My whole life, almost every major holiday has been spent with my family. Often at my own house. The grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles all show up, and then stay for hours as we just laugh and talk, usually while enjoying a pretty delicious meal. This was normal, almost routine, for 18 years of my life, and I never thought that I wouldn't be there to celebrate with them.
This year, I did not go home for Easter, my first major holiday away from my family. Honestly, it just feels weird.
Almost every major memory I have of my family is based around some sort of holiday gathering, whether that is laughing with my cousins at the end of the Thanksgiving table, playing the most intense game of "unwrap the present" at Christmas, or decorating eggs and eating candy till we're sick at Easter. I grew up with these experiences, and they've definitely shaped how I've come to view holidays and traditions. And, for the first time ever, I won't be there to celebrate with them.
This is a strange experience. It's just another thing to add to the list of "I never thought of that" experiences in college, really. It isn't an "end all, be all" instance, but it feels monumental. It's a big deal to miss a major family event for the first time. Instead of being there with them, you receive snapchats and texts about what's been going on. Which is nice, but it's not the same. In a way, you're even more aware of your distance from home, and you're inability to come back whenever you want. But, despite the downsides to missing out on your family traditions, that does mean that you have the opportunity to experience some new ones.
Not going home for a holiday often means that you get to spend it with someone else; a roommate and their family, or just a couple of your friends. While it may not have been ideal in the first place, it's definitely better than nothing, and absolutely so much fun. You get to see how other people celebrate and experience the same holiday that you do, while also getting the chance to spend it with people that you may not otherwise have had the chance to. Instead of reliving your normal traditions, you get to try some new ones for a change, and may even establish your own. It's another step at establishing your independence now that you've been away from home, and even though it can suck at times, there are so many ways for it to be enjoyable.
Missing your first major holiday back home is just weird, there's no denying it. When you're used to something being one way for your whole life, it can be hard to wrap your head around doing things differently. However, that doesn't mean that the celebration will go to waste. Whether you spend the day at another family's home, or even just hanging out with your friends still on campus, spending a holiday with some new people in your life is just another great experience that you get to add to the list.
