Day 170: Celebration, Swedish Style

There's a wonderful tradition here in Sweden of celebrating occasions. Tonight, I attended such a celebration in honor of a newly hatched PhD (epidemiology). It struck me that what makes these occasions so special is the thoroughness of the celebration; that the person in focus gets celebrated through and through.

These occasions are marked by conviviality and humor. People go to great efforts to show their appreciation for the guest of honor's achievement or simply for being the person they are. There are speeches and stories and songs, rhymes and jingles, performances and toasts. People dress up and gather in joy. And I imagine the celebrated feels incredibly affirmed and mirrored.

Swedes can teach the rest of the world a thing or two about rejoicing in celebration.