diff --git a/src/node.cc b/src/node.cc
index 781171b6d0..b830c4ce8d 100644
--- a/src/node.cc
+++ b/src/node.cc
@@ -34,6 +34,29 @@ namespace node {
 
 static Persistent<Object> process;
 
+static Persistent<String> dev_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> ino_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> mode_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> nlink_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> uid_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> gid_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> rdev_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> size_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> blksize_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> blocks_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> atime_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> mtime_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> ctime_symbol;
+
+static Persistent<String> rss_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> vsize_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> heap_total_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> heap_used_symbol;
+
+static Persistent<String> listeners_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> uncaught_exception_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> emit_symbol;
+
 static int dash_dash_index = 0;
 static bool use_debug_agent = false;
 
@@ -160,66 +183,68 @@ ssize_t DecodeWrite(char *buf, size_t buflen,
   return buflen;
 }
 
-#define DEV_SYMBOL         String::NewSymbol("dev")
-#define INO_SYMBOL         String::NewSymbol("ino")
-#define MODE_SYMBOL        String::NewSymbol("mode")
-#define NLINK_SYMBOL       String::NewSymbol("nlink")
-#define UID_SYMBOL         String::NewSymbol("uid")
-#define GID_SYMBOL         String::NewSymbol("gid")
-#define RDEV_SYMBOL        String::NewSymbol("rdev")
-#define SIZE_SYMBOL        String::NewSymbol("size")
-#define BLKSIZE_SYMBOL     String::NewSymbol("blksize")
-#define BLOCKS_SYMBOL      String::NewSymbol("blocks")
-#define ATIME_SYMBOL       String::NewSymbol("atime")
-#define MTIME_SYMBOL       String::NewSymbol("mtime")
-#define CTIME_SYMBOL       String::NewSymbol("ctime")
-
 static Persistent<FunctionTemplate> stats_constructor_template;
 
 Local<Object> BuildStatsObject(struct stat * s) {
   HandleScope scope;
 
+  if (dev_symbol.IsEmpty()) {
+    dev_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("dev");
+    ino_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("ino");
+    mode_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("mode");
+    nlink_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("nlink");
+    uid_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("uid");
+    gid_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("gid");
+    rdev_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("rdev");
+    size_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("size");
+    blksize_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("blksize");
+    blocks_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("blocks");
+    atime_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("atime");
+    mtime_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("mtime");
+    ctime_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("ctime");
+  }
+
   Local<Object> stats =
     stats_constructor_template->GetFunction()->NewInstance();
 
   /* ID of device containing file */
-  stats->Set(DEV_SYMBOL, Integer::New(s->st_dev));
+  stats->Set(dev_symbol, Integer::New(s->st_dev));
 
   /* inode number */
-  stats->Set(INO_SYMBOL, Integer::New(s->st_ino));
+  stats->Set(ino_symbol, Integer::New(s->st_ino));
 
   /* protection */
-  stats->Set(MODE_SYMBOL, Integer::New(s->st_mode));
+  stats->Set(mode_symbol, Integer::New(s->st_mode));
 
   /* number of hard links */
-  stats->Set(NLINK_SYMBOL, Integer::New(s->st_nlink));
+  stats->Set(nlink_symbol, Integer::New(s->st_nlink));
 
   /* user ID of owner */
-  stats->Set(UID_SYMBOL, Integer::New(s->st_uid));
+  stats->Set(uid_symbol, Integer::New(s->st_uid));
 
   /* group ID of owner */
-  stats->Set(GID_SYMBOL, Integer::New(s->st_gid));
+  stats->Set(gid_symbol, Integer::New(s->st_gid));
 
   /* device ID (if special file) */
-  stats->Set(RDEV_SYMBOL, Integer::New(s->st_rdev));
+  stats->Set(rdev_symbol, Integer::New(s->st_rdev));
 
   /* total size, in bytes */
-  stats->Set(SIZE_SYMBOL, Integer::New(s->st_size));
+  stats->Set(size_symbol, Integer::New(s->st_size));
 
   /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
-  stats->Set(BLKSIZE_SYMBOL, Integer::New(s->st_blksize));
+  stats->Set(blksize_symbol, Integer::New(s->st_blksize));
 
   /* number of blocks allocated */
-  stats->Set(BLOCKS_SYMBOL, Integer::New(s->st_blocks));
+  stats->Set(blocks_symbol, Integer::New(s->st_blocks));
 
   /* time of last access */
-  stats->Set(ATIME_SYMBOL, NODE_UNIXTIME_V8(s->st_atime));
+  stats->Set(atime_symbol, NODE_UNIXTIME_V8(s->st_atime));
 
   /* time of last modification */
-  stats->Set(MTIME_SYMBOL, NODE_UNIXTIME_V8(s->st_mtime));
+  stats->Set(mtime_symbol, NODE_UNIXTIME_V8(s->st_mtime));
 
