There are two kinds of holidays’
formal and informal.
A formal holiday marks a moment in
history, a time that is to be remembered and celebrated. There are icons and
images symbolizing the ideology of the day, and rituals to preserve the past,
though many parrot the words and ape the motions without seeing the meaning
behind them. Formal holidays are a maelstrom of work and preparation so that
when the curtain rises, the show can go on, as it always has.
Informal holidays have no fixed time
or past. They are not a celebration, they are a treasure. Informal holidays are
shaped by desire, self indulgence, and pleasure. “I want” becomes “I act” without
pause or regret, and for a time we are selfish. We don’t worry about tomorrow;
we only fondly remember yesterday, but most of all we are in the moment, our
burdens neatly tucked away in a forgotten chest or cabinet. Don’t look at a
clock, don’t even bring it with you. The sun is high, and that’s all the time
you need to know.
