It's Party Time: The History of Festivals, Banquets, and Feasts

First, however, we always like to define the words we are going to use so that we're all on the same page.

The festival is, as Merriam-Webster describes it, quote, "A time of celebration marked by special observances." End quote.

Now let's talk about the word banquet.

Again, our old pal Merriam-Webster describes this as, quote, "A sumptuous feast, especially an elaborate and often ceremonious meal for numerous people, often in honor of a person." End quote.

And the Cambridge Dictionary describes it as, quote, "A large formal meal for many people, often followed by speeches in honor of someone." End quote.

These are all good starting points.

Merriam-Webster describes feasts as being, quote, "An elaborate and usually abundant meal, often accompanied by a ceremony or entertainment." End quote.

Alan Davidson, in his aforementioned book, The Oxford Companion to Food, says feasts, quote, "Apply to a company of, say, 10 to 1,000." End quote.

Which, again, gives us a good starting point.

Alan Davidson also states that feasts are, quote, "A feature of human food ways, which is found in virtually all cultures." End quote.

Indeed, around 2010, archaeologists discovered a 12,000-year-old feast from the Paleolithic era in Hilazon Tachtit in modern-day Israel, where they found remains of butchered three aurochs, or giant cattle, and over 70 cooked tortoises.

Mm.

And in 2017, archaeologists in the Shandong Province in China revealed pottery and vessels used in banquets from the Neolithic era.

During the Shang dynasty in ancient China, which lasted from around 16th century BCE to the 11th century BCE, banquets and feasts were commonplace in the Imperial Palace, and those parties were apparently wild.

Mm.

China Daily states, quote, "With a pool of wine and a forest of hanging meats, men and women chased each other naked, drinking all night." End quote.

Yikes.

And by the time of the Zhou dynasty, which lasted from the 11th century BCE to 476 BCE, banquets and feasts continued.

The Book of Rites of the Zhou dynasty contains history of Chinese governments, cultures, society, and rituals.

The Book of Rites, however, were burned in 213 BCE and recreated by students of Confucius.

According to China Daily, The Book of Rites says, quote, "When the emperor gives a banquet, there must be six cereals and six animals for food, the six clears for drink, 120 delicacies, eight dainties, and 120 urns of sauce." End quote.

Cereals included rice and wheat.

Animals included cow, sheep, pig, chicken, and horse.

Drinks included water and wine.