The term festival usually refers to large scale cultural events that last several days, but it also refers to religious festivals, regional popular festivals, or harvest festivals. Many of the world's most important festivals are based on religion. Festivities, which are a special occasion for banquet and celebration, have long been used by religious followers to honor the gods. Some of the most famous religious festivals are Christmas, Chanukah, Diwali, Easter, Holi and Eid al-Adha, which serve to commemorate the year.
Festivals are an expressive way of celebrating glorious heritage, culture and traditions. They are meant to celebrate special moments and emotions in our lives with our loved ones. They play an important role in adding structure to our social lives and connecting us to our families and backgrounds. They distract us from our daily lives, from the exhausting routine of life, and inspire us to remember the important things and moments in life.
The festivals were started to transmit legends, knowledge and traditions to the next generation. For comedy, there is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in Australia and the Just for Laughs International Comedy Festival in Montreal (Canada). The theme of a festival can be an area of interest, such as art, or an aspect of the community in which the festival is held, such as the history or culture of the community.
