Secular icons for religious holidays are a bit problematic for me.
Santas. Elves. Easter eggs.
They are not part of my family tradition. But you know that already. (an easter tail -- one of my favorite essays).
That is why I was a bit surprised at my reaction when I found the Easter bunny on my dining room table looking as if he was the triumphant model for Marco Basaiti's The Resurrection of Christ.
The bunny was one of Jiggs's chew toys. But the object in the bunny's paws was new.
Pope Benedict visited his Mexican flock at the end of March. And it was quite a visit. The Mexican church being one of his largest corporate subsidiaries.
Mexico welcomed him only as Mexico can. Crowds. Noise. Music. Enthusiasm. Bigger than Santana.
I didn't go see him. But I now have a souvenir of that visit.
Santas. Elves. Easter eggs.
They are not part of my family tradition. But you know that already. (an easter tail -- one of my favorite essays).
That is why I was a bit surprised at my reaction when I found the Easter bunny on my dining room table looking as if he was the triumphant model for Marco Basaiti's The Resurrection of Christ.
The bunny was one of Jiggs's chew toys. But the object in the bunny's paws was new.
Pope Benedict visited his Mexican flock at the end of March. And it was quite a visit. The Mexican church being one of his largest corporate subsidiaries.
Mexico welcomed him only as Mexico can. Crowds. Noise. Music. Enthusiasm. Bigger than Santana.
I didn't go see him. But I now have a souvenir of that visit.
If you look closely at what the bunny is holding, you will discover a bit of confection. A pope-sicle.
A marvelous symbol of how Mexico handles its faith. Adoration and kitsch wrapped up in one edible package.
And why not? We have Jesus on velvet. Our Lady of Guadalupe in throbbing multi-colored lights. Saints on coffee mugs.
The pope-sicle was a gift from my landlady. She visited Guanajuato last month -- one of the cities that celebrated the pope's pop-in -- and found the perfect memento for me. The fact that she so carefully arranged it for my arrival is what made it special.
Not only do I eschew secular religious icons, I am postmodern enough to see little utility in symbols. But this was a big exception.
Little acts of kindness that bring a smile to a weary traveler's lips are what make life worth living. After all, the true model of Basati's painting said it best: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
A marvelous symbol of how Mexico handles its faith. Adoration and kitsch wrapped up in one edible package.
And why not? We have Jesus on velvet. Our Lady of Guadalupe in throbbing multi-colored lights. Saints on coffee mugs.
The pope-sicle was a gift from my landlady. She visited Guanajuato last month -- one of the cities that celebrated the pope's pop-in -- and found the perfect memento for me. The fact that she so carefully arranged it for my arrival is what made it special.
Not only do I eschew secular religious icons, I am postmodern enough to see little utility in symbols. But this was a big exception.
Little acts of kindness that bring a smile to a weary traveler's lips are what make life worth living. After all, the true model of Basati's painting said it best: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
