Traditionally, we celebrate occasions and events on the day of, but celebrating the eve of an occasion or event is rare unless it’s Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve. They say these eves took root in American tradition because both are events that occur at midnight (Jesus’ birth was presumed to be at midnight and the year changes at midnight).
But to me, it’s not so much about the time of the event as the anticipation of the milestone. There are milestone events we look forward to because they mark the beginning of something new and important; a fresh start.
I am enamored with celebrating that beginning on the eve of it.
A NEW YEAR
When I was a kid, I used to gauge years by the school year instead of the calendar year. Didn’t everyone do that?
A new school year isn’t just a milestone moment for the kids, it’s a milestone moment for parents and teachers as well. On that first day of school, we all start a new chapter with new routines, fresh faces, different commutes, and plenty of demands.
That’s why in 2019, I started a new eve celebration in our home: School Year’s Eve. On the night before school starts, we have an intimate school year’s eve party — with just the five fingers.
We cook a special meal, gather around the dinner table and create our resolutions and intentions for the upcoming school year. Now we get to revisit the intentions we had the year prior as well.
We even serve grapes & sparkling cider like we do on New Year’s Eve. (Eating 12 grapes at midnight is an old good luck NYE tradition. I serve 9 instead of 12 to signify the months of the school year.)
We count down right before 9 pm (bedtime) and we all cheer for a year of growth and goodness. It’s nothing fancy or elaborate, but incredibly meaningful and grounding for all of us.
Maybe this will inspire you to celebrate School Year’s Eve in your home; Or maybe you have other eves to look forward to such as your birthday eve or the eve of a journey you’re about to embark on.
Milestones give us something to look forward to, celebrate, and remember.
Being intentional about these milestones is like making sure you don’t miss the last sentence when you turn the page of your favorite book.
Don’t gloss over these moments because you’re too busy with to do’s or the stressors of daily living.
You’ll forget those things — but the moments you pause to be present and intentional — those will be etched in your psyche forever.
