Jubilee

Jubilee is a term with several related meanings, broadly referring to a special anniversary or a period of release and renewal. The word derives from Hebrew yovel, used in the Bible, and entered Latin and Old French through religious and ceremonial usage. In Jewish and Christian biblical contexts, a Jubilee year is described in Leviticus 25 as occurring every fiftieth year after seven cycles of seven years. The year was to be marked by the land resting, the return of ancestral property to its original families, and the forgiveness of debts and the release of slaves. The concept expresses themes of liberation, social reset, and renewal, though the exact practice details are not uniformly observed in modern times.

In secular usage, Jubilee commonly denotes a significant anniversary. Common designations include the Silver Jubilee for twenty-five years, the Golden Jubilee for fifty years, the Diamond Jubilee for sixty years, and the Platinum Jubilee for seventy years. These terms are used for personal milestones, such as a monarch’s reign, as well as institutional anniversaries, corporate milestones, and cultural events. For example, British monarchs have observed Silver (1977), Golden (2002), Diamond (2012), and Platinum (2022) jubilees to mark long reigns. Other organizations may hold jubilees to honor long service or retirement milestones.

Overall, jubilee signals commemoration, restitution, or release, depending on the context, with religious origins that have influenced secular naming conventions for milestone anniversaries.