The Dutch War on Easter. Secular Passion for Religious Culture & National Rituals

Abstract

The Yearbook for Ritual and Liturgical Studies is an online journal that annually offers a forum for innovative, national and international research in the field of ritual and liturgical studies. Editorial Board Prof. dr. Marcel Barnard (editor in chief, Amsterdam/Stellenbosch), dr. Andrew Irving (Groningen), dr. Martin Hoondert (Tilburg), dr. Mirella Klomp (Amsterdam), dr. Mary E. McGann (Berkeley, CA), prof. dr. Paul Post (Tilburg), prof. dr. Thomas Quartier (Nijmegen/Leuven/Rome), prof. dr. Gerard Rouwhorst (Utrecht/Tilburg), prof. dr. Eric Venbrux (Nijmegen). Advisory Board Prof. dr. Sible de Blaauw (Nijmegen), prof. dr. Joris Geldhof (Leuven), prof. dr. Bert Groen (Graz), prof. dr. Benedikt Kranemann (Erfurt), dr. Jan Luth (Groningen), prof. dr. Peter Jan Margry (Amsterdam), prof. dr. Keith Pecklers (Rome/ Boston), dr. Susan Roll (Ottawa), prof. dr. Martin Stringer (Swansea), prof. dr. Teresa Berger (New Haven, CT).

Religion, secularity, culture? Investigating Christian privilege in Western Europe

“…Each year, several companies are challenged for not featuring the Christian aspects of Easter celebrations prominently enough, and suspected of catering too much to the sensitivities of minority groups. Although mainly radical right-wing groups amplify this message, British Prime Minister Theresa May, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other figures of the political mainstream have condemned what they deemed ‘politically correct’ naming of chocolate eggs (Van Den Hemel, 2017). Rutte moreover called Easter Eggs an important symbol of Dutch Christian culture.…”

“…Rutte moreover called Easter Eggs an important symbol of Dutch Christian culture. He also emphasized that Dutch people ought to wish each other ‘merry Christmas’ rather than ‘happy holidays’ (Van Den Hemel, 2017). We see here the same kinds of assumptions that undergird colourblindness and post-feminism: Christianity's hegemonic position is denied, and it is even argued that Christianity is now under attack from those who insist too much on plurality and multiculturalism.…”