我决定设立自己的节日　I Resolved to make Our Own Holidays

Every day of our lives we are on the verge of making those slight changes that would make all the difference.

～Mignon McLaughlin

It is a bittersweet day when we carefully wrap our holiday ornaments to store in the attic. But years ago, as I was about to take the stockings down, I thought，“If I put these away, there won't be presents in them until next December！That doesn't make sense.”So I left one stocking up, where it stays all year.And every so often there's a present in it-for no reason whatsoever.

Sometimes my husband Bob or I will say to each other，“Have you checked the stocking?”It's never anything big-maybe a candy bar or a crossword puzzle book.

Every Christmas, we have an elegant dinner by candlelight. This year, as I felt glowingly aware of the uniqueness of the day, time stopped for me in a moment of bliss.And I said to Bob，“Why can't more days be like this?”

“They can't，”he said.“This day is special because it comes once ayear.”

“But that's just in our minds. Life's too short to limit celebrations to what it says on a calendar.”

We were savoring Yorkshire pudding when Bob said，“If we had this more often, we wouldn't appreciate it.”

“Who says?Every summer when you bite into a lusciously ripe home-grown tomato, you close your eyes in a state of nirvana. Would you want one tomato a year?”

“No，”he laughed.“But holidays are different.”

“I think you're wrong. It's all what we tell ourselves.I don't want to wait until next December to feel holiday joy.”

“But that's when the season comes.”

“Why hold off until a certain date to rejoice?”I said.“We don't need an excuse to celebrate. Can't we resolve to make our own tradition of, let's say……having the first day of each month a make-your-own holiday?It doesn't have to be a huge deal.And it's only twelve days a year.We could do something special, like order take-out Chinese food-and eat it by candlelight.”

On Christmas, Bob gave me a beautiful glass snow globe. When I gently shake it, snow fakes softly whirl around a dainty evergreen tree.On each limb is a tiny red candle.It's magical to watch the snow swirl as it slowly settles around the tree.And it brings back memories.When I was a little girl I'd watch snow twirl around a ballerina in a globe, making her seem alive as the fakes made their way toward her pink ballet slippers.

I'm not putting Bob's gift away, even though it's a Christmas scene. It's too beautiful to store in the attic.So it will rest on my mantle where I can treasure its beauty.And my favorite ornament, a hand painted oyster shell from Cape Cod, and of course the stocking, will stay downstairs so we can savor more bliss all year long.

I don't want to miss any potential for festivity. Why would I?Where is it written that corned beef is only for St.Patrick's Day or maple-glazed ham for Easter?Plus, must we wait for friends' birthdays to give them presents?

And so, we both made the resolution to celebrate the first day of every month.“If we don't set the date, we may not do it，”I said.

And frankly, I think making our own traditions is just as meaningful as conventional rituals. Because they don't come from a calendar.They come from the love in one's heart.

～Saralee Perel

每一天，我们都面临看似微不足道的选择，但我们的选择意义重大。

——蜜妮安·麦克劳克林

这一天真是喜忧参半啊！我们小心翼翼地把节日的装饰品打包，放进阁楼里。不过在几年前，当我想把袜子摘下来时，突然想到：“如果把这些袜子都收走，那就只有等到明年12月才会有礼物了！太荒谬了。”于是，我仍然留下了一只袜子，一整年都没有动它。即使没有什么过节的理由，袜子里也时不时会冒出一件礼物。

有时，我和丈夫鲍勃会询问对方：“去看过袜子了吗？”袜子里不会有什么贵重的礼物，也许是一块糖，也许是一本填字游戏的书。

每年圣诞节，我们都会吃一顿高雅的烛光晚餐。今年，我越来越觉得这个日子独一无二，仿佛时间都已停下脚步，停留在这幸福的一刻。我对鲍勃说：“为什么只能有一天是这样的？”

“其他日子不行啊，”丈夫说道，“这一天很特别，因为一年才有一次。”

“不过，这都是我们想出来的。人生苦短，不能只庆祝日历上标出来的节日。”

我们正在品尝约克郡布丁29，鲍勃说道：“如果我们经常过节，就不会心怀感激了。”

“谁说的？每年暑假，你吃着自家种的香甜可口的西红柿时，还不是陶醉地闭上了眼睛。难道你想一年只吃一个西红柿？”

“不，”鲍勃大笑道，“但是，节日和西红柿不同啊。”

“我觉得你错了。这都是我们对自己说的。我不想等到明年12月再体会过节的快乐。”

“但那时才是真正迎来节日活动的时候。”

“为什么要刻意把持，等到某个特定的日子才高高兴兴呢？”我说道，“我们不需要什么理由来庆祝。难道我们不能创造自己的传统，比如说……把每个月的第一天设立为自己的节日？不用弄得轰轰烈烈，而且一年也就12天。我们可以做一些特别的事情，比如说叫中国菜的外卖，然后就着烛光大快朵颐。”

圣诞节时，鲍勃给了我一个漂亮的玻璃雪球。我轻轻地摇晃雪球，雪花就会慢悠悠地绕着精致的常青树旋转。每一根树枝上都有一支红红的小蜡烛。我看着雪花飘舞，然后慢慢落在树的四周，这真神奇，也让我想起了过去。我还是个小女孩时，就看过雪球里的雪花在一名芭蕾舞女演员身边旋转。雪花飘向粉色的芭蕾舞鞋，芭蕾舞女演员似乎也有了生命。

即使只是圣诞节的应景礼物，我也不准备把鲍勃的礼物放到一边。玻璃雪球太美了，不能就这样放进阁楼。所以，我会把雪球放在自己的披风上，以便随时欣赏它的美丽。我最喜欢的装饰品——一只从科德角30带来的手绘牡蛎壳，还有那只袜子，都会留在楼下，这样我们一整年都能汲取更多幸福和快乐。

我不想错过任何欢庆的机会。为什么要错过呢？哪里写着只有在圣帕特里克节31才能吃咸牛肉，或者只有在复活节才能吃枫糖火腿？此外，是不是一定要等到朋友生日，才能送他们礼物？

所以，我和鲍勃都下定决心要庆祝每个月的第一天。“如果我们不定下日子，可能就做不到了。”我说道。

说实话，我觉得自己设立的节日和传统的节日仪式同样有意义，因为自己设立的节日并不源自日历，而是源自心中的爱。

——萨拉莉·佩雷尔