Festés

Festës is an Albanian noun meaning festival, feast, or celebration. The base form festa refers to such an event; festës is a grammatical inflection used in phrases and sentences within Albanian syntax. The concept encompasses religious feasts, national holidays, seasonal fairs, and social gatherings, ranging from solemn commemorations to lively public celebrations.

Typical elements of festës include ceremonial procedures, music and dance performances, traditional clothing, food, and communal activities. Festës can be organized by municipalities, religious communities, cultural associations, or families, and are often tied to the rural calendar or religious calendars, while also appearing in urban cultural festivals and national holidays.

Regional and religious differences influence the form and rituals of a celebration, with Orthodox, Catholic, and Muslim communities observing distinct practices alongside secular festivities. The term is used across Albanian-speaking areas such as Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, as well as in diaspora communities, where festës help maintain language, tradition, and social ties across generations.