   /* time of last status change */
-  stats->Set(CTIME_SYMBOL, NODE_UNIXTIME_V8(s->st_ctime));
+  stats->Set(ctime_symbol, NODE_UNIXTIME_V8(s->st_ctime));
 
   return scope.Close(stats);
 }
@@ -510,15 +535,22 @@ v8::Handle<v8::Value> MemoryUsage(const v8::Arguments& args) {
 
   Local<Object> info = Object::New();
 
-  info->Set(String::NewSymbol("rss"), Integer::NewFromUnsigned(rss));
-  info->Set(String::NewSymbol("vsize"), Integer::NewFromUnsigned(vsize));
+  if (rss_symbol.IsEmpty()) {
+    rss_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("rss");
+    vsize_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("vsize");
+    heap_total_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("heapTotal");
+    heap_used_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("heapUsed");
+  }
+
+  info->Set(rss_symbol, Integer::NewFromUnsigned(rss));
+  info->Set(vsize_symbol, Integer::NewFromUnsigned(vsize));
 
   // V8 memory usage
   HeapStatistics v8_heap_stats;
   V8::GetHeapStatistics(&v8_heap_stats);
-  info->Set(String::NewSymbol("heapTotal"),
+  info->Set(heap_total_symbol,
             Integer::NewFromUnsigned(v8_heap_stats.total_heap_size()));
-  info->Set(String::NewSymbol("heapUsed"),
+  info->Set(heap_used_symbol,
             Integer::NewFromUnsigned(v8_heap_stats.used_heap_size()));
 
   return scope.Close(info);
@@ -641,14 +673,19 @@ void FatalException(TryCatch &try_catch) {
     exit(1);
   }
 
-  Local<Value> listeners_v = process->Get(String::NewSymbol("listeners"));
+  if (listeners_symbol.IsEmpty()) {
+    listeners_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("listeners");
+    uncaught_exception_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("uncaughtException");
+    emit_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("emit");
+  }
+
+  Local<Value> listeners_v = process->Get(listeners_symbol);
   assert(listeners_v->IsFunction());
 
   Local<Function> listeners = Local<Function>::Cast(listeners_v);
 
-  Local<String> uncaught_exception = String::NewSymbol("uncaughtException");
-
-  Local<Value> argv[1] = { uncaught_exception };
+  Local<String> uncaught_exception_symbol_l = Local<String>::New(uncaught_exception_symbol);
+  Local<Value> argv[1] = { uncaught_exception_symbol_l  };
   Local<Value> ret = listeners->Call(process, 1, argv);
 
   assert(ret->IsArray());
@@ -663,13 +700,13 @@ void FatalException(TryCatch &try_catch) {
   }
 
   // Otherwise fire the process "uncaughtException" event
-  Local<Value> emit_v = process->Get(String::NewSymbol("emit"));
+  Local<Value> emit_v = process->Get(emit_symbol);
   assert(emit_v->IsFunction());
 
   Local<Function> emit = Local<Function>::Cast(emit_v);
 
   Local<Value> error = try_catch.Exception();
-  Local<Value> event_argv[2] = { uncaught_exception, error };
+  Local<Value> event_argv[2] = { uncaught_exception_symbol_l, error };
 
   uncaught_exception_counter++;
   emit->Call(process, 2, event_argv);
diff --git a/src/node.h b/src/node.h
index 159cc8c970..fd872a0960 100644
--- a/src/node.h
+++ b/src/node.h
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 
 namespace node {
 
+#define NODE_PSYMBOL(s) Persistent<String>::New(String::NewSymbol(s))
+
 /* Converts a unixtime to V8 Date */
 #define NODE_UNIXTIME_V8(t) v8::Date::New(1000*static_cast<double>(t))
 #define NODE_V8_UNIXTIME(v) (static_cast<double>((v)->IntegerValue())/1000.0);
diff --git a/src/node_child_process.cc b/src/node_child_process.cc
index 9a78d32344..78d5c5c5be 100644
--- a/src/node_child_process.cc
+++ b/src/node_child_process.cc
@@ -13,10 +13,13 @@ namespace node {
 
 using namespace v8;
 
-#define PID_SYMBOL String::NewSymbol("pid")
-
 Persistent<FunctionTemplate> ChildProcess::constructor_template;
 
+static Persistent<String> pid_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> exit_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> output_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> error_symbol;
+
 void ChildProcess::Initialize(Handle<Object> target) {
   HandleScope scope;
 
@@ -26,6 +29,11 @@ void ChildProcess::Initialize(Handle<Object> target) {
   constructor_template->InstanceTemplate()->SetInternalFieldCount(1);
   constructor_template->SetClassName(String::NewSymbol("ChildProcess"));
 
+  pid_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("pid");
+  exit_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("exit");
+  output_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("output");
+  error_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("error");
+
   NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "spawn", ChildProcess::Spawn);
   NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "write", ChildProcess::Write);
   NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "close", ChildProcess::Close);
@@ -100,7 +108,7 @@ Handle<Value> ChildProcess::Spawn(const Arguments& args) {
     return ThrowException(Exception::Error(String::New("Error spawning")));
   }
 
