A Disney Christmas
Picture of the Day ( 9 )
Tokyo DisneySea at Urayasu, Chiba prefecture, is holding Christmas festivities each night until Dec 25. At neighboring Tokyo Disneyland, the Christmas Fantasy parade is held twice daily at the theme park.
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-2
ubikwit
From the consumerization of Christmas to the Disneyfication.
Somewhat disturbing.
I'd almost be inclined to call it an assault on the spiritual tradition of Christianity by materialists, but then I might be associated with Christian fundamentalists, whereas I wouldn't even identify myself a Christian.
3
philly1
@ ubikwit
It is what it is regardless of what association people might attribute to you for saying so. But don't forget that a great deal of what its "Christian" Christmas was originally hijacked from various pagan practices and the Saturnalia. Don't worry about it too much. The Christians who profess a "true" spiritual Christianity (as opposed to cultural Christians) will side-step all that quite successfully in their own way as they have for centuries.
2
slumdog
Why would you ever be disturbed by something making people happy?
-2
ubikwit
@philly1
Interesting post. Even though the Christians appropriated pagan practices, etc., when I was growing up there was still a semblance of the connection to depths of winter and the transition to spring and renewal, etc. It seems that companies are increasingly pushing it ever further away from any connection rooted in cultural practices of any sort. These photos represent that scenario insofar as they are plasticine, and lack the simplicity of the red, white and evergreen color schema, there is a gaudy Christmas tree on a purple glass boat with fireworks, etc.
@slumdog See above.
1
slumdog
Yes, but, none of those things have anything at all to do with Christmas originally. You have taken your personal experience and decided that is what should represent Christmas. That does not mean other ways of connecting to it are disturbing.
-1
philly1
@ ubikwit The connections to depths of winter, transition to spring and red/white/green colours are not traditionally Christian, but pagan. In the early days of the Christian church, the converts would not give up their winter solstice-related traditions. The church authorities eventually stopped trying to repress them and decide to take the birth of Christ (which likely happened in March) and tried to clean up the mid-winter debaucheries by super-imposing "holy days" into the festivities. And even among Christians there were the "high" traditions such as music performed in churches, and "low" traditions such as carols which took their origins from outdoor dances around fires.
It seems no great surprise, to find--2000 years--later, a "gaudy Christmas tree on a purple glass boat with fireworks, etc." being placed over a festival by a culture which has no connection to that religious tradition or its earlier pagan roots. That said, in displaying woven wreaths and branches of pine at New Year, the Japanese echo the pre-Christian European traditions.
-2
ubikwit
@philly1
It not the Japanese that have created that superficial monstrosity, it's American corporation, Disney, trying to profit in a somewhat debased manner, in my opinion.
@slumdog
You care to elaborate on what your personal imaginary nostalgic version "Christmas originally"?
Seeing corporate sponsored profit oriented garbage like the Disney monstrosity does make me feel that the holiday has been perversely corrupted by people trying to capitalize on the occasion that have no respect for the tradition.
Even if, like philly1, you want to point out that the Christians appropriated many of the good and life affirming parts of the holiday celebration from the pagans--or something to that effect--that doesn't seem to justify the further debasement of those transformed customs that had at least been passed down through Christianity.
And there is nothing against the law in celebrating the winter solstice these days according to pagan customs that don't run afoul of the law.
I'm not really that big on Christmas, as I have taken a course that put distance between myself and that tradition and found other traditions that are also interesting, but this superficial spectacle from Disney is garbage that makes my stomach turn.
This spectacle can be seen to represent the epitome expression this holiday season of the drive of entertainment corporations to alienate consumers from any sort of life-affirming tradition and pushing them out to sea in a glass boat with a fireworks sendoff an a gaudy Christmas tree instead of a sail, and collecting a toll to boot.
Maybe they're trying to send a message to the Japanese to embark from their traditions into the adventurous world of Disney Christmas.
It's enough to bring out the cynic in anyone.
1
slumdog
Sure, Jesus' birthday and birthplace. None of things you mentioned have anything to do with it. Why is your version any better?
What is debasing about this? How is it any different from your deciding that Christmas is some winter wonderland with a red, white and evergreen color schema? People have a right to find joy in their own ways and celebrate Christmas in their own ways.
Have absolutely nothing to do with Jesus, his birth or his birthplace. You have decided to appropriate what you like and refuse to accept any other version.
I find it sad that joy on the part of others is either disturbing to you or causes you to be a cynic.
Moderator
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