Holidays are my favorite way of marking the passing of time. They bring people together and make for good stories, since everyone has something to share.

For instance, Christmas is my favorite holiday. Not just because it's an excuse to accumulate presents, but because of the joy I experience when I think someone will remember the gift I gave them. Traditionally, my family would pile into a car to go to a tree farm and cut down our tree. This tree farm was one of the few places in California where it would snow, so there was always a layer of snow on the trees. While my siblings and I waited for my parents to load our fresh-cut tree onto the roof of our car, we could purchase cups of hot apple cider and drink them on the way home.

Soon after Christmas, my family celebrates the new year by staying up until midnight on our roof to watch fireworks. When I was 10 and I lived in a highrise, almost everyone in the building gathered on the community terrace to watch the night sky fill with explosions from all directions. It was very special to me because my neighbors and I were each celebrating by looking at something beautiful.

Later in the year, I celebrate my birthday with friends and family by organizing a party and reflecting on the previous year. It’s great to see all the friends I’ve made gathered in my honor and making me feel like the most special person in the world for one day. However, one year I threw a huge party and invited my whole class. Thirty-five people were invited, and only four people showed. That disappointment stuck with me, especially since not even my closest friends could make it.

I don’t think that anyone's way of marking the passing of time is better than anyone else's, but stories like these can make you think that we are all similar in some way. If you have the chance, make sure to tell your community how you appreciate the way you celebrate. These kinds of memories affect the people we grow to be.