merrymakings
Lively party activities
Merrymakings are festive celebrations or lively gatherings marked by fun and good cheer.
The word emphasizes the activity itself—the reveling, feasting, and general high spirits: The holiday merrymakings continued well past midnight.
It sounds somewhat old-fashioned, evoking village festivals or seasonal celebrations rather than modern parties.
Celebratory events and activities
- revelriesLively, noisy celebrations
- partiesOrganized social gatherings
- galasElaborate festive gatherings
- feastsGrand ceremonial meals
banquets · carnivals · jubilees · fiestas · jamborees · shindigs · bashes · soirees
Organized auditory art
- dancingRhythmic bodily motion
- laughterVocal expression of amusement
- singingVocal music-making
- toastsRaised-glass honors
decorations · costumes · masks · streamers · confetti · noisemakers · fireworks · bonfires
Rural community fundraising events
- town squaresCentral public open areas
- community hallsShared local event spaces
- barn dancesRural community dance events
- street partiesOutdoor communal neighborhood celebrations
block parties · potlucks · cookouts · picnics · barbecues · clambakes · luaus · hoedowns
Annual December celebration night
- Mardi GrasPre-Ash Wednesday celebration
- CarnivalPre-fasting festival season
- Diwali celebrationsHindu autumn light festival
- Eid feastsCelebratory meals marking Islamic holidays
harvest festivals · Hogmanay · Purim · Saturnalia · Twelfth Night
festivities
Celebratory events and activities
- revelriesLively, noisy celebrations
- partiesOrganized social gatherings
- galasElaborate festive gatherings
feasts · banquets · carnivals · jubilees · fiestas · jamborees · shindigs · bashes · soirees · gatherings
music
Organized auditory art
toasts · decorations · costumes · masks · streamers · confetti · noisemakers · fireworks · bonfires · lanterns
village fetes
Rural community fundraising events
- town squaresCentral public open areas
- community hallsShared local event spaces
- barn dancesRural community dance events
street parties · block parties · potlucks · cookouts · picnics · barbecues · clambakes · luaus · hoedowns · ceilidhs
New Year's Eve
Annual December celebration night
- Mardi GrasPre-Ash Wednesday celebration
- CarnivalPre-fasting festival season
- Diwali celebrationsHindu autumn light festival
Eid feasts · harvest festivals · Hogmanay · Purim · Saturnalia · Twelfth Night
merrymakingsmournings
Multiple grief periods
funerals · wakes · memorial services · lamentations · funeral rites
merrymakingsmournfulness
Quality of deep grief
gloom · misery · wretchedness · desolation · solemnity