IMPORTANCE OF COMMEMORATION

Photo: Malouhechanova / Pinterest

Introduction

As the days before my 19th birthday on First Saturday of February, what's your importance of? Commemoration? Birthday? Anniversary? or Centennial or Millennial?

Commemoration

Commemoration is the act of officially remembering and showing respect for a significant person, group, or past event. It often takes the form of a formal ceremony, a public holiday, or the creation of a lasting physical memorial. 

Solemn events such as memorial services, moments of silence, or marches. The construction of statues, plaques, monuments, or buildings to ensure a person or event is not forgotten. The creation of music, literature, artwork, or digital archives. Regular dates designated to mark historical events, such as independence days or war anniversaries. 

Unlike a "celebration," which is typically a joyful appreciation or social gathering, a commemoration is often a more serious and respectful occasion. It focuses on assigning collective meaning to history to help society understand its past and shape its future. In religious contexts, particularly in the Anglican and Catholic churches, it refers to specific prayers or portions of a liturgy used to honor a lesser feast day that coincides with a major one. 

Etymology

The term commemoration finds its origins in both linguistic history and ancient cultural practices, evolving from a simple act of "calling to mind" into formalized rituals of public remembrance. Linguistically, the word "commemoration" emerged in the late 14th century, derived from the Latin root commemorātiōnem. 

com-, often used as an intensive prefix meaning "with" or "together". Root (memorare), meaning "to remind" or "bring to remembrance," itself from memor, meaning "mindful." PIE Root, traced further back to the Proto-Indo-European root (s)mer-, which means "to remember".

In the Middle Ages, the origins of commemorations were deeply tied to the "commemoration of the dead". This involved founding Masses and memorial services to shorten a person's time in purgatory through prayer. In liturgy, a "commemoration" was a specific prayer added to the Mass to honor a secondary feast or saint. Ancient Roman historical commemoration often centered on the triumph, a civil and religious ceremony for victorious generals, or the supplicatio, a public thanksgiving.

Birthday

The origins of birthday celebrations trace back over 5,000 years, evolving from ancient religious and political rites for rulers into the personal celebrations known today. c. 3000 BCE, The earliest recorded "birthdays" were not the literal birth of a person but the coronation day of a pharaoh. This event was viewed as the pharaoh's "birth" as a god. The Greeks adopted these celebrations for their own deities. Most notably, they honored Artemis, the moon goddess, with moon-shaped cakes topped with lit candles to mimic her lunar glow. Romans were the first to celebrate the birthdays of "common" people, though initially only for men. They threw feasts and offered sacrifices to a person's Genius (a protective spirit born with them). Early Christians initially rejected birthdays as "pagan" rituals. This changed around the 4th century when the Church began celebrating the birth of Jesus (Christmas), gradually making personal birthdays more acceptable. The modern children's birthday party originated here with Kinderfeste. Children were celebrated with a cake and candles—one for each year of life plus one "for the light of life". 

Early Christians initially rejected birthdays as "pagan" rituals. This changed around the 4th century when the Church began celebrating the birth of Jesus (Christmas), gradually making personal birthdays more acceptable. The modern children's birthday party originated here with Kinderfeste. Children were celebrated with a cake and candles—one for each year of life plus one "for the light of life". 

Birthday Cakes & Candles traced to Greek tributes for Artemis. The belief was that candle smoke carried prayers to the gods, which evolved into the modern tradition of making a secret wish. The "Happy Birthday" Song is composed in 1893 by sisters Mildred and Patty Hill as a classroom greeting called "Good Morning to All". The lyrics were later adapted into the birthday version we sing today. Gifts & Protection, ancient cultures believed people were more vulnerable to evil spirits on their birthdays. Friends would gather to offer "good vibes," noise (to scare spirits), and gifts to ensure protection and luck. Birthday Cards, while the ancient Chinese and Egyptians exchanged goodwill notes, the first commercial birthday cards were produced in Victorian England around 1870. 

Reference

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