-  child->handle_->Set(PID_SYMBOL, Integer::New(child->pid_));
+  child->handle_->Set(pid_symbol, Integer::New(child->pid_));
 
   return Undefined();
 }
@@ -193,7 +201,7 @@ void ChildProcess::on_read(evcom_reader *r, const void *buf, size_t len) {
     child->stdout_encoding_ : child->stderr_encoding_;
 
   Local<Value> data = Encode(buf, len, encoding);
-  child->Emit(isSTDOUT ? "output" : "error", 1, &data);
+  child->Emit(isSTDOUT ? output_symbol : error_symbol, 1, &data);
   child->MaybeShutdown();
 }
 
@@ -380,7 +388,7 @@ void ChildProcess::MaybeShutdown(void) {
   if (stdout_fd_ < 0 && stderr_fd_ < 0 && got_chld_) {
     HandleScope scope;
     Handle<Value> argv[1] = { Integer::New(exit_code_) };
-    Emit("exit", 1, argv);
+    Emit(exit_symbol, 1, argv);
     Shutdown();
     Unref();
   }
diff --git a/src/node_dns.cc b/src/node_dns.cc
index 36ff90044c..1dadab268f 100644
--- a/src/node_dns.cc
+++ b/src/node_dns.cc
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ using namespace v8;
 static ev_io io_watcher;
 static ev_timer timer_watcher;
 
+static Persistent<String> errno_symbol;
+
 static inline Persistent<Function>* cb_persist(const Local<Value> &v) {
   Persistent<Function> *fn = new Persistent<Function>();
   *fn = Persistent<Function>::New(Local<Function>::Cast(v));
@@ -77,7 +79,7 @@ static void ResolveError(Handle<Function> *cb) {
 
   Local<Value> e = Exception::Error(String::NewSymbol(dns_strerror(status)));
   Local<Object> obj = e->ToObject();
-  obj->Set(String::NewSymbol("errno"), Integer::New(status));
+  obj->Set(errno_symbol, Integer::New(status));
 
   (*cb)->Call(Context::GetCurrent()->Global(), 1, &e);
 }
@@ -308,6 +310,8 @@ void DNS::Initialize(Handle<Object> target) {
 
   HandleScope scope;
 
+  errno_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("errno");
+
   target->Set(String::NewSymbol("TEMPFAIL"), Integer::New(DNS_E_TEMPFAIL));
   target->Set(String::NewSymbol("PROTOCOL"), Integer::New(DNS_E_PROTOCOL));
   target->Set(String::NewSymbol("NXDOMAIN"), Integer::New(DNS_E_NXDOMAIN));
diff --git a/src/node_events.cc b/src/node_events.cc
index 215432374a..27d07a46be 100644
--- a/src/node_events.cc
+++ b/src/node_events.cc
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ using namespace v8;
 
 Persistent<FunctionTemplate> EventEmitter::constructor_template;
 
+static Persistent<String> events_symbol;
+
 void EventEmitter::Initialize(Local<FunctionTemplate> ctemplate) {
   HandleScope scope;
 
@@ -32,6 +34,8 @@ void EventEmitter::Initialize(Local<FunctionTemplate> ctemplate) {
       __emit);
   constructor_template->SetClassName(String::NewSymbol("EventEmitter"));
 
+  events_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("_events");
+
   // All other prototype methods are defined in events.js
 }
 
@@ -41,7 +45,7 @@ static bool ReallyEmit(Handle<Object> self,
                        Handle<Value> argv[]) {
   HandleScope scope;
 
-  Local<Value> events_v = self->Get(String::NewSymbol("_events"));
+  Local<Value> events_v = self->Get(events_symbol);
   if (!events_v->IsObject()) return false;
   Local<Object> events = events_v->ToObject();
 
@@ -91,9 +95,8 @@ Handle<Value> EventEmitter::Emit(const Arguments& args) {
   return scope.Close(r ? True() : False());
 }
 
-bool EventEmitter::Emit(const char *event_s, int argc, Handle<Value> argv[]) {
+bool EventEmitter::Emit(Handle<String> event, int argc, Handle<Value> argv[]) {
   HandleScope scope;
-  Local<String> event = String::NewSymbol(event_s);
   return ReallyEmit(handle_, event, argc, argv);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/node_events.h b/src/node_events.h
index 9c613bbde0..2cfcaf02f9 100644
--- a/src/node_events.h
+++ b/src/node_events.h
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ class EventEmitter : public ObjectWrap {
   static void Initialize(v8::Local<v8::FunctionTemplate> ctemplate);
   static v8::Persistent<v8::FunctionTemplate> constructor_template;
 
