A formal event performed on a special occasion.

synonyms: ceremonial occasion, ceremony, observance.

Roget 998: rite; ceremony, ritual, liturgy, ceremonial; ordinance, observance, function, duty; form, formulary; solemnity, sacrament; incantation etc. (spell) 993; service, psalmody etc. (worship) 990.    ministration; preaching, preachment; predication, sermon, homily, lecture, discourse, pastoral.    [Christian ritual for induction into the faith] baptism, christening, chrism; circumcision; baptismal regeneration; font.    confirmation; imposition of hands, laying on of hands; ordination etc. (churchdom) 995; excommunication.    [Jewish rituals] Bar Mitzvah, Bas Mitzvah [Fr.], Bris.    Eucharist, Lord's supper, communion; the sacrament, the holy sacrament; celebration, high celebration; missa cantata [Lat.]; asperges^†; offertory; introit; consecration; consubstantiation, transubstantiation; real presence; elements; mass; high mass, low mass, dry mass.    matrimony etc. 903; burial etc. 363; visitation of the sick.    seven sacraments, impanation^†, subpanation^†, extreme unction, viaticum, invocation of saints, canonization, transfiguration, auricular confession; maceration, flagellation, sackcloth and ashes; penance etc. (atonement) 952; telling of beads, processional; thurification^†, incense, holy water, aspersion.    relics, rosary, beads, reliquary, host, cross, rood, crucifix, pax [Lat.], pyx, agnus Dei [Lat.], censer, thurible, patera^†; eileton^†, Holy Grail; prayer machine, prayer wheel; Sangraal^†, urceus^†.    ritualism, ceremonialism; sabbatism^†, sabbatarianism^†; ritualist, sabbatarian^†.    holyday, feast, fast.    [Christian holy days] Sabbath, Pentecost; Advent, Christmas, Epiphany; Lent; Passion week, Holy week; Easter, Easter Sunday, Whitsuntide; agape, Ascension Day, Candlemas^†, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Holy Thursday; Lammas, Martinmas, Michaelmas; All SAint's DAy, All Souls' Day.    [Moslem holy days] Ramadan, Ramazan; Bairam &c.. etc. [Jewish holy days] Passover; Shabuoth; Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement; Rosh Hashana, New Year; Hanukkah, Chanukkah, Feast of Lights; Purim, Feast of lots.    ... show more

Roget 882: ostentation, display, show, flourish, parade, etalage [Fr.], pomp, array, state, solemnity; dash, splash, splurge, glitter, strut, pomposity; pretense, pretensions; showing off; fuss.    magnificence, splendor; coup d'oeil [Fr.]; grand doings.    coup de theatre; stage effect, stage trick; claptrap; mise en scene [Fr.]; tour de force; chic.    demonstration, flying colors; tomfoolery; flourish of trumpets etc. (celebration) 883; pageant, pageantry; spectacle, exhibition, exposition, procession; turn out, set out; grand function; f=ete, gala, field day, review, march past, promenade, insubstantial pageant.    dress; court dress, full dress, evening dress, ball dress, fancy dress; tailoring, millinery, man millinery, frippery, foppery, equipage.    ceremony, ceremonial; ritual; form, formality; etiquette; puncto [Lat.], punctilio, punctiliousness; starched stateliness, stateliness.    mummery, solemn mockery, mouth honor.    attitudinarian^†; fop etc. 854.    ... show more

Dutch: vormlijkheid, plechtigheid, ceremonie
Polish: uroczystość

Marked by pomp or ceremony or formality.

Roget 998: ritual, ritualistic; ceremonial; baptismal, eucharistical; paschal.   

Roget 882: ostentatious, showy, dashing, pretentious; janty^†, jaunty; grand, pompous, palatial; high-sounding; turgid etc. (big-sounding) 577; gairish^†, garish; gaudy, gaudy as a peacock, gaudy as a butterfly, gaudy as a tulip; flaunting, flashing, flaming, glittering; gay etc. (ornate) 847.    splendid, magnificent, sumptuous.    theatrical, dramatic, spectacular; ceremonial, ritual.    solemn, stately, majestic, formal, stiff, ceremonious, punctilious, starched.    dressed to kill, dressed to the nines, decjed out, all decked out, en granite tenue [Fr.], in best bib and tucker, in Sunday best, endimanch_e, chic.    ... show more

Polish: ceremonialny