Oddities

By Daniela Gross

This year, for the first time after half a century, Christians and Muslims celebrated their Nativity on the same night, between the 24th and 25th of December.

Monika Bulaj, great photographer and anthropologist, reminded us of this rare coincidence some days ago on the daily La Repubblica. “This year Muhammad is born on the same day Jesus is. It will be the second Mawlud in 2015, the first having occurred between the second and the third of January: The Muslims’ liturgical year goes faster than the Christian one. Coincidence. Anyway – today it seems strange to remember – throughout the centuries, these religions have mirrored each other with melodies and customs, borrowing each other’s poetries and rituals, as good neighbors borrow some salt.”

Apparently, the mayor of Pontoglio, a town west of the province of Brescia, governed by a center-right coalition, was not informed of these coincidences, when he installed a series of signs on the roads leading into town. “Town with a history of Western culture and deep-rooted Christian traditions. Those who do not respect local culture and traditions are asked to leave”, reads one of the signs, as reported on the daily Corriere della Sera. The governing majority clarified that the controversial messages have nothing to do with racism. Maybe it was another coincidence due to this festive season.