Did Brooklyn Start the War on Christmas?
- George Arzt Communications, Inc. via NY Observer
- Brooklyn Democrats’ Festive HQ
I mean, let’s just examine the evidence fairly. First of all, it is widely known that Brooklyn — Breuckelen, if I may — was settled in the 17th century by the Dutch. It is also widely known that the Dutch are super into Christmas and their beloved Sinterklaas. But how much of that do you see in modern day Brooklyn? Not a whole lot. The only thing that really comes close is the increasing popularity of Eastern European holiday villain The Krampus, who now has parties thrown in his honor at places like beloved local boozery The Drink. Curious indeed.
Also curious? The super-opulent annual holiday spread put on by Frank Seddio, better known as the guy who replaced Vito Lopez (“Gropez” if you’re nasty/an employee of the New York Post) as Brooklyn’s Democratic Chairman. This year’s display at his Canarsie home entails a $300,000 spectacle including “500,000 lights, almost 100 animated dolls, and a talking Christmas tree.” This in addition to a giant tin soldier who acts as a guard and “a four foot parrot which sings and tells jokes.” Which, on the surface, seems like a very jolly, pro-Christmas sort of thing to do. But really, methinks the Party Boss doth protest too much? Would anyone not involved in some sort of War on Christmas PR diversion really take things this far, and this festive? The answers are unclear.
Additionally, I would point out that 3% of people in this survey — the same percentage as those who said they celebrate Hanukkah, oddly — claimed to observe the largely fictional holiday of Festivus. People around here seem to really enjoy Seinfeld, so this one may also be our fault, but again, the answers are as-of-yet unclear. For now, I’d say we should remain as ashamed as we are vigilant about further encroachments upon this, the most magical and expensive of holidays. That, and think about the fact that more people in this survey claimed to believe in Leprechauns than in Cupid, meaning that in addition to killing Christmas, we may also be responsible for the death of love. Just in time for the holidays.
Follow Virginia K. Smith on Twitter @vksmith.