traditional libation

7.2

A common drink, often with alcohol, offered during a ceremony to honor people

noun

: libación tradicional

During the New Year's festival, each family prepared a traditional libation unique to their heritage.

Examples

At the wedding, the elders poured a traditional libation to honor their ancestors.
Guests were invited to share a traditional libation as part of the opening ceremony.
The priest offered a traditional libation to the gods.
During the ceremony, they poured a traditional libation on the ground.
At the wedding, the elders poured a traditional libation to honor their ancestors.
Guests were invited to share a traditional libation as part of the opening ceremony.
During the ceremony, they poured a traditional libation on the ground.

Synonyms

libation

vstraditional libation

Informal

9 9.1

An alcoholic drink enjoyed with friends

is a customary ceremonial offering rather than a casual social drink

How Ceremonial

sacred

250 4.6

traditional libation

7.2

ritual

3 4.5

Surface Forms

traditional libation singular

traditional libations plural

Morphology

traditional + libation

The phrase is directly compositional: 'traditional' (customary) modifies 'libation' (a ritual pouring/offering of liquid), yielding 'a customary ceremonial drink or offering.' This follows a straightforward adjective + noun pattern found across languages, so a learner who knows both words can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Traditional libation comes from old ceremonies where people would pour a drink as an offering to gods or ancestors. The word libation was the act of pouring that drink, so a traditional libation is a customary ceremonial drink used 'to honor' people or spirits.