Christmas Town

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As much as I don't really care, Sea World as a company has publicly said they are all about keeping Christ as the reason for the season. It's not about the vicinity of Virginia - all parks do it.

And again, I can't really stress how much I don't care.
 
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This is a slightly off-topic aside, but people seem to forget that the Puritan settlers of what became the USA were adamantly against Christmas celebrations, as were many other Protestant sects at the time. Religious Christmas celebrations are decidedly not part of the foundation of America.
 
Actually, I'm impressed with the board. I asked last year if an atheist could enjoy Christmas Town and I was lambasted. Everyone is being respectful this go around, regardless of faith or lack thereof.

This board has come a long way.
 
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I just find CT one the more boring side. Lights have little interest for me. Shows only do so much for me, especially one one is religious, and another is generic Christmas songs that you hear thirty million times through the season. Scrooge No More probably won't be the best thing ever. And While I love Miracles, I don't love being blinded by lights or sitting out in the cold.

I don't know, for me I just have a hard time finding something to do. I don't want to wait two hours to see penguins in a small place. The marketplace area in Oktoberfest was really cool the first year, and since then it's gotten smaller and smaller.

Religious imagery or not, I just find it hard to keep my interest while there. With many of the rides closed for this or that reason, there's just not much for me. I'm usually there at park opening, and gone way before park closing.
 
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Jonquil said:
This is a slightly off-topic aside, but people seem to forget that the Puritan settlers of what became the USA were adamantly against Christmas celebrations, as were many other Protestant sects at the time. Religious Christmas celebrations are decidedly not part of the foundation of America.
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You're right, but this kind of off topic stuff just confuses the conversation. This normally isn't so bad, but Religion is a very touchy topic as it is, it's important to keep the conversation on course to avoid big fights.
 
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Jonquil said:
This sort of comes back to the whole sensitivities issue that arose with the severed heads at Howl-O-Scream. Just seeing scattered religious-type decor shouldn't bother a rational, reasonable person. And the park does seem to offer non-religious shows at Christmas Town, so I don't see a huge problem.

BUT, I've never been there so I'll take other people's word for it. It would seem very odd for a fairly high-profile park like Busch Gardens to make their winter solstice celebration into a big religious event.
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I said specifically that I enjoy the event, despite the overtly Christian imagery. I am not in any way arguing against those themes. I went to a Catholic university; there were crosses in every classroom. I seriously don't care.

The debate is whether there is an abundance of Christian images. I contend that more than ever in the past, CT 2013 seemed to have a lot of religious symbols.

For what it is worth, I would like to see a Winter Holiday themed event that includes other, non-Christian festivals. I think I suggested such an event for KD last year.
 
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As a person who is of a religion that is distinctly not Christian, I still really enjoy Christmas Town. Beautiful lights, the unique thrill of cold coaster rides, fun hot drinks and the feeling that you've got the park to yourself...I go almost every year.
 
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Matthew said:
Can you please explain what was different in 2013 as to religious aspects at CT more than past years? I think that's where I'm initially confused over this whole debate.
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I only visited in 2013 for the 1st time and have nothing to compare to. All I know is that when my wife and I left after our 1st visit, we spent the whole drive back to Richmond discussing how 'real Christmas' everything seemed. We also found ourselves recommending the event to church going friends. I myself do not attend church, but I know how the event made me feel, and what kind of conversation ensued. Does this make any sense? It's hard to put onto a keyboard.
 
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Mazakman said:
Matthew said:
Can you please explain what was different in 2013 as to religious aspects at CT more than past years? I think that's where I'm initially confused over this whole debate.
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I only visited in 2013 for the 1st time and have nothing to compare to. All I know is that when my wife and I left after our 1st visit, we spent the whole drive back to Richmond discussing how 'real Christmas' everything seemed. We also found ourselves recommending the event to church going friends. I myself do not attend church, but I know how the event made me feel, and what kind of conversation ensued. Does this make any sense? It's hard to put onto a keyboard.
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I visited every year, and I understand how first visitors feel if they aren't very religious. But I noticed nothing different. If anything 2010 was the year of more religion, because that's when San Marco opened for CT. Although the park tries to pass it off as a world peace and unity theme, Angels always scream Christianity to people.
 
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I can't tell you why it seemed more Christian that in previous years. I just know that I was struck by the preponderance of imagery. It is an impression.
 
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