Celebrating A Scholar

In academia, a festschrift is a volume of writings by different authors presented as a tribute or memorial especially to a scholar, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory (piece of ) writing. As the Wikipedia aptly defines it, a festschrift contains original contributions by the honoured academic’s close colleagues, often including his or her former doctoral students. It is typically published on the occasion of the honoree’s retirement, sixtieth or sixty-fifth birthday, or other notable career anniversary. The essays usually relate in some way to, or reflect upon, the honoree’s contributions to their scholarly field, but can include important original research by the authors.