RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 23, 11 February 1937, Page 15

RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS

Use in Business Practice CRITICISM BY CHURCH Criticism of tho use of Cliristian symbols by business fims in their advertising campaign for Chrijjtmas goods is expressedd in the February issue of the "Church News." The eomment is made in reply to a eorrespondent, who drew attention to the use by a business firm of a picture of the visit of the Magi to the Infant Jesus Christ; and the article enters a strong protest "against such improper use. ' ' The article also attacks the use of religious symbols for the manufacture of Easter eggs aud hot eross buns, which it is alleged are usOd merely &s a device to encourage the fcale of these goods. •'Our attention has been ealled to the use by a business firm. of a picture of the visit of Magi to the Infant Jesus in a Christmas advertising cireular," says the afticle. "We agree with our correspondent that such use is improper, and shoiildd be very strongiy protested against. Unfortunately a copy of the oic'ending cireular was not sent, but the tmpression was given that the figure of the Sacred Child was used. "We are glad to say that the average firm has too great a sense of religious decency, not to Say business eaution, to vulgarise sacred subjects in this way. We foel sure that the small firm in the city that uses the name of the Holy Trinity &s the trhde-nanie of its shop is ofEending through ighoranee and not indifference to the saeredness of the Holy Name of God. We suggest to aaf fcoffespondent that she should write to the fifm and express her disapprobatioh — ahd mention that as an expression of her disapproval she refuse to do business with tnem. The universal use — or misuse — • of 'Father Christmas' is not exactly a parallel, although Nicholas, the original of 'Father Christmas' Was a saint; but it shows how far vulgarisation may go if the practice became common. "The Easter egg is another abuse that just missds blasphemy, but the hot cross bun with the symboi sacred to Christmas is quite clearly an abUse that Catholic Christians who keep Good Friday as a holy day and hot siftiply as a noliday, should discountenance by refusing to have the buns bo marked. The religious significance of the hot cross bun has long since disappeafed, and the use of the sacfed symboi is merely a device to encourage the sale of these comestibles. It is evidently successful, for tens of thousands more buns are sold in the city evefy Holy Week. "In fact, to many childfen as well as adults the only observance of Good Friday is the eating of numerous hot cross buna. A3 for the Easter egg, it has the merit of suggesting the victory of life over death but otherwise — well, at the risk of being rCgafded as fiippaut, it's fotten."