Opinions

=An Outdated Tradition=

by Emma L. '08
Every year, as you know, the senior class presents its gift to the school: the Nativity pageant, performed to the T, just like in all the Christmas stories. Most Middle and Upper School girls seem divided in opinion about it: many anxiously wait for their turn to uphold this ancient school tradition, while others are indifferent about it; they just go because they feel like they have to. But they don’t. As you know, McGehee is a nondenominational school that prides itself on its secularity. It seems ridiculous that such a known religious tradition has a place in a school like ours. A notable part of the tradition is the incredible build-up to it. Every single grade in the school waits in anticipation of putting on the pageant. As a result, the seniors don’t take their gift to the school lightly. The senior class votes each year on which of their classmates would be the quintessential Mary or Joseph. The mother of the senior class is chosen to portray Mary, while the senior with the most school spirit plays Joseph. The two Kneeling Angels are the best advice-givers in the whole class; they lend an ear to whoever needs to talk out their problems. Dressed in elaborate costumes of dull brown and royal purple, the three wise men and shepherds come to adore the plastic baby Jesus as a speaking choir narrates the story. I may identify with the Jewish faith, but that’s not what motivates me to abstain from the Nativity. Performing the Nativity pageant in a school that prides itself on being nonreligious simply does not make sense. I don’t see a reenaction of Moses parting the Red Sea during Passover happening. The most we’ve had that acknowledges other faiths is an awkward assembly where a Jewish or Muslim girl stands timidly at the podium, delivering a disheveled explanation of their respective holidays to “raise awareness.” We do occasionally have the Passover Seder, but it’s treated as a throwaway event. There’s no tradition associated with the Seder, no special roles for the seniors to play. There’s also no extensive buildup to the Seder; people don’t revere it as much as they do Nativity, which seems unfair to the Jewish students at school. This year, I’m choosing to not participate in the Nativity. I won’t be one of the people in the manger that sits passively and looks at the baby Jesus. I know some will call me a tradition-breaker and a contrarian and others will think I’m just doing it because I’m Jewish. I’m not afraid of the people who say I’m breaking tradition because that is exactly what I’m doing. But, on the other hand, I will still sing in the choir. Earlier in the year, my position was rock-solid: I wasn’t doing any nativity activity; not singing, not acting, nothing. But I do love my class and my school, and I feel that even though the Nativity is a completely wrong tradition, my desire to be a part of this ceremony and of my class overbears my anti-Nativity sentiments. My advice to the school is to change the Nativity ceremony to something else so that the seniors will still have the opportunity to put on a Senior Pageant, but students of other religions and opinions wouldn’t be forced to participate in a ceremony that goes against their beliefs just to feel like they are part of their class.