Pomp and circumstance

Pomp and circumstance’
Pomp and circumstance was trending earlier in the week, likely in connection with Monday’s presidential inauguration.

While Sen. John Fetterman wears a suit and tie on the Senate floor ever since the chamber revoked its casual dress code in September of 2023, the Pennsylvania Democrat was true to form on Inauguration Day. Mr. Fetterman … showed up to the inauguration sporting his classic attire of a hoodie and gym shorts despite Washington's frigid wind chill that sent the pomp and circumstance of the day’s events inside the U.S. Capitol.
— Benjamin Kail, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 21 Jan. 2025

Pomp and circumstance is used to refer to the “impressive formal activities or ceremonies” that may accompany many events and happenings, but a note of frivolity is also part of the expression: the relevant sense of circumstance is “attendant formalities and ritualistic display especially as contrasted with essential procedure” and pomp can mean “a show of magnificence,” “a ceremonial or festival display (such as a train of followers or a pageant),” or simply “vainglory.”