celebrations

Tag: celebrations

Christening Celebrations - One Small Child

Christening Celebrations

No doubt about it, when it comes to planning your christening or other special occasion, there is a lot to think about! Personally, I find myself easily overwhelmed at the idea of putting a big event together, and the perfectionist in me feeds the procrastinator…which turns into its own vicious cycle. {wink}

If you’re like me, the best place to begin is to take a bit of time and think about what is most important to you, envision how you want this special day to look and feel, find some inspiration (like these photos from Christi at P is for Party!, who featured this absolutely gorgeous christening and adoption celebration) and then make a list of the details that are most important to you. Figure out your time frame, make a budget and an actionable checklist and dig in! Enlist the help of willing family and friends, do what you can do, and most important, remember to relax and enjoy your special day.

When it comes down to it, the activities and events you plan are closely tied to tradition. Each family and culture has its own style of entertaining and celebrating special events. The amount of planning and preparation involved in these gatherings is directly proportional to that style and covers a broad spectrum. Is your style impromptu, no-frills and laid-back or formal and elegant with minute attention to detail?

Newborn Photography - One Small Child

Celebrations

My family gathered this past weekend to celebrate the blessing of a precious, long-awaited baby. It was fabulous to be together, to feel the spirit of the occasion, to laugh and reminisce and play. These are truly days we remember.

Interestingly enough, we talked about that–the remembering component of celebration. My ever-thoughtful sister pointed out that ancient civilizations instituted celebrations to mark significant religious, political and cultural events (think the Children of Israel and the Passover, etc.). They knew this was the way to instill in themselves and their children the importance of what happened.

Today it is the same: celebrations are our way of reminding ourselves and teaching our children about what is truly important to us, about things we want to internalize and remember for life. I hadn’t thought of it exactly that way before, but truly, the things I remember most clearly in my life are linked to celebrations, which in turn speak about the beliefs and values by which I live.

What celebrations have had a lasting impact or meaning in your life?

photo credit: Paisley Studios