Last week’s burning question was around your favorite holiday if there was only one holiday that you could celebrate per year.
Most of the answers identified the favorite as Thanksgiving. Most said they enjoyed eating and spending time with family and friends. And no expectations for gifts. We had one for Christmas and one for Easter. Personally, my favorite is Halloween.
Holidays are designed to celebrate events. Some are religious in origin. Others deal with cultural things. And some celebrate major events in this country’s history. Some people have holidays that celebrate them. For a time, Columbus Day celebrated Christopher Columbus. That has since shifted quite a bit over the years and now it doubles as Indigenous People’s Day. Basically, celebrating two groups.
We celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. We celebrate the fact that he was a leader who emboldened and energized his community around civil rights, freedom and equality.
Memorial Day and Veterans Day honor the armed forces. Veterans Day celebrates those who have served in the military, and Memorial Day remembers those who lost their lives in combat.
July 4 is our country’s birthday. You either eat BBQ, drink beer and watch fireworks, or if you’re Joey Chestnut, you try to stuff as many hotdogs down your throat as you can.
Some have their origins in religion. Christmas and Easter are celebrated by people of faith. Or at least it gives you an excuse a couple days a year to put on your Sunday best, go to church, and then take pictures of yourself doing it.
Other holidays are mixed in throughout the year. Valentine’s Day in February, St. Patrick’s Day, in March, Mother’s Day, in May, Father’s Day in June, as well as Juneteenth, which is our newest Federal holiday, and then of course Labor Day, which is the unofficial start of back to work and school.
Then, of course, there are those fringe holidays that were probably created by Hallmark to sell cards. We have Bosses’ Day, Talk Like a Pirate Day, Administrative Professionals Day, and Grandparents’ Day. I remember asking my dad when I was little why there was no Children’s Day. He quickly snapped, “Every day is children’s day around here.” I knew that was my cue to shut up and leave him alone.
You know all of us have a holiday, don’t you? It is known as our birthday. We’re very good at celebrating it for others but I wonder how many of us actually celebrate it for ourselves.
Your birthday represents the end of one year in the beginning of another. I wonder if we should take that day and first do a look back and celebrate all the wins from the previous year? A good friend of mine has a ritual around Thanksgiving where everyone writes down something they are thankful for and shares it with the group. Maybe this is a good chance to get some thanks to yourself! Recognize your accomplishments! Celebrate the wins! Eat your favorite foods. Do the things that you love. It’s a celebration of life! Then, maybe it’s time to look at the coming year. Take some time to set some new goals for yourself. Think about new things you want to accomplish and learn. After all, if you do this, you will have even more to celebrate on your next birthday.
So, while nobody in the burning question identified their birthday as their favorite holiday, I’m in encourage you to make it yours. That day is truly all about you. Maybe we should use that day to embrace the irreplaceable you!