Have you heard about the enneagram? It’s a personality typing system that is dynamic, rather than fixed. I first heard about it when I heard Dave Ramsey do an interview with author, Ian Morgan Cron on The Dave Ramsey Show about his book, The Road Back to You, which he co-wrote with Suzanne Stabile and had just been released. I bought the book shortly after I heard that interview and read it. It was fascinating to learn about myself, but mostly I found it to be an explanation for my behavior and why I did things, like make up my own holidays.
One of my made up holidays is Pajama Day. I started Pajama Day when I was in my mid to late 30’s. One year on Christmas Eve, our family had just had our last extended family celebration until December 26. I was tired and stressed from trying to create the “perfect” Christmas for my children. Apparently I had neglected to make sure that I was enjoying the festive things I was doing. I decided on the car ride home that Christmas Eve, that I would spend all day Christmas Day in my new Christmas pajamas.
Having made my mind up to do it, I carried out my plan. I even cooked and ate Christmas Day dinner in my pajamas. (This was unheard of in my extended family where a holiday meal was eaten off china that had to be hand washed. The utensils were sterling silver and also had to be hand washed. The glasses were stemware that, you guessed it, also had to be hand washed.) I loaded the dishwasher in my pajamas, put leftovers away in my pajamas, and then I sat down to read my new book, in my pajamas. It was a wonderful laidback celebration, which renewed my social energy enough to enjoy the gathering the next day.
Since spending the day in my pajamas was so successful in restoring me back to my fun-loving and unstressed self, it became a tradition for me. Pajama Day did not have a set date. Sometimes it was Christmas Day. Sometimes it was December 23rd. Mostly, it was whenever I could find time to do it before December 31st.
My family was invited to join me in the Pajama Day celebration. Sometimes they did and sometimes they didn’t. I remember one year that Pajama Day was reduced to a half—day celebration by some people who chose to go to the movies. I was willing to go with them to the movies, but I was told that I would have to put on clothes. So, I stayed home and continued my Pajama Day celebration.
BEGIN ASIDE: Nowadays, I have seen people at the movie theater wearing their pajamas or carrying blankets. I wonder if it is because the theater has seats that recline? I don’t understand it. With the price of movie tickets in the double digits, even for children or senior citizens, why would anyone spend that kind of money and then set themselves up to fall asleep during the movie?:ASIDE END
In order for me to justify taking a break for my own mental health, did I have to create a fake holiday? No. Was it more fun for me? Yes. Over the years, I even created Pajama Day traditions. One tradition, if Pajama Day didn’t happen to fall on Christmas Day, was to cook once in the morning and then pull out leftovers for people to serve themselves. Sometimes, movies are watched on TV by some. Usually, I celebrate Pajama Day in the traditional way by reading all day. When I found out about the Icelandic celebration, Jolabokaflod, where people read books and drink chocolate, I included hot chocolate as part of Pajamas Day.
Yes, Pajama Day is every bit the made up holiday that Festivus is. It’s origins come from the same place of frustration with the modern day Christmas traditions that Frank Costanza experienced. The logical part of my mind does not comprehend why the celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace can leave me in such a tizzy. To counteract the hustle and bustle and confusion and craziness, I created Pajama Day. It’s a day with no agenda or expectations, other than the wearing of pajamas.
Journey with Monica 