… whatever it is that you celebrate, this holiday season.
Me, I celebrate Christmas Day. North-German Lutheran style, though I am not a Lutheran, neither formally nor by conviction. But, you know, upbringing matters. Or perhaps I celebrate Jul, Scandinavian style, with its even more explicit pagan roots. Family roots matter, certainly when it comes to how we celebrate our holidays. Or perhaps I celebrate a-couple-of-days-after-the-summer-solstice-when-everyone-heads-off-to-the-beach, New Zealand style. Where I currently am in the world matters quite a lot, too.
I’m not even quite sure what I celebrate. And – since I realize this can be a sensitive topic – I really don’t care what holiday, if any, you celebrate today, as long as you have a good one.
But, this post is going to be unabashedly about Christmas in Pictures. You know, reindeers, Santa Claus, snowmen, candles, lighted trees, stockings, and gingerbread. All those profoundly Christian religious symbols. Know what I mean?
That’s not because I think Christmas is in any way superior to any of the other holidays associated with this time of year. But it is the only one of those holiday I am myself familiar with. I would make myself a fool, trying to put together a post catering to, say, Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah. I have no clue what would be considered appropriate imagery for those holidays, and I do not feel qualified to speak on behalf of members of other cultures or religious communities. Besides – Hanukkah is already well over this year, and Kwanzaa does not start until tomorrow. At least that’s what Google tells me. 🙂
Phew. Got that out of the way.
Anyway – before anyone feels left out, I should also point out that respect for the Holiday with a capital H isn’t what it used to be in the old days. Not if you believe the deviant crowd of deviants on DeviantArt, anyhow.
The good news, however – for those who really dig their Christmas and cannot do without – is that apparently, Christmas trees and light chains will still be a feature of future civilizations, presumably on other planets. Which poses the very interesting question: how will they calculate the exact date of the Birth of Christ, on a planet circling around some sun in a far-off solar system? Which will most likely have a different length of year, and possibly have no solstice as such, or perhaps several. Here’s a theological problem for future theologians to ponder.
Then there is Santa. I bet he leads the good life for the rest of the year — but once he gets busy, he is a force to be reckoned with. And yes, even trolls have their versions of Santa. Lovely.
Possibly, even Zombies have their own version of Santa. Hmmm. I’d rather not know what’s in that sack.
Reindeers! Why should all the reindeers be male? Or was Rudolph the Red-Nosed, just a cover name for Rudolpha the Red-Rosed, all along? And look – she might be a skullhead, but she’s got boobs. But she’s such an intriguing mix of tribal shamanism and Frida Kahlo, that even I can’t object. And as you should know by now, I have low tolerance for bared boobs. But hey – it all depends on context.
Foxes! To be honest, I am not quite sure how the fox comes into Christmas, but it was such a lovely, flowing image that I felt it should have a place here.
It also goes nicely with the following contribution by an artist from the People’s Republic of China, which is not a part of the world known to be very much into celebrating Christian holidays. But it’s got reindeers! So there you go.
For some people, Christmas is a time that reminds them of their loneliness. When everyone gathers together with their families – whether biological or chosen – it can be hard to spend the day alone, out in the cold. Perhaps, if you see someone sitting alone on a park bench with their earphones on today, give them a smile or a kind word. Chances are it will make their day.
Those of you who are lucky enough to spend the day with a loved one, well what can I say – make the most of it!
Whatever you do – whatever holiday you celebrate, or whoever you celebrate it with: I hope it will be a beautiful day – and by all means, have a cupcake!
Happy holidays y’all.
All images are copyright the respective artists, and may not be reproduced without permission.
