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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame ==Origin== Middle French, from Old Italian banchetto, from diminutive of banca bench, bank *[http://en.wikipedia...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Banquet300.jpg|right|frame]]

==Origin==
Middle French, from Old Italian banchetto, from diminutive of banca bench, [[bank]]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_century 15th Century]
==Definitions==
*1: a sumptuous feast; especially : an elaborate and often [[ceremonious]] meal for numerous people often in [[honor]] of a person <a [[state]] banquet>
*2: a meal held in [[recognition]] of some occasion or [[achievement]] <an awards banquet>
==Description==
A '''banquet''' ([[English]]: /ˈbæŋk.wɪt/, French: [bɑ̃.kɛ]) is a large meal or feast, complete with main courses and desserts. It usually serves a [[purpose]] such as a [[charitable]] gathering, a [[ceremony]], or a celebration, and is often preceded or followed by [[speeches]] in [[honor]] of someone.
==Historic Context==
The [[idea]] of banqueting is ancient (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellisternium Sellisternium], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belshazzar%27s_Feast Belshazzar's Feast], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mead_hall Mead halls]) In the sixteenth century a banquet was very [[different]] from our [[modern]] [[perception]] and stems from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages medieval] 'ceremony of the void'. After dinner the guests would stand and drink sweet wine and spices while the table was cleared, or ‘voided’ (Later in the seventeenth century ‘void’ would be replaced with the French ‘dessert’). During the sixteenth century, guests would no longer stand in the great chamber whilst the table was cleared and the room [[prepared]] for [[entertainment]], but would retire to the parlour or banqueting room.

As the [[idea]] of banqueting [[developed]], it could take place at any time during the day and have much more in common with the later [[practice]] of taking tea. Banqueting rooms varied greatly from house to house, but were generally on an [[intimate]] scale either in a [[garden]] room or inside such as the small banqueting turrets in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longleat_House Longleat House].
==Contemporary times==
[[Business]] banquets are a popular way to [[strengthen]] bonds between [[business]]men and their [[partners]]. It is common that a banquet is [[organized]] at the end of an [[academic]] [[conference]].

A [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luau luau] is one variety of banquet originally used in Hawaii.

The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nei_Mongol Nei Mongol] provincial government in China levies a [[tax]] on banquets.


[[Category: Anthropology]]
[[Category: General Reference]]

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