JJ noticed that the Clarion-Ledger used to treat Christmas somewhat differently than it does today while digging through the archives on other projects. There has been some debate on whether there is a "War on Christmas." JJ is not going to enter that debate but instead would rather just show how Christmas has become secularized on the front page on the local newspaper. See for your self.
First look at today's "Christmas Edition" of the Clarion-Ledger.
Wow, a big beautiful bow. Compare the "Bow edition" to the Clarion-Ledger editions in Christmases past. Start in 1925. Click on the images to enlarge.
The newspaper even got involved with some Christmas decoration contests in the 1940's although a Christmas edition was not always published in that decade.
The contest coverage returned in the 1960's until the Clarion-Ledger stopped publishing a Christmas edition for nearly 15 years.
The watering down begins in 1984. Future editions will have Christmas stories, reporters' stories about Christmas, but they rarely mention what Christmas is about after the Gannett purchase although Orley Hood did save it for one year. Christmas become a vague, feel-good concept that happens once a year. See for yourself.
However, the Clarion-Ledger gave more notice to Christmas but from a more personal angle.
Kingfish note: One little warning. Don't even try to comment on the Tweeter-in-Chief's comments about the War on Christmas this week. Not even going there.
11 comments:
The papers from the 1940's thru the early 1970's had more news on the front page than the entire editions of today have. Not only that, it was the "news" not the opinion of the writer.
The Hederman press: Peace, brotherhood, and goodwill to all! Bah humbug!
11:23 AM, you hit the nail on its head. News in the newspaper! Yes, the Mississippi I grew up in assumed that most of us were Christians and that we respect those of the Jewish faith. There were no other religions. I never even heard of witches being a religion until I was grown. It was a majority rule type of society and the mis-fits were just that. Now its rule by the misfits and malcontents and still Christianity is practiced by 89% of us.
5:07 Correction: Christianity is professed by 89%, not practiced.
18% of Mississippians go to church on Sundays.
52% of South Madison County, the most affluent county in Mississippi, do not belong to a church.
I agree that Christmas has been commercialized.
But, that's a battle for your money, not a war on your religion.
Greed is the problem and that includes more than a few of the extremely wealthy evangelists claiming that there's a war on religion but then you don't see their vacation homes.
52% of South Madison County, the most affluent county in Mississippi, do not belong to a church.
Link?
I was pleasantly surprised at the decorative bow and other stuff on the front page *and* and that my paper actually arrived on time on Christmas day. Not interested in getting into any religious-based discussion on the topic, nor about being PC, etc. Religion and the practice thereof has become a much more personal thing in recent years, and I'm not at all sure that's a bad thing. Otherwise, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."
Now on to the only really important topic about the Clarion Ledger: What about their recent letter announcing a monthly subscription rate high of 45% from $38 to $55 effective 1/1/18?!?!?!?!?!?!
@5:07, you're really going to label non-Christians as misfits? That kind of attitude is why so many in our younger generation are turned off to Christianity. By the way, I wouldn't judge the "misfits" too much because you talk like someone who is going to the same place they are going.
@ 10:52 - where is it written that, in order to be Christian, one must attend an organized Church every Sunday? The church building is just a place where like-minded people congregate to celebrate their faith. It is not a tool by which to measure a person's status as a Christian.
During the times of the older photo, the publisher, all the editors, the editorial staff, the writers, journalists, reporters and cartoonist were in church on Sundays or Temple on Saturday. Those days are gone.
I don't have a link but imagine that 'back then' 90% were 'church affiliated' wherease today probably only 15% are. Christianity doesn't sell papers any more. Race baiting and division-politics does.
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