Banquet
A banquet ( / ˈ b æ ŋ k . w ɪ t / ; French: [bɑ̃.kɛ] ) is a large meal or feast, [1] 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 honour of someone. Contents [ hide ] 1 Historic context 2 Contemporary times 3 See also 4 References 5 External links [ edit ] Historic context The idea of banqueting is ancient (see Sellisternium , Belshazzar's Feast , and Mead halls ). In the 16th century, a banquet was very different from our modern perception and stems from the 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 17th century ‘void’ would be replaced with the French ‘dessert’). During the 16th cen...