Are you a party-goer? Then you’re going to love today’s word of the day!
The word festa can mean a number of things in English, but one of the first translations you’ll certainly come across when living in Italy is party or celebration.
- festa di compleanno = birthday party
- festa di Natale = Christmas party
- festa di Capodanno = New Year’s party
- festa di matrimonio = wedding celebration
Ho ricevuto un invito ad una festa.
I received an invitation to a party.
Festa can also be used to describe extended periods of celebration, festivals or special days of commemoration.
- festa della birra = beer festival
- festa della musica = music festival
- festa di paese = town festival
- Festa della Repubblica = Republic Day / Italian National Day
- La Festa della Mamma = Mother’s Day
Non dimenticarti che domani è la festa della mamma!
Don’t forget that tomorrow is Mother’s Day!
Finally, it can be used in reference to a holiday or day off work.
- festa nazionale = national holiday
- giorni di festa = holidays
Oggi mi sono preso un giorno di festa. Ne avevo proprio bisogno.
Today I took a day off. I really needed it.
Festa can be transformed into the verb to party/celebrate by placing fare in front. An alternative is to use the actual verb festeggiare.
Ho l’intenzione di fare festa fino a notte fonda.
I plan to party until late at night.
The word festa appears within a number of nouns and adjectives related to partying and celebrating, such as:
- festoso = merry, in festive spirits (often used to describe friendly dogs that happily come up and greet you)
- festaiolo = a party animal, someone who often hosts parties, or someone who is fun-loving and festive
- festeggiamento = celebration, festivity, merrymaking
- festività = festivity
- festeggiato/a = a guest of honour, birthday boy/girl
- festone = garland
The adjective festivo is often used as an alternative to festa to describe non-working days or holidays.
- giorno festivo = public holiday
- giorni festivi = holidays
- turno festivo = holiday shift (at work)
Finally, festa can be used in a negative way with the verb fare (to do) or conciare (to thrash): fare la festa (a qualcuno) or conciare (qualcuno) per le feste. Either can mean an act of violence or damage towards someone or something.
Se non rimedi a questa situazione, quei tipi ti conceranno per le feste.
If you don’t find a solution, those guys will give you a thrashing.
The expression fare le feste has a positive connotation too. It is often used to describe a dog’s happiness when its owner comes home.
Guarda quante feste fa questo cane al suo padrone.
Look at how happy this dog is to see its owner.
