WHY
do people celebrate holidays? Let's take for example St Patrick's Day
and Thanksgiving. Saint Patrick was a fifth-century Romano-British
Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. He is regarded as the
founder of Christianity in Ireland, converting a society practising a
form of Celtic polytheism (or paganism). He has been generally so
regarded ever since, despite evidence of some earlier Christian
presence in Ireland. Critics see that as a way of religious
subjugation of a people's inherent form of worship or community
fervor. I can translate that as well with how Christianity's cross
sat foot in my islands-country and transformed natives as a way of
exerting domination over them and their resources.
Meantime,
much like Columbus Day, Thanksgiving is considered by some to be a
"national day of mourning,” as a celebration of the cultural
genocide and conquest of Native Americans by colonists. Thanksgiving
has long carried a distinct resonance for Native Americans, who see
the holiday as an embellished story of "Pilgrims and Natives
looking past their differences" to break bread. I can relate
with that too as a Filipino.
It
is our basic human right to or not to participate in celebrations or
observance of holidays in honor of this and that religion or people
or culture or political history. Many of those who hold aloft their
Pagan beliefs cling on to practices and traditions that amplify or
accentuate their faith or culture. Native Americans stay in the
reservation and live the way they were. Many peoples in the world do
the same. However, I don't see the rationale in people protesting
holiday observances like St Patrick's Day and Thanksgiving and
Christmas yet still live the lifestyle or culture of a people that
they believe committed wrongdoings in long ago past.
Genocides and
massacres and subjugation are evil. But those who gather as family
and community to enjoy togetherness and collective peace in these
“holidays” should not be criticized as though they were exactly
the ones who committed those genocides and massacres. Otherwise, I
will simply look back in history and relive the wounds of centuries
of Spanish and American colonization back home. That invasion brought
English and Christianity and Hershey's and bejewelled crucifixes and
a whole consumerist flood back home, almost totally wiping away a
people's innate cultural truths. And so I will continue to hate the
White Man?
Yet
I don't see life that way. I'd rather look at "Pilgrims and
Natives looking past their differences" to break bread than the
blood spilled on the land. I'd rather see St Patrick's legacy of
goodness in converging a people for common good than what could have
happened in those times. Meantime, I am not a fan of the endless
drinking on that day anyway. And you know, if I really want to drive
it back to history, the wearing of leprechaun outfits is considered
derogatory in 19th century Ireland, it's like caricaturing or
ridiculing them. But then, chill. Right? Good things. You see, Japan
is the number #1 aid giver to the Philippines yet the country
occupied us in the Pacific War and did really bad things then.
Why don't we instead see the good things in people's way of gathering as
one than see the wounds of the past? We lambaste those who hate but
isn't this attitude a form of reliving hate in people's heart? Other
people, tribes and Catholics sit down and plan fiestas and revelry
for common benefits and enjoyment. Natives exalt harvest, Catholics
glorify their God—for the new sun after nonstop rains. I don't
think they sat down (to plan the feasts) by pointing fingers who
killed who 101 years ago.
I
believe we just have to focus on what's here and now and choose our
battles and protests where and when they are really needed. Peace is
possible if we know how to gather us as one than divide us into tiny
little hating gremlins.
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