feest

Feest is a Dutch noun meaning a celebration, party, or festival. It can refer to secular or religious occasions as well as to a general social gathering. The term is widely used in compound forms such as kerstenfeest (Christmas celebration), Sinterklaasfeest (Saint Nicholas celebration), or huwelijksfeest (wedding celebration). In everyday language, people also say een feestje or een feestje geven for a small party, while the diminutive feestje indicates informality or intimacy.

Origins and usage: Feest is cognate with German Fest and English feast, sharing a common heritage related to ceremonial occasions. In Dutch, the word has appeared since the Middle Ages to denote religious, royal, or community celebrations, and it remains a common label for national holidays (feestdagen) and annual festivals.

Cultural aspects: Feasts typically involve communal activities such as music, dancing, meals, and speeches. Public feasts, religious festivals, and family celebrations are integrated into the calendar, with traditions varying by region and faith. The term feest is distinct from feestmaal, which refers specifically to a festive meal, and from feestje, which denotes a smaller, informal party.

See also: Fest, Festival, Fête.