-  bool Emit(const char *event, int argc, v8::Handle<v8::Value> argv[]);
+  bool Emit(v8::Handle<v8::String> event,
+            int argc,
+            v8::Handle<v8::Value> argv[]);
 
  protected:
   static v8::Handle<v8::Value> Emit(const v8::Arguments& args);
diff --git a/src/node_file.cc b/src/node_file.cc
index 3772ea4fc1..19ddb0e67b 100644
--- a/src/node_file.cc
+++ b/src/node_file.cc
@@ -17,12 +17,13 @@ using namespace v8;
 #define MIN(a,b) ((a) < (b) ? (a) : (b))
 #define THROW_BAD_ARGS \
   ThrowException(Exception::TypeError(String::New("Bad argument")))
-#define ENCODING String::NewSymbol("node:encoding")
+static Persistent<String> encoding_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> errno_symbol;
 
 static inline Local<Value> errno_exception(int errorno) {
   Local<Value> e = Exception::Error(String::NewSymbol(strerror(errorno)));
   Local<Object> obj = e->ToObject();
-  obj->Set(String::NewSymbol("errno"), Integer::New(errorno));
+  obj->Set(errno_symbol, Integer::New(errorno));
   return e;
 }
 
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ static int After(eio_req *req) {
       {
         argc = 2;
         Local<Object> obj = Local<Object>::New(*callback);
-        Local<Value> enc_val = obj->GetHiddenValue(ENCODING);
+        Local<Value> enc_val = obj->GetHiddenValue(encoding_symbol);
         argv[0] = Encode(req->ptr2, req->result, ParseEncoding(enc_val));
         argv[1] = Integer::New(req->result);
         break;
@@ -384,7 +385,7 @@ static Handle<Value> Read(const Arguments& args) {
 
   if (args[4]->IsFunction()) {
     Local<Object> obj = args[4]->ToObject();
-    obj->SetHiddenValue(ENCODING, args[3]);
+    obj->SetHiddenValue(encoding_symbol, args[3]);
     ASYNC_CALL(read, args[4], fd, NULL, len, offset)
   } else {
 #define READ_BUF_LEN (16*1024)
@@ -414,6 +415,9 @@ void File::Initialize(Handle<Object> target) {
   NODE_SET_METHOD(target, "stat", Stat);
   NODE_SET_METHOD(target, "unlink", Unlink);
   NODE_SET_METHOD(target, "write", Write);
+
+  errno_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("errno");
+  encoding_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("node:encoding");
 }
 
 }  // end namespace node
diff --git a/src/node_http.cc b/src/node_http.cc
index fffaf0c2ac..5ccc53bcbb 100644
--- a/src/node_http.cc
+++ b/src/node_http.cc
@@ -4,17 +4,31 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <strings.h>
 
-#define METHOD_SYMBOL               String::NewSymbol("method")
-#define STATUS_CODE_SYMBOL          String::NewSymbol("statusCode")
-#define HTTP_VERSION_SYMBOL         String::NewSymbol("httpVersion")
-#define SHOULD_KEEP_ALIVE_SYMBOL    String::NewSymbol("should_keep_alive")
-
 using namespace v8;
 using namespace node;
 
 Persistent<FunctionTemplate> HTTPConnection::client_constructor_template;
 Persistent<FunctionTemplate> HTTPConnection::server_constructor_template;
 
+static Persistent<String> method_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> status_code_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> http_version_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> version_major_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> version_minor_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> should_keep_alive_symbol;
+
+static Persistent<String> message_begin_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> message_complete_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> url_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> query_string_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> path_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> fragment_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> header_field_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> header_value_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> header_complete_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> body_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> eof_symbol;
+
 void
 HTTPConnection::Initialize (Handle<Object> target)
 {
@@ -34,6 +48,11 @@ HTTPConnection::Initialize (Handle<Object> target)
   server_constructor_template->InstanceTemplate()->SetInternalFieldCount(1);
   NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(server_constructor_template, "resetParser", ResetParser);
   server_constructor_template->SetClassName(String::NewSymbol("ServerSideConnection"));
+
+  method_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("method");
+  status_code_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("statusCode");
+  http_version_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("httpVersion");
+  should_keep_alive_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("should_keep_alive");
 }
 
 Handle<Value>
@@ -96,15 +115,38 @@ HTTPConnection::OnEOF ()
   } else {
     http_parse_responses(&parser_, NULL, 0);
   }
-  Emit("eof", 0, NULL);
+  Emit(eof_symbol, 0, NULL);
 }
 
