I am saddened to learn that in Emilia Romagna someone has even thought of erasing the name of Jesus from Christmas songs out of “respect for other religions”. And I add: the Christmas tree is beautiful, but the nativity scene is even more so. I remember the enthusiasm of us children in collecting moss, making paths with pebbles, taking snail shells, a little oil, a piece of rope as a wick and… voilà the nativity scene was lit up. And there was never a missing saucer into which each guest placed a coin, the proceeds of which went to poor people.
Daria F. Cavicchioli
The decision of the director of a primary school in Reggio Emilia has provoked the inevitable political controversy. It is not by eliminating Jesus that people of different religions learn to respect each other. Furthermore, Muslims respect outspoken Christians more than those who are ashamed or profess to be atheists. And I agree with you: building the nativity scene together as a family teaches contemplation. My parents even had us children prepare a dish with flour on Christmas night to put under the tree for Jesus’ donkey, who would bring us gifts at night. Discovering early in the morning that that flour had been largely “eaten” made us realize that those gifts were truly his. Small traditions that prepare, as adults, for the great Gift: that of faith. A real shame to lose them.
