festivo

Festivo is a term used in several Romance languages to express ideas related to festival, celebration, or holiday. In Spanish and Italian, festivo functions as an adjective meaning festive or relating to a feast, and as a noun referring to a day of rest or public holiday. In Spanish, the noun usage appears in phrases such as dia festivo (a holiday) and dias festivos (holidays). In Italian, one speaks of un giorno festivo or giorni festivi for a public holiday or non-working day; the concept is closely tied to religious or civil feasts.

The word derives from Latin festivus, from festum meaning feast or festival. In practice, festivo can describe decorations, meals, or activities associated with a holiday, as well as the general mood of festivity. Regional usage varies. In Spain and many Latin American countries, dias festivos denote statutory holidays that may be national, regional, or local. In Italy, giorni festivi includes Sundays and national holidays; businesses often close on these days.

In addition to its adjectival use, festivo appears in calendar listings and public communications to mark days off. The term is related to, but distinct from, fiesta in Spanish or festa in Italian, which emphasize the celebration itself rather than the day off. See also public holiday, holiday, fiesta, festa.