Why Festivity Is Essential to the Anarchist Movement

"If I can't dance, then I don't want to be a part of your revolution."
Emma Goldman

There is a long history and relation between festivity and revolution. During the French Revolution it was common for insurrections and actions to end in dance and celebration which helped to create a unified sense of community among the revolutionaries. Both women and men took to the streets in celebration in the spirit of revolt.

As anarchists and anti authoritarians, a sense of community and festivity is essential to our activism and our outlook on life. It is one of the greatest ways to tear down social hierarchies, build relations, and share our differences in a positive and socially empowering way because festivity is a thing without hierarchy, enjoyed and participated in equally by all. Celebration is also necessary to prevent stagnancy; it is far too common for activists to become burnt out and complacent with their circumstances. The best of us become tired of hammering dutifully away at the block at times.

One doesn’t have to look far to see the impact of festivity on society, the pursuit of enjoyment is fundamental to human beings to keep ourselves from becoming depressed. Does it not make sense then to let our activism reflect that? Whatever festivity means is for you to discover but It is easily said that festivity plays a major role in every social movement, as even revolt itself is a form of celebration.