Let’s start with a somewhat neglected holiday that is never
all that exciting but still has the potential for celebration. Every February 2nd,
America anxiously waits for Puxatony Phil to grace us with his presence and
give us a sure sign of whether or not we’re in for an additional six weeks of
winter. Celebrating this holiday could
go either way for you. If Phil reveals that Spring is coming, use Groundhog day
to signify a “Coming of Spring” Celebration! Conversely, if you’re thrilled about the
prolonging winter, use that as cause to celebrate as well.
Either way, have a few friends over and celebrate your
favorite season. A catering tip: choose your hors d’oeuvres, appetizers, and
main courses based on which season you’re celebrating. Serve heavier, comfort
foods for a celebration of winter, opt for lighter fare if you’re celebrating
the coming of warmer months!
Although the Summer Solstice is observed by most people, why
is no one bothering to celebrate it? The longest day of the year and the start of the summer and we never
hear of any great celebrations to recognize this awesome day. It’s tough in New
England to think that weather patterns will actually obey the laws of nature
and that June 21st will in fact be a beautiful day, but more often
than not we do get lucky on this day. If
you’re near the beach, gather up friends and family and throw a cook out and
take advantage of the lasting daylight. Alternatively, host a backyard barbecue
and relish in the fact that there are many more beautiful summer nights to
come. Typical summer foods such as burgers, hot dogs, barbecued chicken, corn
on the cob and pasta and potato salads are ideal choices for serving your
guests.
We’re all familiar with the saying “Beware the Ides of
March”, and of course George Clooney’s 2011 film, “The Ides of March” but until some
extensive google searching, I think I can speak for more than a few people when
I say I really had no idea what the Ides of March even was. Well, behold the answer: The Ides of March is
on March 15th and is an extremely significant day in Roman history-
it being the supposed date of Julius Ceasar’s assassination and a huge turning
point in the Roman Empire. Thus, March 15th marks the first day of
the Roman New Year. This is the perfect excuse to turn a new leaf in your life
if you haven’t exactly lived up to your New Year’s resolutions. Treat the Ides
of March as a New Year celebration round 2. In the middle of a dreary March, everyone could benefit from an excuse to
celebrate, especially if it means starting fresh once again. An awesome idea I witnessed at a New Years Eve
party was a “Resolution Jar” in which everyone makes an anonymous resolution,
puts it in a jar and the hosts go through and chooses their favorite one and
the author of the resolution wins a party favor such as a bottle champagne.
It’s a fun idea to get all your guests involved and the resolutions people come
up with are incredibly entertaining. A great way to try and stick to your New
Year’s resolutions months after you’ve already forgotten about them…
So remember if you ever need an excuse to celebrate
something, look into one of these overlooked holidays and start planning!