 int
 HTTPConnection::on_message_begin (http_parser *parser)
 {
+  HandleScope scope;
+
+  if (message_begin_symbol.IsEmpty()) {
+    method_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("method");
+    status_code_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("statusCode");
+    http_version_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("httpVersion");
+    version_major_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("versionMajor");
+    version_minor_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("versionMinor");
+    should_keep_alive_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("should_keep_alive");
+
+    message_begin_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("messageBegin");
+    message_complete_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("messageComplete");
+    url_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("url");
+    query_string_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("queryString");
+    path_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("path");
+    fragment_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("fragment");
+    header_field_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("headerField");
+    header_value_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("headerValue");
+    header_complete_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("headerComplete");
+    body_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("body");
+    eof_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("eof");
+  }
+
   HTTPConnection *connection = static_cast<HTTPConnection*> (parser->data);
   assert(connection->refs_);
-  connection->Emit("messageBegin", 0, NULL);
+  connection->Emit(message_begin_symbol, 0, NULL);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -113,7 +155,7 @@ HTTPConnection::on_message_complete (http_parser *parser)
 {
   HTTPConnection *connection = static_cast<HTTPConnection*> (parser->data);
   assert(connection->refs_);
-  connection->Emit("messageComplete", 0, NULL);
+  connection->Emit(message_complete_symbol, 0, NULL);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -124,7 +166,7 @@ HTTPConnection::on_url (http_parser *parser, const char *buf, size_t len)
   HTTPConnection *connection = static_cast<HTTPConnection*>(parser->data);
   assert(connection->refs_);
   Local<Value> argv[1] = { String::New(buf, len) };
-  connection->Emit("url", 1, argv);
+  connection->Emit(url_symbol, 1, argv);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -135,7 +177,7 @@ HTTPConnection::on_query_string (http_parser *parser, const char *buf, size_t le
   HTTPConnection *connection = static_cast<HTTPConnection*>(parser->data);
   assert(connection->refs_);
   Local<Value> argv[1] = { String::New(buf, len) };
-  connection->Emit("queryString", 1, argv);
+  connection->Emit(query_string_symbol, 1, argv);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -146,7 +188,7 @@ HTTPConnection::on_path (http_parser *parser, const char *buf, size_t len)
   HTTPConnection *connection = static_cast<HTTPConnection*>(parser->data);
   assert(connection->refs_);
   Local<Value> argv[1] = { String::New(buf, len) };
-  connection->Emit("path", 1, argv);
+  connection->Emit(path_symbol, 1, argv);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -157,7 +199,7 @@ HTTPConnection::on_fragment (http_parser *parser, const char *buf, size_t len)
   HTTPConnection *connection = static_cast<HTTPConnection*>(parser->data);
   assert(connection->refs_);
   Local<Value> argv[1] = { String::New(buf, len) };
-  connection->Emit("fragment", 1, argv);
+  connection->Emit(fragment_symbol, 1, argv);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -184,7 +226,7 @@ HTTPConnection::on_header_field (http_parser *parser, const char *buf, size_t le
   for (i = 0; i < len; i++) { nonconstbuf[i] = normalizer[buf[i]]; }
 
   Local<Value> argv[1] = { String::New(buf, len) };
-  connection->Emit("headerField", 1, argv);
+  connection->Emit(header_field_symbol, 1, argv);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -196,7 +238,7 @@ HTTPConnection::on_header_value (http_parser *parser, const char *buf, size_t le
   assert(connection->refs_);
 
   Local<Value> argv[1] = { String::New(buf, len) };
-  connection->Emit("headerValue", 1, argv);
+  connection->Emit(header_value_symbol, 1, argv);
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -211,13 +253,13 @@ HTTPConnection::on_headers_complete (http_parser *parser)
 
   // METHOD
   if (connection->type_ == HTTP_REQUEST) {
-    message_info->Set(METHOD_SYMBOL, String::NewSymbol(
+    message_info->Set(method_symbol, String::NewSymbol(
           http_method_str(connection->parser_.method)));
   }
 
   // STATUS
   if (connection->type_ == HTTP_RESPONSE) {
-    message_info->Set(STATUS_CODE_SYMBOL,
+    message_info->Set(status_code_symbol,
         Integer::New(connection->parser_.status_code));
   }
 
@@ -229,18 +271,18 @@ HTTPConnection::on_headers_complete (http_parser *parser)
           , connection->parser_.http_major
           , connection->parser_.http_minor
           );
-  message_info->Set(HTTP_VERSION_SYMBOL, String::New(version));
-  message_info->Set(String::NewSymbol("versionMajor"),
+  message_info->Set(http_version_symbol, String::New(version));
+  message_info->Set(version_major_symbol,
                     Integer::New(connection->parser_.http_major));
-  message_info->Set(String::NewSymbol("versionMinor"),
+  message_info->Set(version_minor_symbol,
                     Integer::New(connection->parser_.http_minor));
 
-  message_info->Set(SHOULD_KEEP_ALIVE_SYMBOL,
+  message_info->Set(should_keep_alive_symbol,
       http_should_keep_alive(&connection->parser_) ? True() : False());
 
   Local<Value> argv[1] = { message_info };
 
