Jangle Bells

I read a story earlier this week about Catholic Church concerns about the number of shopping centres which had failed to erect traditional nativity scenes in their malls. It seems that without such creations people will forget what the seasonal shopping frenzy is all about. The Church has clearly not noticed that fewer and fewer of us are Christian, and quite happily just indulge ourselves in a winter festival sans myth making. Winter festivals long predated Christianity, indeed part of the success of Christianity was its ability to purloin other people’s traditions. Anyway, not every crib these days will be without controversy. The one pictured here is currently on show at the Van Beuningen art gallery in Rotterdam. Those Dutch – always coming up with something new! Happy Saturnalia!