Festival and carnival are collective celebrations, rooted in themes related to the social life of communities that host them. On approximately the same date each year, a festival or carnival recurs, emphasizing its significance to all who attend as they are equally affected by the calendar. Characterized by a wide range of performance forms that enact ideas and relationships central to a people's definition of themselves and their cosmos, festival and carnival are also laced with humor. This entry provides a definition of these celebratory events.