-  connection->Emit("headerComplete", 1, argv);
+  connection->Emit(header_complete_symbol, 1, argv);
 
   return 0;
 }
@@ -257,7 +299,7 @@ HTTPConnection::on_body (http_parser *parser, const char *buf, size_t len)
   // TODO each message should have their encoding.
   // don't look at the conneciton for encoding
   Local<Value> data = Encode(buf, len, connection->encoding_);
-  connection->Emit("body", 1, &data);
+  connection->Emit(body_symbol, 1, &data);
 
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/node_net.cc b/src/node_net.cc
index 51863cfe3f..5b39ae23bd 100644
--- a/src/node_net.cc
+++ b/src/node_net.cc
@@ -16,22 +16,29 @@ using namespace v8;
 
 namespace node {
 
-#define UTF8_SYMBOL           String::NewSymbol("utf8")
-#define BINARY_SYMBOL         String::NewSymbol("binary")
-#define ASCII_SYMBOL          String::NewSymbol("ascii")
-
-#define SERVER_SYMBOL         String::NewSymbol("server")
-#define REMOTE_ADDRESS_SYMBOL String::NewSymbol("remoteAddress")
-
-#define FD_SYMBOL             String::NewSymbol("fd")
-
-#define READY_STATE_SYMBOL  String::NewSymbol("readyState")
-#define OPEN_SYMBOL         String::NewSymbol("open")
-#define OPENING_SYMBOL      String::NewSymbol("opening")
-#define READ_ONLY_SYMBOL    String::NewSymbol("readOnly")
-#define WRITE_ONLY_SYMBOL   String::NewSymbol("writeOnly")
-#define CLOSING_SYMBOL      String::NewSymbol("closing")
-#define CLOSED_SYMBOL       String::NewSymbol("closed")
+static Persistent<String> utf8_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> binary_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> ascii_symbol;
+
+static Persistent<String> server_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> remote_address_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> fd_symbol;
+
+static Persistent<String> ready_state_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> open_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> opening_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> read_only_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> write_only_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> closing_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> closed_symbol;
+
+static Persistent<String> receive_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> connection_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> connect_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> timeout_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> drain_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> eof_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> close_symbol;
 
 static const struct addrinfo server_tcp_hints =
 /* ai_flags      */ { AI_PASSIVE
@@ -53,6 +60,30 @@ Persistent<FunctionTemplate> Connection::constructor_template;
 void Connection::Initialize(v8::Handle<v8::Object> target) {
   HandleScope scope;
 
+  utf8_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("utf8");
+  binary_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("binary");
+  ascii_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("ascii");
+
+  server_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("server");
+  remote_address_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("remoteAddress");
+  fd_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("fd");
+
+  ready_state_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("readyState");
+  open_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("open");
+  opening_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("opening");
+  read_only_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("readOnly");
+  write_only_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("writeOnly");
+  closing_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("closing");
+  closed_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("closed");
+
+  receive_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("receive");
+  connection_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("connection");
+  connect_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("connect");
+  timeout_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("timeout");
+  drain_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("drain");
+  eof_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("eof");
+  close_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("close");
+
   Local<FunctionTemplate> t = FunctionTemplate::New(New);
 
   constructor_template = Persistent<FunctionTemplate>::New(t);
@@ -82,12 +113,12 @@ void Connection::Initialize(v8::Handle<v8::Object> target) {
 
   // Getter for connection.readyState
   constructor_template->PrototypeTemplate()->SetAccessor(
-      READY_STATE_SYMBOL,
+      ready_state_symbol,
       ReadyStateGetter);
 
   // Getter for connection.readyState
   constructor_template->PrototypeTemplate()->SetAccessor(
-      FD_SYMBOL,
+      fd_symbol,
       FDGetter);
 
   // Assign class to its place as tcp.Connection
@@ -103,22 +134,22 @@ Handle<Value> Connection::ReadyStateGetter(Local<String> property,
 
   HandleScope scope;
 
-  assert(property == READY_STATE_SYMBOL);
+  assert(property == ready_state_symbol);
 
   // Resolving is not done in evcom, it's done in this file. Thus we add
   // this "opening" symbol to the native EVCOM ready states. "opening"
   // really means "resolving". 
-  if (connection->resolving_) return scope.Close(OPENING_SYMBOL);
+  if (connection->resolving_) return scope.Close(opening_symbol);
 
