Man with a 32-year-long career commemorates his retirement with a ceremonial 'suit burning'

The hustle and bustle of a fast-paced life often makes people forget to slow things down. Earning money is of utmost priority in this unaffordable world. Hence, our other interests and passions may have to take a sidestep because, based on a popular notion, retirement is the right time for such activities. So, after years of toiling hard, most people step into their retirement life with full-on excitement and one man kickstarted it with an interesting ceremony. Eloise—who goes by @eloise19876 on TikTok—shared how her father celebrated his retirement with a ceremonious "suit burning," which went viral.

In the video posted by Eloise this August, her dad can be seen arriving home from work- fully suited up and carrying his briefcase. As soon as he enters his house, he goes to the backyard, where his family awaits him. He greets them cheerfully and stands next to an outdoor wood burner. He then begins to take off his formal work wear- starting from his ID card, tie, and then his suit. The man strips down from work clothes to a casual shirt and shorts as though he is on vacation. As the flames burn bright in the wood burner, Eloise's dad throws in his formal clothes one by one. 

After years of showing up at work in a suit, he is finally free from them and celebrates that he no longer has to wear them daily. As the clothes burn into ashes in the burner, the retiree stands by its side with a wide grin on his face and a ukulele in his hands. The excitement of starting the next phase of his life is quite evident on his face and one can not help but relate to it. "Last day at the office for my dad, ceremonial burning of the suit," Eloise wrote in the caption. The vintage song, "Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)" by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, playing in the background, could not have been more fitting to the man's situation.

People were absolutely amused and inspired by this interesting ceremony to mark the beginning of one's retirement life. "My dad said thank you. He's going to do that to his uniform after over 35 years in khaki," said @besitos17.5. "Congratulations! Wishing him a long and happy retirement. I’m not jealous. No, not at all," quipped @tiktokgoesmyclocktiktok. "Well done, great idea. I wish I had thought of that. Done it with my school uniform, much to my mother's dismay," added @dennis.murray82. 

Eloise's dad, Jamie MacPherson, 66, has been a financial advisor for over 32 years in Cotswold, England. It turns out that this "suit burning" was not his first celebratory ceremony. "It was reminiscent of when I burned my school cap upon leaving school nearly 50 years ago," MacPherson, a father of two and a beloved grandad, told Newsweek. After starting to work at the early age of 17, this was the first time that MacPherson had truly felt free. "I'm looking forward to plenty of holidays, learning to play the ukulele, diving deeper into my passion for family history, and enjoying my love for backgammon," he added.

You can follow Eloise (@eloise19876) on TikTok for more family content.