The point of having celebrations
Why do we celebrate moments that will soon be forgotten? I found myself wondering this at a friend’s kid’s first birthday party.
It has been the norm, throwing grand parties for one-year-olds. And with that comes the question — why do we throw celebrations for someone who won’t even remember them?
Obviously, it’s to celebrate the child. A celebration with family and guests. A celebration with food and gifts. A celebration the kid won’t remember.
At the moment, the kid is happy. He is surrounded by people who love him. There’s excitement in his eyes. His glance bounces off the colorful decor and delicious food. He waves his body to the beat of the music. It's a joyful event not only for him, but for everyone. For him, it should be a core memory but it won't be.
We could only remember our early birthday celebrations through photos and videos. I couldn’t even remember where I was during my birthday last year.
Sure, we throw celebrations to make memories. We try to make the special days as memorable as possible. But maybe that’s not the point. Maybe the more important thing is 'just' experiencing them.
Because while memories fade, the experience leaves an imprint beyond what photos or videos can capture.