Difference between revisions of "Pageant"

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A [[pageant]] is a particular form of celebratory public event, often a dramatization of a historical or social occurrence.  
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A [[pageant]] is a particular form of celebratory public event, often a dramatization of a historical, political or social occurrence.  
  
 
According to the Random House Kernerman ''Webster's College Dictionary'' (© 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd.)[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pageant] the term [[pageant]] derives from the Middle English ''pagyn'', ''pagaunt'', which in turn may refer to the Anglo-Latin ''pāgina'' (=stage, scene, platform), and can refer to a range of public events, including "1. an elaborate costumed [[procession]] or [[parade]], often with floats, forming part of public or social festivities; 2.  an elaborate public spectacle illustrative of the history of a place, institution, or the like; 3.  something comparable to such a spectacle or procession in its variety or grandeur: the pageant of Renaissance history; 4.  a show or exhibition: e.g a beauty pageant; or 5.  (in medieval times) a platform on which scenes from mystery plays were presented".  
 
According to the Random House Kernerman ''Webster's College Dictionary'' (© 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd.)[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pageant] the term [[pageant]] derives from the Middle English ''pagyn'', ''pagaunt'', which in turn may refer to the Anglo-Latin ''pāgina'' (=stage, scene, platform), and can refer to a range of public events, including "1. an elaborate costumed [[procession]] or [[parade]], often with floats, forming part of public or social festivities; 2.  an elaborate public spectacle illustrative of the history of a place, institution, or the like; 3.  something comparable to such a spectacle or procession in its variety or grandeur: the pageant of Renaissance history; 4.  a show or exhibition: e.g a beauty pageant; or 5.  (in medieval times) a platform on which scenes from mystery plays were presented".  

Revision as of 06:39, 6 July 2019

A pageant is a particular form of celebratory public event, often a dramatization of a historical, political or social occurrence.

According to the Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary (© 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd.)[1] the term pageant derives from the Middle English pagyn, pagaunt, which in turn may refer to the Anglo-Latin pāgina (=stage, scene, platform), and can refer to a range of public events, including "1. an elaborate costumed procession or parade, often with floats, forming part of public or social festivities; 2. an elaborate public spectacle illustrative of the history of a place, institution, or the like; 3. something comparable to such a spectacle or procession in its variety or grandeur: the pageant of Renaissance history; 4. a show or exhibition: e.g a beauty pageant; or 5. (in medieval times) a platform on which scenes from mystery plays were presented".

Other terms often associated with (or used in place of ) pageant are carnival, tableau, historical enactment

In ESAT the term pageant largely appears as a reference to theatrical events of the kind listed above under items 1 and 2, and particular South African pageants are discussed under Stage Plays - and specifically in the sub-section PLAYS IV: Pageants, carnivals and public performances.


== Some events specifically referred to as pageants

The Pageant of South Africa,

The Pageant of Union,

Africa – A Revel Pageant,

South African Pageant of Union,

Stellenbosch Tercentenary Celebrations.

Sources

The Free Dictionary by Farlex (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pageant)

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