What a delight! Mama was passing one of the many priest stores near us today and in the window was a presepio, a nativity scene, which mama always likes to see even if she is not a big believer. Still…in her family, her mama always put the nativity scene, handmade and painted with love, on the dining room sideboard and it is a Christmas memory mama loves, religious or not.
But mama said that this one was a bit different and so charming because all of the figures including little baby Jesus were black! There was another larger figure of a black baby Jesus in a second window, and while mama was gazing at this phenomenon, the owner of the store came out to light a cigarette (!) and mama asked, “Why are there two scenes, one of black figures and the other white?” And the man said, “We try to be universal here—everyone is represented, both black and white, for universal love.”
Hmmm…
Well, mama was reallly tickled by this, but then she thought, well, shouldn’t there be an oriental group and a Hispanic group and so on, but in the end, she settled for ebony and ivory. The stores near us are Catholic, so I suppose this is a big step for Catholics to have two races represented in a nativity scene, but I just wish that all religions would welcome one another instead of causing so many problems in so many parts of the world because of their differences.
Peace on earth is not exactly the norm right now…but this is a start.
I love this little anthro giving the peace sign!
And I’m feeling very peaceful on earth right now…
They are delightful, we love the little one giving it Peace Out too. It’s a shame all the apes aren’t colour blind, might make the world a bit more peaceful.
Was it the Victorians who deemed Jesus to be a Caucasian chap with a beard?
Luff Mungo
Probably was the Victs, but that just goes to show what they know. Now they say he was married to M. Magdalene and had four kids!!! Oh, boy.
That’s the way, Loulou. Keep the peace. 🙂
I’d keep more peace if mama would give me a PIECE of something to eat right now. It’s my DINNER TIME and she’s out in the kitchen cooking the anthro dinner.