If you're Christian, Merry Christmas. Also, if you're not Christian, Merry Christmas. I'm not Christian, but I'm a big fan of celebrating Christmas's non-religious aspects -- I love giving gifts, uniting with family and friends, and cooking and eating wonderful foods. As you can see from the photos above, I also love knitting Christmas stockings (though I admit that if I remember to buy stocking-stuffer gifts, I usually do so at the last minute.)
I also, more or less, celebrate Hanukkah. I don't believe that some high deity made a miracle of giving people enough oil for one night of light but making it last for eight, but I do believe that lighting the candles and saying the blessing and playing with a dreidel were memorable parts of my youth that I wanted to share with my own children.
I'm also a big fan of what many holidays can teach us:
- Valentine's Day offers a commitment to sharing the love. (You do know the meaning of my first name, right?)
- Juneteenth's commemorates resilience and persistence and freedom.
- MLKjr Day reminds us that we don't have to be violent to be effective and that love is stronger than hatred.
- New Year's Day offers a chance for people to reflect, renew, and goal-set.
- Veteran's Day provides a reminder to give thanks to those who've allowed us to have the lives we have.
- Thanksgiving, well, it's right in the name.
But those are holidays we all know about. Here are some other reasons to celebrate:
- My birthday offers a chance to be grateful for a body and mind that mostly do what I want. I have the freedom and privilege to make a lot of choices, to eat plentiful nourishing and delicious foods, etc. I'm a lucky girl.
- Your birthdays give me a chance to let you know how wonderful it is that we've crossed paths. You make life better for those around you.
- National Napping Day (March 11) is a great time to enjoy a daytime snooze.
- Bubble-Wrap Appreciation Day (Jan 27) is really popping!
- I wouldn't want to miss National Thumb Appreciation Day (Feb 18). After breaking my clavicle earlier this year, I recognize how important my hands and arms are. Go thumbs!
So I hope you get the idea that there are lots of days out there that encourage us to embrace particular ideas and people, but why not go all-in? Every day is a gift worthy of celebration. What do you have to celebrate today? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Have you heard of the Celebrate Every Day Calendar (https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/store#!/%E2%80%8B2025-National-Day-Wall-Calendar/p/690312064)? I used to buy it when I user wall calendars but I don’t anymore. However, I am subscribed to their newsletter (https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/follow-us). I think they’re really fun and it always gives me a fun intention for the day (i.e. try and eat pumpkin pie on national pumpkin pie day).
I’ve heard of it now and will subscribe momentarily. Thanks and I hope you (and the fam) have a merry Christmukkah!
I love celebrating too or just spending a few minutes to remember. I celebrate the solstices and equinoxes and birthdates of people who are dead, but whom I want to remember, some death dates too. You named some good occasions I hadn’t thought of. Thanks!
Merry Christmas 🎄
Yes, I like the idea that taking time to enjoy a memory is its own kind of celebration!
Merry Christmakkuh to you, too, Pattie!
My brain is going to explode at that list of holidays that aren’t in chronological order, so today I will celebrate enjoying the chaos day.
Please enjoy Chaos Day, but don’t go anywhere near Brain Explosion Day.