What do you use as symbols for Python ?

[Pierre Barbier de Reuille]

When you need some symbols in your program, what do you use in Python ?

For example, an object get a state. This state is more readable if
expressed as a symbols, for example "opened", "closed", "error".
Typically, in C or C++, I would use an enum for that:
enum OBJECT_STATE
{
  opened, closed, error
}

In CAML or Haskell I would use the union types:

type ObjectState = Opened | Closed | Error

In Ruby I would use the symbols :

object.state = :opened
object.state = :closed
object.state = :error

... but I don't know what to use in Python !

Thanks,

Pierre