Heorte is the standard Greek word for a religious festival or feast day, appearing 27 times in the New Testament with particular density in John's Gospel, where the rhythm of Israel's liturgical calendar structures the entire narrative. John marks Jesus' movements by successive festivals — Passover (John 2:23; 6:4; 11:55), Tabernacles (John 7:2), and an unnamed feast (John 5:1) — so that the feasts become theological stages on which Jesus reveals himself as the fulfillment of what each festival commemorated. The Synoptics use heorte primarily in the Passion narrative, noting that the authorities sought to avoid arresting Jesus 'during the feast' lest the crowd riot (Matt 26:5; Mark 14:2). Pilate's custom of releasing a prisoner 'at the feast' sets the stage for Barabbas (Matt 27:15; Mark 15:6; Luke 23:17). Spanish 'fiesta,' French 'fete,' and German 'Fest' all converge on the same festive-sacred register.