Merry Christmas
Montreal, Early 2002

I sent these out as Christmas cards one year.

Just kidding, I wouldn't do something like that. I enjoy Christmas a lot. This picture is more about the conflict between different ways of thinking, taking Christmas as an example. Many people don't realize that Christmas has pagan roots. In ancient Babylon, the feast of the Son of Isis (Goddess of Nature) was celebrated on December 25. Raucous partying, gluttonous eating and drinking, and gift-giving were traditions of this feast. The pagans of northern Europe celebrated the their own winter solstice, known as Yule. Yule was symbolic of the pagan Sun God, Mithras, being born, and was observed on the shortest day of the year.

Along came the Christians. Christianity had to fight for its place in the pantheon of ideas and movements. As it steadily triumphed against the older religions, early Christians chose not to banish old pagan holidays, but incorporated them into their own religious ceremonies. In 350 AD, Pope Julius I decided that the birthday of Christianity's most important hero would be celebrated on the old pagan holday. Thus, on December 25th we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the old pagan meaning long since forgotten.

And Christmas nowadays? Like the Christian battle against the pagans for control of December 25th, a pitched battle is being fought between religion and capitalism for control of our most sacred holiday. Who will win, Jesus Christ or the patron Saint of Capitalism, Santa Claus? With Santa Claus pinning Jesus Christ down with a choke hold, Christmas seems to be serving capitalism more than it serves Christianity. The thirty days leading up to Christmas are the most important days for Western economies as Santas Elves, Rudolph, et al. pressure people to spend the money that provides the grease for our capitalistic system. Subjugating one's body and mind to Jesus Christ and donating to the church on those 30 days may have sunk to second place.

And what about Easter? Jesus Christ still has firm control over that one, but the Easter Bunny, encouraging you to buy chocolate eggs, is the steadily growing upstart.

Leave a comment

Mon Feb 28 13:05:37 2005 from

test

Thu Sep 9 01:32:10 2004 from charles kinsey < [email protected] >

easter has pagen roots too,the goddess estar,,,the eggs symbols of fertility...

Sat Oct 29 07:56:18 2005 from Halidom < [email protected] >

What about Easter, do you think the Church(any) makes more money then the sellers of Easter candy and paraphernalia? http://www.locksley.com/6696/easter.htm

Mon Dec 12 11:15:11 2005 from Lope < lope_away at yahoo dot com >

Just do a google search on 'easter sales'. You'll see tonnes of references to people making $$$ of of Easter. An example:

"The NRF 2005 Easter Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey found that 75.9 percent of Americans plan to celebrate Easter, relatively the same amount as last year (75.6%). However, consumers will be spending less on average, which will reduce total Easter spending to $9.6 billion from $10.5 billion a year ago.

Those who will celebrate the holiday plan to spend an average of $96.51, down sharply from $107.17 in 2004. Consumers are expected to spend about a third of their Easter budget on food ($30.77) and another $14.39 on candy. Shoppers will also be spending about $15 each on clothing ($14.66) and gifts ($14.86)." see article here

So there you have it, the easter bunny gets each of us to fork over a hundred bucks for a three day holiday. The biggest winners being card companies, chocolate makers, flower stores, and the like.