What the World's Biggest Celebrations Have in Common
One of my favorite things about growing up in international schools has been getting to experience celebrations that weren't originally part of my own family's traditions.
When you're younger, you mostly notice the obvious things first. The decorations, the music, the food, the days off from school. Those are usually the parts everyone gets excited about. As I've gotten older, though, I've realized that the traditions themselves are only part of the story. What I've found more interesting is why people celebrate them in the first place. Even though these holidays come from different countries, religions, and histories, they often revolve around surprisingly similar ideas.
One celebration that has always stood out to me is Diwali, often called the Festival of Lights. While traditions vary across families and regions, one of the central ideas is the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Walking into homes lit with diyas, seeing colorful rangoli designs at the entrance, and watching fireworks fill the sky creates an atmosphere that's both exciting and deeply meaningful. Even if you don't know every story behind the celebration, you can feel how important it is to the people celebrating it.
Another celebration I've always enjoyed learning about is Lunar New Year. It's celebrated across many countries and cultures, each with its own customs, but family is always at the center of it. Whether it's reunion dinners, giving red envelopes, cleaning the house before the new year begins, or watching dragon and lion dances, there's a shared feeling of starting fresh while honoring the generations that came before.
Then there's Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. One of the things I admire most about Eid is its emphasis on gratitude and generosity. Before the celebrations begin, many families make charitable donations so that everyone in the community has the opportunity to celebrate. It's a reminder that joy feels more meaningful when it's shared.
On the Swedish side of my family, Midsummer has always been another celebration I've appreciated learning more about. It doesn't center around fireworks or presents. Instead, it's about taking advantage of the longest days of the year—gathering outside with family and friends, sharing a meal, dancing around the maypole, and appreciating nature after a long winter. It's simple, but that's part of what makes it special.
At first, all of these celebrations seem completely different… Different foods, different traditions, different histories… different reasons for celebrating. But the more I've thought about it, the more I've realized they all point back to many of the same values. They celebrate family. Community. Gratitude. Hope. New beginnings. Remembering the past while looking toward the future. The details change depending on where you are. The ideas behind them often don't.
I think that's one of the biggest things growing up internationally has taught me. It's easy to notice the differences between cultures because they're usually the first things you see. What's harder, and, in my opinion, much more interesting, is noticing the similarities. Because once you look past the decorations and traditions, you realize people around the world aren't actually all that different.
Most of us are looking for the same things: A reason to gather, a reason to celebrate… and a chance to spend time with the people who matter most.