Thesis advisor: Sara Moorman / My grandfather passed away four years ago of cancer. Every family member made their way to Cape Cod during his last few days in order to say their good-byes. It was not until the day after the last grandchild said good-bye that my grandfather passed away. We all felt that he wanted to wait so he could say good-bye to all of us. I have talked to many people who have had similar experiences with family members and friends. Some people have held on to see people one last time; others have wanted to make another birthday, while others have wanted to see another holiday that is special to them. In the present study, I explored the death dip, death rise phenomenon. Specifically, I analyzed mortality rates around the New Year’s Day, Christmas, and Pioneer Day. I examined two days before and two days after the holiday within specific cities (Project 1: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago; Project 2: Salt Lake City, Boise, Little Rock; Project 3: Atlanta, Oklahoma City, New Orleans) within a five-year period (1998-2002). The data observed found a death dip and death rise present for New Year’s in New York City and Chicago. There was not a death dip or death rise observed for Project 2, Project 3, or Los Angeles in Project 1. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Sociology Honors Program. / Discipline: Sociology.