While ringing in 2015 will be heralded as a large-scale international celebration as well in smaller, more intimate ways, there are plenty of other big and small occasions you can celebrate throughout the year — aside from the obvious stuff like birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, major milestones and events like graduations, engagements and retirements. Many are one-time occasions or “firsts,” while others are recurring and can become family traditions to commemorate. (My sweet Grandpa used to cut greeting cards in half and mail them to my siblings and me on our half birthdays! I still think of him every November 15th.)
Of course, a celebration doesn’t need to involve something extravagant like a party or an elaborate dinner or a fancy bottle of champagne. It could be a date for ice cream or a special card or a few balloons or a batch of brownies. Just something that makes the person (or people) feel honored and the occasion feel more special than a garden-variety day.
With that celebration spirit in mind, here are 35 non-birthday, non-anniversary, non-holiday occasions to consider celebrating with your family or friends:
- First date anniversary
- The last day of school
- A great report card
- The last night together before everyone goes off to camp/summer program/college
- The first night together after everyone comes home from camp/summer program/college
- Visits from the Tooth Fairy
- A promotion
- College acceptances
- Completing a major business deal
- Nailing an audition
- A health triumph or recovery
- The anniversary of a major health triumph
- Finishing a big project
- A first haircut or a haircut for a Locks of Love donation
- Accomplishing a personal goal like finishing War and Peace or improving pitch speed or running a 5K
- When someone special comes to visit
- Moving into a new house or finishing a renovation
- Achieving a diet or fitness goal
- Getting a role in a play
- Opening night
- Closing night
- Winning a special game, match or tournament
- Conquering a fear
- Being quoted or having someone’s picture appear in the newspaper
- Checking off a bucket list dream
- Getting a driver’s permit or license
- The end of a sports season
- Music recitals
- Tuesday. Or Friday. Or Wednesday. You get where I’m going with this.
- Receiving an award or honor
- The anniversary of a pet joining the family
- Getting elected or appointed to a position
- Half-birthdays
- Being accepted to a special program
- Just because… (My dad and stepmom threw a fabulous party a couple of years ago “just because” they wanted to surround themselves with all the family and friends they love. It was the best!)
What other occasions do you celebrate?