The question of whether or not to celebrate a divorce with a party is causing heated debate on both sides of the argument. As the trend gains celebrity endorsement, with the likes of Jack White and Karen Elson, who threw a divorce party in 2011, Scarlett Johansson and Katie Price, all getting in on the fun, ordinary mortals are left wondering if they, too, ought to be celebrating, instead of mourning the end of their marriage.
With household name retailers now offering divorce gift lists, presumably to replace the items divorcees would lose in the division of shared property, it would appear the trend is gaining national momentum.
Reasons to be Cheerful
Family law solicitors can make the legal proceedings go more smoothly, but dealing with the emotional issue is left to individuals.
Those in favour of divorce parties claim that if the divorce is amicable and both parties have lots of mutual friends, getting along well with the extended family, then there’s no reason why everyone shouldn’t gather to celebrate the end of the marriage. The party, they argue, lets everyone know that all is well and there is no reason to take sides.
On the other side of the argument, there are those who argue that if all was well, there would be no divorce. The very fact of the divorce means that all is not well, that a family is splitting up, that possibly children are involved who will lose regular contact with one parent and that such a situation should never be celebrated.
The Moral Debate
Given that divorce signifies the end of a way of life, with both parties embarking on new and separate lives, somehow marking the occasion may seem appropriate, in much the same way as we mark the death of a loved one with a funeral or wake. Certainly throwing a party is a way to draw a line under the end of the marriage and create a way to move forward.
How you feel about your divorce seems to play a part in whether or not you want to throw a party. Some people seem to divorce amicably and certainly, if you can keep arguments to the minimum, it is the best way to do it. On the other hand, there are those who claim that the breakup of the family is never something to celebrate and that a celebration sends the wrong impression to children.
Children are naturally confused when their parents’ divorce. Losing one parent from the family home is rarely an event to feel happy about. Whether or not divorce is an occasion that should be approached sombrely and with due respect to the ongoing consequences, is a matter of opinion.
Instead of arguing over the rights and wrongs of the issue, we should perhaps celebrate the differences in human nature and let people do what feels right to them. Who knows, by this time next year, it may well be possible to get your divorce online with a simple click here.