Philosophy
The observation of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday is our most recent calendar addition. It was added in 1983, although it was fought for a decade to follow in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and, of course, Arizona.
It leads to further questions about the holidays we have and those we need. "Holiday" is a contraction of "holy day," in other words, they are days set aside by a culture to celebrate the values and virtues it most cherishes. On these grounds, which current holidays should go, what new holidays should be added, and which current holidays need re-interpreting?
- Fat Tuesday: The Honest Holiday
Playground regulars know of my holiday hypothesis. "Holiday" comes from "holy day" and while we claim that our holidays commemorate virtue, actually they function as controlled outlets for vice. Thanksgiving is not about gratitude, it is about...
- The Meaning Of 9/11
Long-time Playground regulars may recall my thesis that while the term holiday derives from the phrase "holy day," and with each holiday comes an accompanying virtue we claim to be honoring, the way we actually celebrate our holidays is by engaging in...
- The Meaning Of St. Patrick's Day
The Harrisburg Patriot-News is running my op/ed today: With parades and parties, we take St. Patrick?s Day more lightly than other holidays. We treat it more as a celebration than a moment for solemn reflection. This is a wonderful thing, not only for...
- Holidays Are Hypocrisy
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists everywhere, New bit I'm working on: Yes, Christmas comes but once a year. Kinda like being married... You know, I have a theory about the holidays. Holidays are hypocrisy. The term "holiday" comes from...
- Name That Holiday
Contrary to SteveD's contention, I was in no way fishing for my own holiday with yesterday's post. He does, however, raise a darn good question: What holidays are missing from the calendar? What new holidays should be created? My suggestions:...
Philosophy
New Holidays
The observation of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday is our most recent calendar addition. It was added in 1983, although it was fought for a decade to follow in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and, of course, Arizona.
It leads to further questions about the holidays we have and those we need. "Holiday" is a contraction of "holy day," in other words, they are days set aside by a culture to celebrate the values and virtues it most cherishes. On these grounds, which current holidays should go, what new holidays should be added, and which current holidays need re-interpreting?
- Fat Tuesday: The Honest Holiday
Playground regulars know of my holiday hypothesis. "Holiday" comes from "holy day" and while we claim that our holidays commemorate virtue, actually they function as controlled outlets for vice. Thanksgiving is not about gratitude, it is about...
- The Meaning Of 9/11
Long-time Playground regulars may recall my thesis that while the term holiday derives from the phrase "holy day," and with each holiday comes an accompanying virtue we claim to be honoring, the way we actually celebrate our holidays is by engaging in...
- The Meaning Of St. Patrick's Day
The Harrisburg Patriot-News is running my op/ed today: With parades and parties, we take St. Patrick?s Day more lightly than other holidays. We treat it more as a celebration than a moment for solemn reflection. This is a wonderful thing, not only for...
- Holidays Are Hypocrisy
Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists everywhere, New bit I'm working on: Yes, Christmas comes but once a year. Kinda like being married... You know, I have a theory about the holidays. Holidays are hypocrisy. The term "holiday" comes from...
- Name That Holiday
Contrary to SteveD's contention, I was in no way fishing for my own holiday with yesterday's post. He does, however, raise a darn good question: What holidays are missing from the calendar? What new holidays should be created? My suggestions:...