A memorably happy or noteworthy day (from the custom of marking holy days in red on church calendars).
Roget 642:
importance,
consequence,
moment,
prominence,
consideration,
mark,
materialness.
import,
significance,
concern;
emphasis,
interest.
greatness
etc.
31;
superiority
etc.
33;
notability
etc.
(repute)
873;
weight
etc.
(influence)
175;
value
etc.
(goodness)
648;
usefulness
etc.
644.
gravity,
seriousness,
solemnity;
no joke,
no laughing matter;
pressure,
urgency,
stress;
matter of life and death.
memorabilia,
notabilia†,
great doings;
red-letter day.
great thing,
great point;
main chance,
the be all and the end all"
[Macbeth];
cardinal point;
substance,
gist
etc.
(essence)
5;
sum and substance,
gravamen,
head and front;
important part,
principal part,
prominent part,
essential part;
half the battle;
sine qua non;
breath of one's nostrils
etc.
(life)
359;
cream,
salt,
core,
kernel,
heart,
nucleus;
keynote,
keystone;
corner stone;
trump card
etc.
(device)
626;
salient points.
top sawyer,
first fiddle,
prima donna [Sp.],
chief;
triton among the minnows;
'it' [U.S.]. "
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Roget 687:
repose,
rest,
silken repose;
sleep
etc.
683.
relaxation,
breathing time;
halt,
stay,
pause
etc.
(cessation)
142;
respite.
day of rest,
dies non,
Sabbath,
Lord's day,
holiday,
red-letter day,
vacation,
recess.
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Roget 883:
celebration,
solemnization,
jubilee,
commemoration,
ovation,
paean,
triumph,
jubilation,
ceremony
(rite)
998;
holiday,
fiesta,
zarabanda†,
revelry,
feast
(amusement)
840;
china anniversary,
diamond anniversary,
golden anniversary,
silver anniversary,
tin anniversary,
china jubilee,
diamond jubilee,
golden jubilee,
silver jubilee,
tin jubilee,
china wedding,
diamond wedding,
golden wedding,
silver wedding,
tin wedding.
triumphal arch,
bonfire,
salute;
salvo,
salvo of artillery;
feu de joie [Fr.],
flourish of trumpets,
fanfare,
colors flying,
illuminations.
inauguration,
installation,
presentation;
coronation;
Lord Mayor's show;
harvest-home,
red-letter day;
trophy
etc.
733;
Te Deum
etc.
(thanksgiving)
990 [Lat.];
fete
etc.
882;
holiday
etc.
840;
Forefathers' Day [U.S.].
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