jubileum

A jubilee is a celebration marking a significant anniversary or milestone. The term is used in both religious and secular contexts and is commonly applied to milestone anniversaries such as 25, 50, 60, or 70 years. In many languages, phrases such as silver jubilee (25 years), golden jubilee (50 years) and diamond jubilees (60 years) are used, with platinum jubilees (70 years) in some traditions.

From the Hebrew yovel, the Year of Jubilee described in Leviticus 25, the jubilee originally involved land left fallow, liberation of slaves, and cancellation of debts. The term passed into Latin as iubilum or jubilaeus and spread into Old French and other European languages, where it acquired its modern sense as a celebratory anniversary.

In Judaism, the Jubilee year (Yovel) is a biblical concept occurring every fifty years. In ancient Israel it entailed the redistribution of land, emancipation of slaves, and cancellation of debts. Observance declined after the destruction of the Second Temple, but the idea persists in rabbinic literature and cultural memory.

In Christianity, the term is used in the sense of a Holy Year proclaimed by the pope. A Jubilee historically involved special prayers, pilgrimages, and indulgences, and contemporary practice includes both regular and extraordinary jubilees focused on spiritual renewal.

In secular use, jubilees mark institutional and personal milestones. Organizations celebrate anniversaries with ceremonies, exhibitions, and reunions, and individuals may mark significant year counts in family, community, or civic life. The concept emphasizes longevity, gratitude, and historical remembrance.