It is accepted today to talk about the globalization of cultural and religious symbols, especially in the context of economic globalization. Christianity also economically and culturally globalized the birth of Christ from the very beginning of attempts to “universalize” Christian values, that is, when in the first centuries after Christ, when the Roman Empire began to disintegrate, when Christians and pagans clashed in a conflict at the heart of the Roman Empire, which threatened its unity, felt a political decision to artificially reconcile two camps. The political authorities feel they must act: the emperor Constantine (who was not a Christian because he was baptized on his deathbed) creates a political symbol through cultural mechanisms to reduce the tension, that is, an artificial reconciliation that unites the veneration of the unconquered sun and the birth of Jesus. From his decree comes December 25, a political act that, although it will not save the Roman Empire, records the birth of Christ and the day of Christmas.

Of course, cultures and (popular) religions have contributed to the spirit of Christmas, this cross between paganism and Christianity. Which makes the Christian celebration of Christmas a global cultural symbol as well as a symbol of identity, especially to the extent that it is also local. In Romania, Christmas has a very strong local identity, which gives it signs of authenticity. It is about a strong element of the symbol of Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ in a deep relationship with the strong value of Orthodoxy, based on the restoration and preservation of sacred, but also pagan traditions: the association of Christmas with the slaughter of a pig. For Romanians, there is no Christmas without pork!

The current wave of practices of neo-Protestant churches, which try to transform the Romanian Orthodox Christmas, orienting it to a more musical celebration through concerts, more or less extravagant, borrowing traditional Romanian carols and other musical genres, is rather an expression of a celebration inspired by globalization and multiculturalism. Although neo-Protestant concerts try to replace the tradition of pig slaughtering, this sacred cultural marker of the Romanian space, appealing only to the cultural background of musical traditions to speak the “language of the people”, beyond the tradition of pig slaughtering. , this strategy remains an imported form, still not adapted to the Romanian Christmas celebration.History shows us that only the political reunification of strong cultural markers leads to lasting syncretism and the constant penetration of symbolic space. In the Romanian symbolic space of Christmas, Orthodoxy adopted the tradition of slaughtering a pig, which remains an insurmountable barrier for some neo-Protestants. Of course, although the pig is despised in all monotheistic religions, Eastern Christianity such as Romanian Orthodoxy gives it a second chance after slaughter. For example, in the 19th century in Bukovina, it was believed that a pig lights the way to heaven, because its wool can shine like gold and turn into candles. _

Read the whole article and comment on Contributors.ro