that many do not care about their class and simply celebrate. Think about religious pilgrimages and the ceremonies associated with them. Whether it is the Christian visit to the holy city – Jerusalem or the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The focus is worship.
Other words associated with festival
Here are some other words that I found relating to festivals. Add yours to the list by leaving a comment in the comment box below.
Fireworks
Decorations
Season
Games
Party
Music
by Chinyere Nwosu
May 1, 2021
Photo credits – unsplash, Afikpo Village Square
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