Have you ever dated someone whose enthusiasm in life felt like a draught in comparison to your ocean of fervour? At some point, I was dating someone whose desire to celebrate anything was as low as my bank balance when I was a fresh graduate. When I look at the pictures of my birthday dinner with him, I have unhappiness written all over my face in bold. Diwali was me, dressed in Indian wear and him, sitting in a pair of shorts and a tank. The thing is, special occasions, give you a glimpse into the life you’d have, in the years to come.
Birthdays, anniversaries and festivals happen every year. And if you are on the same page, building memories every year on those special days makes you feel alive. Things didn’t last with him, because I didn’t want to get bored at every occasion, every year of my life.
According to a 2020 University of Illinois study, rituals and festivals allow couples to assess their partnership for longevity. “Rituals have the power to bond individuals and give us a preview into family life and couple life. We found they help magnify normative relationship experiences,” says Chris Maniotes, lead author of the paper, published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.