Invest in a Fest
David asked about the combining form –fest, which is ubiquitous in my part of the world as a hook to catch tourists. It denotes a festival or special occasion.
Local offerings include the Cherryfest and Filmfest (Traverse City, MI), the Cedar Polkafest, the Leland Winefest, the Mesick Mushroomfest, the Empire, Glen Arbor, Kalkaska, and Pentwater Winterfests, the Suttons Bay Jazzfest, and countless others.
There are many general uses, including funfest, gabfest, geekfest, greenfest, lovefest, talkfest, Mayfest, Oktoberfest, rockfest, songfest, and thinkfest.
All of these go back to a Latin word signifying a religious anniversary meant to be celebrated joyfully. I wonder if there were Festal Virgins in the old days. They’d be called Party Girls in our time.
SIDEBAR: northern Michigan fests
Available from McFarland & Co.: Word Parts Dictionary, 2nd edition
Check out Mike's program-based books here:
Arbutus Press
or at Amazon.com
Listen to Mike’s program in real time every Tuesday morning, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. EST, by going to wtcmradio.com and clicking on Listen Now.
There is a collection of podcasts. Go to wtcmradio.com and click on Podcasts. Scroll down The Ron Jolly Show to find the Words to the Wise audio button.
Comments