barn raising

American  

noun

1. (in rural areas) a party, usually providing food, drink, etc., for the purpose of assisting a neighbor to put up a new barn.

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Etymology

Origin of barn raising

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Example Sentences

But as traditional modes of gathering — such as barn raising, knitting circles and church attendance — have declined, loneliness has increased, Cole said.

From Washington Post • Feb. 7, 2022

On the first day, we were on the barn raising set, which is basically the focal point of the movie.

From Fox News • Jun. 20, 2021

According to Margy Vogt, who wrote an essay on the image for the museum’s 75th anniversary catalog, this barn raising gathered more than 200 community members — and it was a party.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2020

Area residents gathered at Eastern Mennonite School for a solar barn raising earlier this month to install 357 solar panels atop the school’s upper building, the largest K-12 solar array in the city.

From Washington Times • Oct. 25, 2020

Pastor Schatz from the Lutheran church had recently organized a barn raising.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson