take part in Christmas celebrations/festivities

[angliholic]

Winter is also a good time to visit Finland. That's when you can go skiing or take part in Christmas celebrations/festivities around the country.


Are celebrations and festivities in the above interchangeable and identical in meaning? Thanks.

[baqarah131]

A one-word answer to your question would have to be "yes."
But I think festivity is more likely to occur in writing.

Celebration sounds okay to me when you're talking about a holiday. Otherwise it generally refers to an accomplishment:

We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.
The people took to the streets to celebrate when the home team won the championship.
We had a celebration at the office when Susie was promoted.

I hope you'll be celebrating the new year in style!
edward

Winter is also a good time to visit Finland. That's when you can go skiing or take part in Christmas celebrations/festivities around the country.


Are celebrations and festivities in the above interchangeable and identical in meaning? Thanks.

[angliholic]

A one-word answer to your question would have to be "yes."
But I think festivity is more likely to occur in writing.

Celebration sounds okay to me when you're talking about a holiday. Otherwise it generally refers to an accomplishment:

We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.
The people took to the streets to celebrate when the home team won the championship.
We had a celebration at the office when Susie was promoted.

I hope you'll be celebrating the new year in style!
edward

Thanks, Edward.
Got it except the bolded part. Why do you think festivity is more likely to occur in writing?

[baqarah131]

It's not a word that would come up in conversation very often. We'd say celebration, or, if it's on a smaller scale, party.
Festivity is used in the plural, usually for organized public events. I think you'll notice it occasionally in writing, but you might never hear it. Here, as so often, there's no obvious reason why we like one word more than another.

Cheers
edward

Thanks, Edward.
Got it except the bolded part. Why do you think festivity is more likely to occur in writing?

[angliholic]

Thanks, Edward, for the clear reply.
Got it.