Dear Christian et al.:
I agree that calling a spade a spade is for the best. It's really a
no-brainer. If a museum intends to have a Christmas event, call it just
that. If there is a respectful blend of multiple religious traditions, call
it a holiday event. If it is based on winter traditions or annual practices
done in December, call it a seasonal event.
Please, Christian, don't try pinning Christmas on "Anglo-Saxon culture."
The Anglo-Saxons, who originated in northern Germany and Scandinavia,
invaded Britain during the 5th century CE and ruled the country until the
Norman Conquest of 1066 CE. Christmas did not originate amongst the tribal
groups of Germany, Scandinavia, or Britain.
BTW, December 25th just happened to be:
The date attributed to the birth of Mithras, the ancient Persian god of
light, who was worshipped by a large population in today's "Middle East"
region . . . a rival cult of followers of Jesus whom the Romans feared,
hence suppressed and massacred into nonexistence.
[For more, see: http://www.mystae.com/restricted/streams/gnosis/mithra.html
and http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/mithraism/a/aa120699a.htm.]
[Commentary: Fascinating to read the parallels between Mithras and
Jesus.
I'd swear they were one and the same!]
December 25th was the day following the Roman (so-called "pagan") festival
of Saturnalia. During this week-long period of lawlessness, each community
selected a victim whom they forced to indulge in food and other physical
pleasures . . . and, at the festival's conclusion (December 25th), Roman
authorities believed they were destroying the forces of darkness by brutally
murdering this innocent man or woman. The Christians adopted Saturnalia,
tried to eliminate the pagan overindulgence (over the course of centuries)
and declared Dec. 25 the birth of Jesus so as to avoid further bloodshed of
an innocent.
[Commentary: It appears the "pagan" overindulgences of drinking, sexual
promiscuity and singing naked in the streets has been replaced with
materialistic overindulgences in our day.]
Returning to the notion of calling a spade a spade, what is commonly
celebrated as Christmas today bears no resemblance whatsoever to the actual
events surrounding the birth of the man named Jesus. So, celebrate
Christmas knowing it's a completely modern holiday inextricably linked (in
the northern hemisphere, especially in the US and Canada) to winter outdoor
activities (sleigh rides, snowmen, etc.), to overindulgent parties, to
luxurious gift-giving . . . and maybe, just maybe, some people go to church,
too.
[Funny enough, the Wikipedia page for "December 25," reads in part (under
"Holidays and observances"): " It is celebrated by many non-Christians
(including atheists) that celebrate the holiday focusing only on secular
aspects." I think "secular" is a poor substitute for the more truthful
"seasonal and/or pagan."]
Now, a do-it-yourself closing . . .
Step 1 -- Adjective (circle one):
Awesome
Good
Great
Happy
Joyful
Lucky
Merry
Providential
Radical
Other: ____________
Step 2 -- Occasion
____________ (fill in blank according to personal belief/disbelief)
Step 3: __________ + __________ (transfer Step 1 + 2 for a personalized
closing)
Jay Heuman
Curator of Education
Salt Lake Art Center
20 South West Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
T 801-328-4201 x 21
F 801-322-4323
W www.slartcenter.org
"There are three kinds of people:
Those who make things happen,
those who watch things happen,
and those who ask, 'What happened?'"
-- Casey Stengel
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