Laws here support tolerance but are strict against proselytizing. Therefore, secular Christmas is okay. Stores sell a limited stock of fake trees, cheap ornaments, and Santa-related stuff. But nothing can hint at Christ, faith, savior, babes, mangers, Mary, Joseph, donkeys, or wise men.
So at the kids' school, we had an end-of-term performance. The kids dressed in green and white on one day, in red and gold another day. One little kiddo came dressed as Santa. There were several decorated "holiday trees," and we wrapped presents of practical items for a local workers camp. However, none of the music was anything near Christmas related (except at the very end, the teachers sang something to the tune of Silent Night, but the words were about taking a vacation). Hank said that his class went through every carol imaginable but all were rejected as being either too blantantly or perhaps too subtly "illegal."
Since the classes are a big mixture of religions, I can totally respect all of this.The whole thing is just very odd and very amusing. I would think it easier just to go one way (sing Jingle Bells and get on with it) or the other (don't celebrate the holiday at all).
At any rate, I have videos of Hannah's and (later) Jack's performances. Hannah was in fine form, front and center. The next day, her teacher wanted to know what all sorts of "stage experience" she had, to have been so fearless. Of course, she has almost zero stage experience, especially in front of a crowd of about 400 people.
But, as you shall see below, that didn't stop her.
And now, our second performance.
No comments:
Post a Comment