Meaning of "the soul holds its own anniversaries and all that"?
Hello everyone. I am reading a novel, and I came across this expression. Could you please let me know its meaning?
This had been one of the worst days of my life. The worst, actually. It would take a few days, maybe another week, then I’d put the whole thing behind me. Or was I underestimating the damage? Give it a year, until next Christmas Eve—the soul holds its own anniversaries and all that . . .
- André Aciman, Eight White Nights, Sixth Night
This is a novel published in the United States of America in 2010. This novel is narrated by the nameless male protagonist who meets Clara at a Christmas party in Manhattan. The protagonist goes to a bar with Clara and meets her friend Victor. But he soon goes home, leaving the two behind at the bar, because he feels that he is the one-too-many in that group.
In this part, I wonder what the underlined expression means.
I especially wonder what "holds" here might mean; would that mean that a human's mind maintains/keeps its own special dates in which special events happened...? (Though this is just my guess. 
)
Thank you very much for your help.
Top answer
Curious Reader I especially wonder what "holds" here might mean; would that mean that a human's mind maintains/keeps its own special dates in which special events happened...? Yes and no. This is a special use of "hold".
- Curious Reader I especially wonder what "holds" here might mean; would that mean that a human's mind maintains/keeps its own special dates in which special events happened...?
- Yes and no.
- This is a special use of "hold".
- You can be said to hold a party when you organize and conduct one.
- The writer means you celebrate anniversaries of the big events in your life, but "celebrate" is not the right word because the events include some you would rather forget, and it happens unconsciously when that time of year rolls around.
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Curious ReaderI especially wonder what "holds" here might mean; would that mean that a human's mind maintains/keeps its own special dates in which special events happened...?
Yes and no. This is a special use of "hold". You can be said to hold a party when you organize and conduct one. The writer means you celebrate anniversaries of the big events in your l
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