No two families are alike. Some families celebrate special occasions in a big way, while others prefer to have low-key celebrations for their holidays and anniversaries. Regardless of how your family celebrates, there is always something that can be learned from how other families do it.
Most of the time, families are busy and don’t have time to gather for special occasions. With so much going on in today’s world, families can lose touch with one another. If you want your family to be closer, it is important to celebrate special occasions.
Making Memories Count
Celebrating special occasions is a way to create memories that will last a lifetime. No matter how you celebrate, it is important to keep in mind how special these occasions are and how they can be used as an opportunity to enjoy time with family members.
For example, celebrating anniversaries doesn’t require spouses to only purchase a diamond wedding band to honor the occasion. Simply going out to eat at your favorite restaurant will suffice. The key is making sure that the occasion feels special for everyone.
How to Celebrate Special Occasions
Below are tips on how to celebrate special occasions:
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Create a shared goal for how the occasion will be celebrated
This is very important because it will help everyone feel invested in the occasion. Family members need to feel involved in the event, and this can be achieved by giving everyone a say in how it will take place. For example, family members can delegate tasks about organizing the event, how the party should look and feel, what dishes will be served, or how decorations can be used. This way, everyone can contribute and have a say in how the event is carried out.
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Plan for some time off
It’s important to plan rather than scheduling all activities during work hours or other busy times. That can detract from how special an occasion will feel. It is important to invest time and effort to make any occasion special.
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Recognize how others feel
Some occasions are more difficult for some people than they will be for others, so it’s important to recognize how someone may feel when planning an event. For example, if a child in your family lost their parent recently and you’re getting ready to celebrate Christmas with them, make sure that you’re aware of how they may feel and take that into account when planning how to make the occasion special.
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Talk about how you want it to be
Before a celebration begins or ends, take some time to talk with your family members about how they would like things carried out. How people want their celebrations celebrated can vary, so taking just a little time to talk about how you want occasions to be celebrated can make all the difference.
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Share how you feel
Sometimes, people may not know how to handle a holiday or celebration, and they might get overwhelmed by what others in their life are doing. Sharing how you’re feeling with those around you can help them better understand how to support your needs during this time. This way, everyone will be more prepared for how the celebration will go, and nobody will feel excluded.
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Celebrate with a small gift exchange
Another way to make everyone involved in celebrating is by having each family member bring one wrapped present for all of those participating. You could also have everyone draw names to see who they will get their gift from. This way, the anticipation of how you’re going to feel is heightened, and everyone has an equal chance at getting something they’ll enjoy.
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Create an atmosphere that feels special
The festivities don’t have to cost a lot of money. There are many ways you can make the occasion feel special without spending much at all. You can do this by setting the table with a festive tablecloth, providing snacks and drinks that are appropriate for the occasion, or even dimming the lights, so people feel like they’re in an intimate setting.
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Make sure every person has something to bring
Asking family members to bring something to the table, like a dish or drink relevant to the event being celebrated, is a great way to feel needed and appreciated.
Celebrating Special Occasions as a Family
Families should make an effort to celebrate every special occasion together, even if it’s not a holiday. Celebrating these days will help keep the family close and remind them how much they care about one another. The most important thing is to make sure that everyone feels like part of the celebration. This way, families will be able to improve their bonds and have a great time.