   // Map between the evcom enum and V8 strings:
   switch (evcom_stream_state(&connection->stream_)) {
-    case EVCOM_INITIALIZED:  return scope.Close(CLOSED_SYMBOL);
-    case EVCOM_CONNECTING:   return scope.Close(OPENING_SYMBOL);
-    case EVCOM_CONNECTED_RW: return scope.Close(OPEN_SYMBOL);
-    case EVCOM_CONNECTED_RO: return scope.Close(READ_ONLY_SYMBOL);
-    case EVCOM_CONNECTED_WO: return scope.Close(WRITE_ONLY_SYMBOL);
-    case EVCOM_CLOSING:      return scope.Close(CLOSING_SYMBOL);
-    case EVCOM_CLOSED:       return scope.Close(CLOSED_SYMBOL);
+    case EVCOM_INITIALIZED:  return scope.Close(closed_symbol);
+    case EVCOM_CONNECTING:   return scope.Close(opening_symbol);
+    case EVCOM_CONNECTED_RW: return scope.Close(open_symbol);
+    case EVCOM_CONNECTED_RO: return scope.Close(read_only_symbol);
+    case EVCOM_CONNECTED_WO: return scope.Close(write_only_symbol);
+    case EVCOM_CLOSING:      return scope.Close(closing_symbol);
+    case EVCOM_CLOSED:       return scope.Close(closed_symbol);
   }
 
   assert(0 && "This shouldnt happen");
@@ -134,7 +165,7 @@ Handle<Value> Connection::FDGetter(Local<String> property,
 
   HandleScope scope;
 
-  assert(property == FD_SYMBOL);
+  assert(property == fd_symbol);
 
   Local<Integer> fd = Integer::New(connection->stream_.recvfd);
 
@@ -325,21 +356,21 @@ Handle<Value> Connection::SetEncoding(const Arguments& args) {
 
   if (!args[0]->IsString()) {
     connection->encoding_ = BINARY;
-    return scope.Close(BINARY_SYMBOL);
+    return scope.Close(binary_symbol);
   }
 
   switch (ParseEncoding(args[0])) {
     case ASCII:
       connection->encoding_ = ASCII;
-      return scope.Close(ASCII_SYMBOL);
+      return scope.Close(ascii_symbol);
 
     case UTF8:
       connection->encoding_ = UTF8;
-      return scope.Close(UTF8_SYMBOL);
+      return scope.Close(utf8_symbol);
 
     case BINARY:
       connection->encoding_ = BINARY;
-      return scope.Close(BINARY_SYMBOL);
+      return scope.Close(binary_symbol);
   }
   assert(0 && "this shouldn't happen");
   return ThrowException(Exception::Error(
@@ -587,7 +618,7 @@ Handle<Value> Connection::Send(const Arguments& args) {
 void Connection::OnReceive(const void *buf, size_t len) {
   HandleScope scope;
   Local<Value> data = Encode(buf, len, encoding_);
-  Emit("receive", 1, &data);
+  Emit(receive_symbol, 1, &data);
 }
 
 void Connection::OnClose() {
@@ -598,7 +629,7 @@ void Connection::OnClose() {
     String::New(strerror(stream_.errorno))
   };
 
-  Emit("close", 2, argv);
+  Emit(close_symbol, 2, argv);
 }
 
 void Connection::OnConnect() {
@@ -607,25 +638,25 @@ void Connection::OnConnect() {
   if (stream_.server) {
     Server *server = static_cast<Server*>(stream_.server->data);
     Local<Value> value = Local<Value>::New(handle_);
-    server->Emit("connection", 1, &value);
+    server->Emit(connection_symbol, 1, &value);
   }
 
-  Emit("connect", 0, NULL);
+  Emit(connect_symbol, 0, NULL);
 }
 
 void Connection::OnTimeout() {
   HandleScope scope;
-  Emit("timeout", 0, NULL);
+  Emit(timeout_symbol, 0, NULL);
 }
 
 void Connection::OnDrain() {
   HandleScope scope;
-  Emit("drain", 0, NULL);
+  Emit(drain_symbol, 0, NULL);
 }
 
 void Connection::OnEOF() {
   HandleScope scope;
-  Emit("eof", 0, NULL);
+  Emit(eof_symbol, 0, NULL);
 }
 
 Persistent<FunctionTemplate> Server::constructor_template;
@@ -693,8 +724,8 @@ Connection* Server::OnConnection(struct sockaddr *addr) {
   }
 
   Local<String> remote_address = GetAddressString(addr);
-  js_connection->Set(REMOTE_ADDRESS_SYMBOL, remote_address);
-  js_connection->Set(SERVER_SYMBOL, handle_);
+  js_connection->Set(remote_address_symbol, remote_address);
+  js_connection->Set(server_symbol, handle_);
 
   Connection *connection = UnwrapConnection(js_connection);
   if (!connection) return NULL;
@@ -719,7 +750,7 @@ void Server::OnClose(int errorno) {
 
   Handle<Value> argv[1] = { Integer::New(errorno) };
 
-  Emit("close", 1, argv);
+  Emit(close_symbol, 1, argv);
 }
 
 Handle<Value> Server::New(const Arguments& args) {
diff --git a/src/node_signal_handler.cc b/src/node_signal_handler.cc
index 34e84141ef..2cac9b179e 100644
--- a/src/node_signal_handler.cc
+++ b/src/node_signal_handler.cc
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ namespace node {
 using namespace v8;
 
 Persistent<FunctionTemplate> SignalHandler::constructor_template;
+static Persistent<String> signal_symbol;
 
 void SignalHandler::Initialize(Handle<Object> target) {
   HandleScope scope;
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@ void SignalHandler::Initialize(Handle<Object> target) {
 
   NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "stop", SignalHandler::Stop);
 
+  signal_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("signal");
+
   target->Set(String::NewSymbol("SignalHandler"),
       constructor_template->GetFunction());
 }
@@ -29,7 +32,7 @@ void SignalHandler::OnSignal(EV_P_ ev_signal *watcher, int revents) {
 
   assert(revents == EV_SIGNAL);
 
-  handler->Emit("signal", 0, NULL);
+  handler->Emit(signal_symbol, 0, NULL);
 }
 
 SignalHandler::~SignalHandler() {
diff --git a/src/node_stat.cc b/src/node_stat.cc
index 5f864e6f23..d48bd037f9 100644
--- a/src/node_stat.cc
+++ b/src/node_stat.cc
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ using namespace v8;
 
 Persistent<FunctionTemplate> Stat::constructor_template;
 
+static Persistent<String> change_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> stop_symbol;
+
 void Stat::Initialize(Handle<Object> target) {
   HandleScope scope;
 
@@ -20,6 +23,9 @@ void Stat::Initialize(Handle<Object> target) {
   constructor_template->InstanceTemplate()->SetInternalFieldCount(1);
   constructor_template->SetClassName(String::NewSymbol("Stat"));
 
+  change_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("change");
+  stop_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("stop");
+
   NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "start", Stat::Start);
   NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "stop", Stat::Stop);
 
@@ -35,7 +41,7 @@ void Stat::Callback(EV_P_ ev_stat *watcher, int revents) {
   Handle<Value> argv[2];
   argv[0] = Handle<Value>(BuildStatsObject(&watcher->attr));
   argv[1] = Handle<Value>(BuildStatsObject(&watcher->prev));
-  handler->Emit("change", 2, argv);
+  handler->Emit(change_symbol, 2, argv);
 }
 
 
@@ -83,7 +89,7 @@ Handle<Value> Stat::Start(const Arguments& args) {
 Handle<Value> Stat::Stop(const Arguments& args) {
   HandleScope scope;
   Stat *handler = ObjectWrap::Unwrap<Stat>(args.Holder());
-  handler->Emit("stop", 0, NULL);
+  handler->Emit(stop_symbol, 0, NULL);
   handler->Stop();
   return Undefined();
 }
diff --git a/src/node_timer.cc b/src/node_timer.cc
index c0ab046cd8..ac7dc267b2 100644
--- a/src/node_timer.cc
+++ b/src/node_timer.cc
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@
 using namespace v8;
 using namespace node;
 
-#define REPEAT_SYMBOL   String::NewSymbol("repeat")
-
 Persistent<FunctionTemplate> Timer::constructor_template;
 
+static Persistent<String> timeout_symbol;
+static Persistent<String> repeat_symbol;
+
 void
 Timer::Initialize (Handle<Object> target)
 {
@@ -20,10 +21,13 @@ Timer::Initialize (Handle<Object> target)
   constructor_template->InstanceTemplate()->SetInternalFieldCount(1);
   constructor_template->SetClassName(String::NewSymbol("Timer"));
 
+  timeout_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("timeout");
+  repeat_symbol = NODE_PSYMBOL("repeat");
+
   NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "start", Timer::Start);
   NODE_SET_PROTOTYPE_METHOD(constructor_template, "stop", Timer::Stop);
 
-  constructor_template->PrototypeTemplate()->SetAccessor(REPEAT_SYMBOL,
+  constructor_template->PrototypeTemplate()->SetAccessor(repeat_symbol,
       RepeatGetter, RepeatSetter);
 
   target->Set(String::NewSymbol("Timer"), constructor_template->GetFunction());
@@ -36,7 +40,7 @@ Timer::RepeatGetter (Local<String> property, const AccessorInfo& info)
   Timer *timer = ObjectWrap::Unwrap<Timer>(info.This());
 
   assert(timer);
-  assert (property == REPEAT_SYMBOL);
+  assert (property == repeat_symbol);
 
   Local<Integer> v = Integer::New(timer->watcher_.repeat);
 
@@ -50,7 +54,7 @@ Timer::RepeatSetter (Local<String> property, Local<Value> value, const AccessorI
   Timer *timer = ObjectWrap::Unwrap<Timer>(info.This());
 
   assert(timer);
-  assert(property == REPEAT_SYMBOL);
+  assert(property == repeat_symbol);
 
   timer->watcher_.repeat = NODE_V8_UNIXTIME(value);
 }
@@ -62,7 +66,7 @@ Timer::OnTimeout (EV_P_ ev_timer *watcher, int revents)
 
   assert(revents == EV_TIMEOUT);
 
-  timer->Emit("timeout", 0, NULL);
+  timer->Emit(timeout_symbol, 0, NULL);
 
   if (timer->watcher_.repeat == 0) timer->Unref();
 }