So what does celebration actually mean? I think it depends on who you are, as to how you celebrate. I've used this photo as a way to display that celebration/joy is like a lot of other emotions - very subjective.
You see, these people in this barn look to me as though they are very conservative people - very structured and routine in their normal lives - so, when they come to celebrate, they carry that structure into their celebration. And that's why this barn is not that crowded. Each couple still has a fair bit of space around them - so although it is a celebration, it is still fairly structured - not really one where they are letting their hair down (which is my idea of a celebration). But these people also look like very hard workers and this is their play time. This is how they let their hair down. Just because it differs from my celebration style, doesn't make it right or wrong. It just is what it is.
This card reminded me of a trip I made to Tasmania at Christmas time, early 80's. I travelled with my mother, a younger sister, and my mother's friend. Tasmania is the smallest state in Australia, and it is separated from the mainland by water - so it's kind of an island.
On New Year's Eve, we were staying at a small country club and went to the local restaurant to celebrate. There was a three piece band playing that consisted of two men (a guitarist, a drummer) and a woman (organist). At a guess, I would say their average age was 55. Now, I had just turned 18 and had been frequenting nightclubs, back in my home state (Victoria). And here I was young, hot and ready to trot, on my first New Year's Eve where I was legally allowed to drink - stuck in some little town with a room full of very conservative people.
Notably, my attention was drawn to the only table in the restaurant that had people of my age. It was a family - the father, mother, and four daughters. The father (who I later found out was the local doctor) got each of his daughters up, one at a time, to dance. Were they enjoying themsElves? Were they celebrating? To me, it seemed very contrived, as though they were pretending to celebrate - in order to fulfill the social obligation/expectations of a well-respected local doctor's family. But perhaps this was just my perception. Needless to say, I was back at the motel and in bed by 10pm.
with love
purple_scorp