subject: Celebrations - Honoring The Occasion [print this page] Humanity has long gathered together in groups both small and large to enjoy each other's company in celebrations for one thing or another. The fact is that these gatherings have been social bonding events since the dawn of time. Whether based on religion or the mere anniversary of various events and rites of passage, these parties often form the bedrock of many cultural structures. In short, they constitute some of the most important ingredients of the social compact.
Celebrations are, at their core, parties. Though they can range from subdued, low-key affairs to wild recreational events, they all have one thing in common: they are designed to bring together family and friends in a social setting to honor some occasion.
There are some celebrations that are found everywhere in the world. Almost everybody celebrates a new birth, and the subsequent anniversary of that birth each year thereafter. Likewise, most cultures engage in celebration of marriage. It is no wonder that these types of events are honored almost universally, since the family forms the foundation of most societies.
Of course, those basic celebrations are not the only ones worthy of note. Christians around the globe mark such important holidays as Easter and Christmas, while Jewish families celebrate the Passover, as well as the festival of lights. Religious holidays are unique to geography, but common in theme no matter what country you are in. Such holidays are found in every culture and climate on the planet.
Take Saint Patrick's for example. Sure, it is ostensibly designed for the celebration of all things Irish - but its colorful traditions and party atmosphere have an appeal that transcends its ethnic orientation. We all feel just a little bit Irish during that greenest of occasions.
In the United States, there are a number of holidays that are celebrated each year, all of which are an attempt to maintain the memory of key events in American history. Thanksgiving is, of course, the prototypical American holiday. It honors the strength and courage of our pilgrim forefathers as they braved the elements and hazards of the New World.
Of course, the Independence Day celebrations are among the rowdiest of the year. Held every year on July 4th, these celebrations are seen in nearly every town and hamlet across the country, as citizens gather, party, and end the celebration with traditional firework displays that serve to remind us all of the Grace and power that helped forge this great land.
And what would celebrations be if commercial anniversaries had not been created. Businesses recognize the potential inherent in such gatherings and occasions, and have responded with holidays uniquely suited to padding their pockets and corporate coffers. Whether it is Valentine's, Mother's Day, or a host of other made-to-order celebrations, these holidays are as much about selling goods as they are about demonstrating love.
From celebrations that honor the seasons to modern day wonders like the Super Bowl and World Series, mankind never seems to run out of reasons to gather and rejoice. Celebrations are, quite simply, among the most important of the rituals that renew our common human bonds.
