we can present it [Christmas] as a holiday of actual domestic national peace, which is in fact without question a critical demand of the National Socialist people’s community, to each individual German. If we make visible the blessings of this actual peace, along with its foundations and requirements, then “Christmas” doubtless can be a high point in the course of the political year. Both according to popular custom and popular view, the Christmas holiday can justifiably be seen as a festival of the nation.
Not Saussure has some fascinating stuff about the attempted Nazification of Christmas in wartime Germany.
3 Comments:
a fascinating article indeed Matt. As mentioned in the comments, the current issue of the Fortean Times has an excellent article on the subject. Well worth a read.
I'll have to keep an eye out for it next time I'm in town.
I might just go back to the FT now it's come with these recommendations.
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