Many years ago, I first heard a suggestion during a marriage enrichment class: couples should find every excuse to celebrate.
Celebrating is uplifting; it brings people together, nourishes the soul, and strengthens social bonds. Whether it is a twosome, a small group, or a gathering with family or friends, these moments remind us of our need for connections in this era of information overload and endless social media interruptions. Face-to-face meetings are not only essential but also refreshing. It keeps us engaged and practising our social skills.
Birthdays and wedding anniversaries are a given, but what about the anniversary of a first date, a first kiss (if you still remember!), a promotion, or a pay raise? Any occasion, big or small, can be an opportunity for celebration.
Whenever you are invited to one, go! If there are no invitations- create a celebration and invite. Celebrations do not have to be extravagant—why not a quiet, lovingly prepared meal at home (or exotic takeaways) or an outing for dessert?
The importance of celebrations is evidenced by the fact that they exist in all cultures. In earlier agricultural societies, festivals were often tied to the harvest, expressing gratitude or pleading to nature or deities for a fruitful season. Usually, they involve synchrony in music and movement, i.e., resulting in dances we now call Folk Dances.
Psychologists today recognise synchrony as beneficial for social bonding and cohesion. In ancient cultures, entire villages would come together to dance in celebration, strengthening the ties that held them together. Today, we can join a choir or enrol in a line dancing class, perhaps.
Birthday celebrations take on special significance, particularly for those in their senior years. December 2024 marks one milestone birthday for me as it ends with an “0”! My children organised a gathering at a private venue, bringing together over 40 relatives and friends from near and far. Kind words were shared, and a humorous skit was performed in my honour and with much laughter at my expense. It was heart-warming to receive my children’s tributes, and I am happy to be alive to hear them rather than have them say when all my senses have shut down.
December reminds us of one of the most widely celebrated birthdays, not infrequently accompanied by skits in some communities. That special birthday is the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, known to many as Christmas. Although primarily observed in Western countries, Christmas celebrations are present (especially for commercial reasons) in major cities across Asia and even in populous India and China.
The birth of Jesus Christ over 2,000 years ago, in the humble village of Bethlehem, is still commemorated worldwide today, crossing cultures, countries, and languages in a way unparalleled by any other historical figure. There is undoubtedly something remarkable and miraculous about who he claimed to be, his life, and teachings that continue to inspire such enduring reverence. Check him out!
Today, as we approach the close of 2024, there is one reason to celebrate — to congratulate ourselves on having survived another calendar year!
Merry Christmas to all who observe this season of joy, and best wishes for a bright and prosperous New Year in 2025!
Ching Jee Fan
Dr Ching Jee Fan studied Medicine at the University of Malaya in the late 1970s. He has practised in Malaysia, Singapore, and the UK. He has called New Zealand home for half his life and is currently a (mostly) retired Radiologist.
