Holiday Experiences and Media Consumption

Families, friends, and communities worldwide celebrate shared values during holidays. Strengthening their connections through holidays fosters unity, happiness, gratitude, and a sense of belonging. Many holidays throughout the year provide opportunities to express appreciation, gratitude, and, most importantly, love. This chapter explores different types of holidays and how active participation in holidays and cultural events contributes to happiness, positivity, self-esteem, and improved mental health. The fascinating research on holidays across various cultures is often overlooked, yet it holds much information and benefits. This chapter reflects on this lesser-explored field and contributes valuable insights to the discussion. Unfortunately, from media consumption, we noticed that there are very few public holidays worldwide! Despite their presence in the digital world, many cultural celebrations are unknown and do not receive meaningful attention to make a significant difference in people’s lives. In many cases, it is imperative to take appropriate and strategic action to increase the number of public holidays, combat social and digital isolation, and support people with their emotional and social well-being. We also explore how the Internet impacts the way people celebrate holidays. Are our connections as strong and meaningful as they were before the Internet? Celebrating holidays can be challenging, but reflecting on why holidays matter and how much space and time they occupy in the media is essential.