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« Primary Source | Main | Christmas Meditation » December 24, 2007Declaration of Christmas PeaceI found this tradition from Finland to be rather quaint: every Christmas Eve, the following is read (and broadcast) at noon from the Old Great Square of Turku: Tomorrow, God willing, marks the most gracious feast of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, and therefore a general Christmas peace is hereby declared, and all persons are directed to observe this holiday with due reverence and otherwise quietly and peacefully to conduct themselves, for whosoever breaks this peace and disturbs the Christmas holiday by any unlawful or improper conduct shall be liable, under aggravating circumstances, to whatever penalty is prescribed by law and decree for each particular offence or misdemeanour. Finally, all citizens are wished a joyous Christmas holiday.Even with a state church, I wonder what kind of authority this really has under Finnish jurisprudence. Posted by Zach Wendling at December 24, 2007 12:34 PM CommentsIf Christmas is a national holiday there as it is here, there is certainly nothing problematic about a general Christmas proclamation. But government proclamations of any sort shouldn't be telling citizens what their attitudes should be, outside of general respect for the law. I find it amusing that the phrase "unlawful and improper" is used to describe actions that merit "penalt[ies]...prescribed by law." Isn't the word "ulawful" sufficient? Posted by: Alan K. Henderson at December 25, 2007 03:58 AM | permalink Post a comment |
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