Bunny Business...Is There Really An Assault On Traditionalism?

First of all let me start by saying that when it comes to matters of faith, I classify myself as moderate... much more spiritual than religious....and by NO MEANS a fanatic or extremist. Still, while I like to think of myself as an open-minded, progressive thinker, still also consider myself somewhat of a "traditionalist" or "conventionalist".

Maybe it's because I have fond memories of family fetes or because I come from a European culture and heritage....but I relish, borrowing from those of Jewish faith, the notion of holidays being “holy days”….or at least “sacred” in some way.  After all that's exactly what they were initially intended to be.

Holidays were, and in some parts of the world still are days set aside by custom or law on which daily duties, especially those pertaining to business or work, are put on hold for religious or cultural observance.

 It WAS (in the past, as I recall) a time to step away from the daily grind and celebrate “the finer things in life” and to commemorate the simple things that make life and this season so special. It is (now) a concept I think that has been long lost and forgotten….especially here at home.

In fact, I would dare say that holidays are less about celebrating and more about salebrating at your favorite stores and malls.

Is it possible that this progressive femme is jumping on the Bill O’Reilly bandwagon? He is after all (though I don’t ALWAYS agree with him) one of my all-time favorites.  Is the Easter Bunny really on the run in America? Is Santa (with his reindeer) right behind him? Moreover, is there really an assault on traditionalism? And, are we, the people, at least partially to blame?

For me, and for many I grew up with, holidays always held a special significance that not only held religious implications but that officially trumpeted in a glorious new season….one of fancy fashions, festive parades and both family and cultural traditions filled with pomp and circumstance.

In fact, both religious and secular holidays meant grand celebrations earmarked by and revelry that held special meaning. It was a time for time honored traditions, making memories and making merry while rejoicing with friends and family.

Take Easter for example. From the first day of fasting to the eventual “elaborate” feast that followed, there was a Paschal protocol that seemed to set the season and the celebration apart from regular routine and gave way, year after year, for “brotherly” bonding and special memories.

There were special days set aside for food preparation, days for religious observation and finally days of jubilation.

Even as a pugnacious preteen I can l remember looking forward to all “fanfare” each season and the holidays had to offer. And, while we no doubt had much less….it seems we may just  have had much more.

These days…whether it’s the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter, I hear the same thing…and it’s quite disheartening.

“Where is little Jimmy”?

“He’s at baseball practice or playing ball”

“And, where is little Suzie”.

“Well, she is at ballet”

Really, on a holiday?  

Holidays are supposed to be about family time and time off….not extra time to run around. They are about doing something special, different, getting a break, and establishing traditions. But, if every day is treated the same, and, we (adults) allow it, then we can expect to lose our heritage, our culture, our traditions, perhaps even our family and we have no one but ourselves to blame.

So, I think that Mr. O’Reilly should not be asking if there is an assault on traditionalism or on the Christian Community….but also, or rather, who is behind the assault. We may just find that we are staring back at ourselves….as; this is not so common among our friends in the Jewish community.

I can recall a time when I worked at a local radio station. Our receptionist was, though not Hasidic, of Orthodox Jewish faith. For her, leaving early each Friday, before sundown, was not even a question or concern, but simply part of her culture, conviction and within her religious and personal rights.

Come to think of it, years before that, I had a Jewish boss, and several Jewish friends who were admittedly, in matters of faith, moderate at best. Yet, come the high holy days, committed to keeping their spiritual, cultural, and family traditions…a quality I find both admirable and enviable.

Let’s face it we all live in the same great land of opportunity, yet, not all of us often get or are given an opportunity to reap the rewards and enjoy the great benefits we are told are our inalienable rights. This… including time to spend time friends, family and to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Perhaps it’s time we take or demand what is supposedly rightfully ours.

With emphasis on productivity and pursuit of the American Dream…we have perhaps achieved success by redefining it and by compromising or abandoning the very essence of what our dreams were originally made of.

