celebration

/ˈsɛləˌbreɪʃən/

/sɛlɛˈbreɪʃən/

Other forms: celebrations

A celebration is a joyful diversion. Your math class might have a celebration when you learn that the midterm has been postponed for a week.

A celebration can be a festive party commemorating some joyous occasion, like your grandparents' fiftieth anniversary celebration or your brother's birthday celebration. It can also be a less formal marking of a happy event, like the arrival of your new puppy. Another meaning of celebration is a religious ceremony, such as communion or a bar mitzvah.

Definitions of celebration

1. noun

   a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event
   synonyms: jubilation

   type of:

   affair, function, occasion, social function, social occasion

   a vaguely specified social event
2. noun

   any joyous diversion
   synonyms: festivity

   types:

   agon

   a festivity in ancient Greece at which competitors contended for prizes

   conviviality, jollification, merrymaking

   a boisterous celebration; a merry festivity

   feria

   (in Spanish speaking regions) a local festival or fair, usually in honor of some patron saint

   festival, fete

   an organized series of acts and performances (usually in one place)

   blowout, gala, gala affair, jamboree

   a joyful festivity

   Ludi Saeculares, secular games

   the centennial rites and games of ancient Rome that marked the commencement of a new generation (100 years representing the longest life in a generation); observances may have begun as early as the 5th century BC and lasted well into the Christian era

   victory celebration

   a celebration following a victory in a battle or sports competition

   high jinks, high jinx, hijinks, jinks

   noisy and mischievous merrymaking

   revel, revelry

   unrestrained merrymaking

   carnival

   a festival marked by merrymaking and processions

   Bacchanalia, Dionysia

   an orgiastic festival in ancient Greece in honor of Dionysus (= Bacchus)

   Isthmian Games

   the ancient Panhellenic games held biennially on the Isthmus of Corinth in the first and third years of each Olympiad

   Nemean Games

   the ancient Panhellenic games held biennially at Nemea in the second and fourth years of each Olympiad

   Olympian Games, Olympic Games

   the ancient Panhellenic celebration at Olympia in honor of Zeus; held every 4 years beginning in 776 BC

   Pythian Games

   the ancient Panhellenic celebration at Delphi held every four years in the third year of the Olympiad in honor of Apollo

   eisteddfod

   any of several annual Welsh festivals involving artistic competitions (especially in singing)

   film festival

   a cinematic festival that features films (usually films produced during the past year)

   jazz festival

   a festival that features performances by jazz artists

   Kwanza, Kwanzaa

   a festival featuring African-American culture; celebrated between Christmas and New Year

   Oktoberfest

   an autumn festival that involves merrymaking and drinking beer

   Saturnalia

   an orgiastic festival in ancient Rome in honor of Saturn

   sheepshearing

   a festival held at the time sheep are normally sheared

   type of:

   diversion, recreation

   an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates
3. noun

   the public performance of a sacrament or solemn ceremony with all appropriate ritual
   “the celebration of marriage”

   synonyms: solemnisation, solemnization

   type of:

   ritual

   the prescribed procedure for conducting religious ceremonies