（ it has been so many years since he troubled himself about most of them that it takes him a moment. even when he was a child, he was not one for celebration. his life was study, and training, and work. he had many things to live up to, and very little to live for. ）

We celebrate harvest. The lives of our ancestors. Dates that mark the end of conflict, or the birth or death of notable figures in our country's history. Our festivals tend to involve shared food, lanterns or other such illumination, plays and occasionally fireworks — though there is a moratorium on such things in war time.