We pride ourselves on being a mostly “conservative” nation that values family values and tradition. We are eager to head to the chapel to get married, to baptize our babies and to host elaborate celebrations commemorating these “spiritual” occasions…. yet we fail in comparison to other parts of the world to embrace our faith, the nuances of our founding (religious) convictions….and to take time out to enjoy the principles we are supposed to believe in.

Ironically, it would seem that we have a lot to learn from our so-called liberal kith and kin to the north and overseas.

In fact, when it comes to holidays it is not uncommon for THEM to designate not just one, but several DAYS for celebration and reverie.

I experienced this first hand when I moved to Canada for nearly a year. They maintain a commonwealth culture that embraces equally both work and PLAY.

Coming from a culture of 24/7…365 can you imagine my shock and, dare I say, chagrin at all the “extra downtime”? Frankly, at first I was appalled, repelled, disturbed and disgusted. After all it interfered with my round-the-clock lifestyle. But, coming from a family culture where tradition is key, the concept became easy to embrace. Besides, it was nice having some time after a major holiday to “unwind”.

Did you know that while the Monday after Christmas (known as Boxing Day) means big business for retailers in Canada, it is a day off for most other workers? Furthermore, for Canadians, as with most peoples of commonwealth countries and for those of Eastern Orthodox faith, Good Friday means a half day of work? That’s right… Good Friday is a statutory holiday (a holiday with legally imposed limits when working hours and official business are limited by law). In addition Easter Monday, the Monday following Easter Sunday is also observed as a holiday with workers receiving a paid day off. In fact, if a holiday (at least up north), falls on a non-work day then another day will be observed as the holiday…usually the preceding Friday or the following Monday.

And, those in European countries that follow the Eastern Orthodox faith are given Clean Monday…the first Monday of lent, off to attend special church services for “cleansing” their spirit, cleaning the home (and ridding it of impurities), and enjoying outdoor excursions.

So, my question is: If we are a country based on Judeo-Christian principles why do WE not get Ash Wednesday off or at least have the option of taking the day? After all it is a major holiday for many, as Christians here in the west commemorate the beginning of lent.

In fact, I find myself asking… why OUR nation, whether for religious revelions or secular celebrations, does not implement the concept of giving us the day either before or after a holiday off should it fall on a non-work day.

What I personally find more “troubling”, dare I say frightening is that I’m probably one of the few who finds this daunting and “odd”. In fact, in the past I’ve even been criticized for my vociferous opinion and defense of the working class (of which I too am proudly a part of)

Honestly, I believe we (as a people) work harder than many in many other nations…but, I ask what exactly are we working for or toward.  Is it truly to leave this earth with the most toys; or is it simply to  “just” keep a roof over our head, daily fare on our tables, and clothes on our back?

As far as I can tell, we are the land of the free…yet we are among the few established nations with the least amount of free time…time we’ve earned and deserve ….and we are the ones least offended by it. In fact, we pride ourselves on our round the clock work mindset and ideology.  I’ve even heard some justify working on Thanksgiving Day because it affords those who truly need the money to opportunity to earn (much needed) overtime; overtime, they need to afford not necessities, but Christmas/Holiday goodies and “luxuries”.

Don’t get me wrong. I am among the most vocal advocates for hard work. In fact, I believe that many today don’t work hard enough (but that’s a whole other blog). And, I’m certainly grateful (beyond belief) for our jobs. They allow us to live a comfortable life we can be proud of.

However, I can’t ignore that it appears that our diligent work ethic, by choice or otherwise seems to have rendered most of us mostly exhausted and not in a much better financial position than those in other areas of the world that seem to work “smarter” not “harder”. In fact, I just watched a documentary highlighting how most of us are living paycheck to paycheck….and many of us not in much better of a position than those in areas we consider “devastated” and are trying to help. Perhaps we should consider helping ourselves.

The bottom line… we have no time AND no money. We also, by virtue of trying to achieve at least the latter, have no traditions and not much of an example or legacy to leave our children.

What message are we sending?

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