It won’t come as a shock to anyone that holidays are a huge deal for us humans here on planet Earth. They’re our way to bond with our communities and maintain our link with history. They’re also often an excuse to eat delicious food surrounded by the people we care about most in the world. Not to mention that holidays usually entail lots of enjoyable activities and games, not just devout and dutiful prayers.
Statista reports that the most popular national and religious events in the United States are Thanksgiving (with a popularity rating of 79%), Memorial Day (78%), and Christmas (also 78%).
Next in terms of popularity are Veterans Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day, all with a rating of 77%. Easter is also a big favorite among Americans with a 71% popularity rating while Halloween (68%), New Year’s Eve (67%), and St. Patrick’s Day are still very much beloved, too. 57% of Americans listed Hanukkah as their favorite holiday while 56% did so for Valentine’s Day and 37% for Ramadan.
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Dr. Geher explained to us why holidays and traditions are such important parts of our lives. "Holidays and various cultural traditions are fundamental, and the nature of the holidays varies from culture to culture. Culturally prescribed gatherings are an extremely basic part of the human experience," he told Bored Panda via email.
"Such gatherings provide opportunities for people to foster and cultivate connections with important others in their lives. Sharing of things like food and gifts, as well as creative activities, such as music, solidify important bonds between people. Given how social we are by nature, this is all very foundational."
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And on that note, live broadcast television that you access by turning on the TV and flipping through the channels to see what's on. There will still be live events, of course, but in 25 years those may be accessed just through apps. It was only recently that "appointment TV" still provided a common reference point for masses of Americans.
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We were curious about what it is that gives traditions longevity. Dr. Geher shed some light on this question. "Traditions that stick around and have longevity are essentially selected by cultural evolutionary processes. At some point, someone figured out that giving children gifts for Christmas was something that put smiles on a lot of faces and created lots of connections between members of family and friend groups," he said.
"So, gift-giving as part of the holiday tradition was selected, in this case. The concept of rebirth and new beginnings is something that seems to exist in all cultures. And various forms of new year celebrations, which often include gatherings of people who are close to one another, maintain social connections in very important ways. Given the fact that we are a highly social ape, processes that cultivate and amplify social connections will naturally be selected," Dr. Geher said, adding that he wishes all the readers of Bored Panda a happy end of year and holiday season.
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I am talking about the tradition of making up a small basket of goodies and leaving it on a friend's doorstep, ringing the bell and then hiding. This was a thing still in the 70s/80s when I was growing up, but I don't know any kids anymore that do this.
From a purely economic perspective, traditions are great for business. The more widely celebrated and the more hyped up, the better. It’s no secret that people tend to spend way more money around the holidays, and many companies rely on these consumer habits to make a profit and stay in business.
Investopedia notes that American consumer spending on gifts and other holiday expenses has increased every year since 2009. This trend is expected to continue throughout this year, too. It’s estimated that US consumers will spend between $979.5 billion and $989 billion on holiday-related things in 2024, compared to $955.6 billion back in 2023.
Meanwhile, the author of the interesting online thread, u/Extreme-Routine3822, was kind enough to share a few thoughts of their own.
We were curious to get their insights on which holidays are likely to stand the test of time the best over the next few decades.
"I think something that brings people closer together will last for a long time," they told Bored Panda. In their opinion, it's holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving that have the best chances of surviving.
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There were maybe 40 people, of whom many, like me, didn't attend.
I think we stayed for under 30 minutes.
We asked the internet user, given how much consumers tend to spend during the holidays, whether it's still possible to enjoy the festivities without splurging too much.
"I think the most important thing about holidays is the inner peace that people get from it," they said.
"So, money is not that important, but as festivals come very rarely, we tend to celebrate it extravagantly."
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You’ve probably noticed retailers and businesses offering holiday-themed products earlier and earlier each year. It’s not just your imagination—it’s all very much a real phenomenon. CNN reports that retailers are tricking consumers to spend more by rolling out Halloween earlier. To be fair, many Americans love this earlier marketing, happy to get a head start on their spooky shopping. At least for now. You never know when this strategy might backfire if taken too far.
Meanwhile, Xmas ‘creep’ is very real, too. An analysis conducted by the Guardian shows that there is a “slow and steady takeover of the calendar by Christmas-themed items, songs, and adverts.” At least in the United Kingdom. All those memes about Mariah Carey’s voice being heard all over town earlier and earlier each year are frightfully true.
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edit: please stop telling me about your neighborhood where this isn’t the case, the fact that something that used to be ubiquitous is now only happening in like half the country is still a sign of a dying tradition, please stop being pedants.
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For the past few elections (especially since Covid) this is no longer the case. I miss it!
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I know I never if I dont get one.
Which holidays and traditions are your favorite, dear Pandas? Which ones do you expect not only to survive but also to thrive in the future?
On the flip side, what traditions do you think might be completely forgotten over the next few decades? Do you have any fun family traditions that you’d like to share with everyone else? Feel free to tell us all about it in the comments.
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