gala-day

So on a gala-day at Clavering Park, the Chevalier would content himself with superintending the arrangements of the table, and drilling the major-domo and servants; and having looked over the bill-of-fare with Monsieur Mirobolant, would not care to take the least part in the banquet.

The History of Pendennis 2006

Saturday afternoon is a gala-day here, and the broad road was so thronged with brilliant equestrians, that I thought we should be ridden over by the reckless laughing rout.

The Hawaiian Archipelago Isabella Lucy 2004

It seemed unusually populous, as indeed it was; but Roland, as he rode by, remarked, on the skirts of the village, a dozen or more shooting-targets set up on the green, and perceived it was a gala-day which had drawn the young men from a distance to the fort.

Nick of the Woods Robert M. Bird

We embraced each other as brothers of this glorious nation, ancient Rome risen from trance; as we walked the streets, we sang; Milan was turbulent with gladness; no gala-day was ever half so bright; the very spires appeared to spring in the white radiance of their flames up a deeper heaven; the sun stayed at perpetual dawn for us.

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 11, No. 67, May, 1863 Various

His drink was generally ale, except on Christmas, the Fifth of November or some other gala-day, when he would make

Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Volume 11, No. 23, February, 1873 Various

As we approached, one would have thought it a gala-day.

An Epoch in History P. H. Eley

As far as the eye could reach, its waters were thickly crowded with shipping, gaily decked from bow-sprit to yard-arm and top-mast, "with flags and streamers gay, in honor of the gala-day!"

The Flag Replaced on Sumter A Personal Narrative William A. Spicer

-- When a chief has a gala-day, or desires to signal his arrival by a right royal feast, it is considered befitting to slaughter some men, to let the blood run in the path of royalty, and to have on the table some _roast-homme_.

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 03, No. 17, March, 1859 Various

It was also something of a gala-day for Madame la Générale too, as it must be a gala-day for all old wives to see their husbands pranked in the manners and graces that had conquered their maidenhood, and exhaling once more that ambrosial fragrance which once so well incensed their compelling presence.

Balcony Stories Grace E. King

The gala-day opened with a tournament at which Adolph of Cleves again sported as Knight of the Swan to the applause of the onlookers.

Charles the Bold Last Duke of Burgundy, 1433-1477 Ruth Putnam