feast day

noun

1. a day, especially a church holiday, for feasting and rejoicing.

Word History and Origins

Origin of feast day¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300

Example Sentences

Religious leaders expected feast days to align with certain seasons and lunar phases.

From National Geographic

The original Saint Valentine, a third-century Roman martyr, was honored in the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar until 1969, Ochoa said, when the church gave the Feb. 14 feast day instead to Sts.

From Los Angeles Times

Every 11th of November, on the feast day of its patron saint, San Martín erupts in a wild spectacle that has occurred almost uninterrupted since 1735.

From New York Times

The 6 January Christian feast day of Epiphany, when observers celebrate the visit to Jesus by the Magi - commonly known as the Three Kings, or Wise Men - is widely celebrated in Spain.

From BBC

Pilgrims in Cuba made their way to the shrine of St. Lazarus, the Roman Catholic saint considered the protector of the sick, while in Guatemala people celebrated the feast day of Saint Thomas.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• ceremony
• commemoration
• festival
• holiday
• jubilee