Merry Christmas from Gotham

 BY KITTY L. | SHIROOKAMI - DOGS.UNITE | 12.25.2021

 

ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα.

Videntes autem stellam gavisi sunt gaudio magno valde.

They, when they saw the star, were glad beyond measure.

 

We celebrated Christmastide in the City of Bridges, Pittsburgh.  Although this city normally looks like Gotham, even being the filming location of The Dark Knight Rises, the spirit of Christmas lights up every corner.  In parallel with the meaning of Christmas, the darker the night, the brighter the light!

 

Being quite familiar with the area, I can remember a time when strong displays of faith were the norm here.  Not too long ago, it was quite uncommon during Ash Wednesdays to see students at UPitt without a cross on the forehead.  Many of the prominent churches were open almost all hours of the day.  Italian, German, and Polish immigration in the city's early days brought in waves of various Christmas traditions that have been appreciated throughout the Keystone state.  So, it was no surprise to see how these traditions even reshaped the look of the 'Burgh.

 

 

A notable place to celebrate the Christ mass would be the gothic Saint Paul's Cathedral, the seat of the diocese.  As churches in the area experience accelerated consolidation, this cathedral with its Gothic Revival architecture is one of a handful that have stood the test of time. 

 

 

A few thoughts on this year's homily:

"Let us ask ourselves: can we accept God’s way of doing things? This is the challenge of Christmas: God reveals himself, but men and women fail to understand. He makes himself little in the eyes of the world, while we continue to seek grandeur in the eyes of the world, perhaps even in his name. God lowers himself and we try to become great. The Most High goes in search of shepherds, the unseen in our midst, and we look for visibility; we want to be seen. Jesus is born in order to serve, and we spend a lifetime pursuing success. God does not seek power and might; he asks for tender love and interior littleness."

from the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord, 2021 (Pope Francis) 

 

Although not as prominent as the Basilica in DC, St. Paul's has the advantage of being relatively less-restricted, relaxed, and open to times of undisturbed reflection.  I can recall many years ago when some individuals attempted to seek legal sanctuary here.  As I later learned, a number of the homeless earnestly sought refuge and help in its pews as well.  Being surrounded by intellectual and artistic communities, it also sees a high flow of different generations within and outside its parish.  If ever there was a particular parish that displayed the ideals of charity in times of dire need, this would be it.  Unlike many churches today that are forced to close their doors during certain hours due to security reasons, this church so far does not.

 

Before and after mass, there are plenty of other sights to discover and be reminded of the joy inspired by the birth of Christ, some even quite strange.  Like the National Christmas Tree, there are several community trees, most notably the 60-foot tree at PPG Place's ice rink, which is much larger than the Rink at Rockefeller Center in New York City.  The plaza undergoes an extensive yearly transformation in honor of Christmas.

 

However, it's not just the ice rink and tree's size that are impressive.  The entire plaza is mesmerizing, especially at night.  The plaza is surrounded by towering reflective buildings that capture the dazzling lights from the central tree.  The tree itself is draped in a dense digital display of ever-changing light patterns that match the music. With flurries befalling their heads, those in the crowd exudes an energy and enthusiasm that is difficult to match.  It's almost like a scene straight out of Whoville, with a flashy light show to match the energy. Is this really the city that resembles Gotham other times of the year?

 

Hundreds of visitors gather to skate here, so be sure to think ahead and be prepared to tough the bitter cold when it snows.  No prior ice skating experience is required.  Although the wait is long and arduous, it's worth it.  You can spend a vast amount of time on the ice, and feel free to come and go when you would like before the Zamboni sweeps through here.  You'll be out here for a long time.

 

Other famous trees nearby include the odd Horne's Christmas tree that is actually part of a building.  Pittsburgh used to be home to an iconic Macy's, which had more floors than the one in New York City.  With the downfall of in-person shopping, this Macy's was demolished years ago, a spectacle in and of itself.  Nothing is left of the sprawling department store.  However, the legacy of a much smaller department store at the intersection of Penn and Stanwix still stands. 

 

Horne's Christmas tree was part of the exterior of Pittsburgh's first department store, Joseph Horne.  Being literally part of the building, it needs only to be decorated and lit.  The peculiar tree was crafted during the brutal polio epidemic, to bring joy to the many patients of Children's Hospital.  Amazingly in line with the spirit of Christmas, its lighting closely followed the first successful testing of the polio vaccine.  Since then, it has marked the beginning of the Christmas season in the city since the 1950s.

 

Also nearby is another Pittsburgh tradition that's big, green, and well-lit.  Although not a tree, the giant Heinz pickle is a symbol of Christmas to the local here.  No one is certain of the exact origins of this local tradition, which most likely was derived from the German-American practice of finding a hidden pickle ornament for good fortune (I mean, a pickle makes for a very cost-effective decoration).  In more recent years, the pickle also serves as a reminder of Christmas during July.

 

 

The pickle actually brings us to another thought this Christmas, a figurative pickle.  There are so many decorated trees and activities in the city, too many to count.  Some could argue, with all these trees, the meaning of Christmas has morphed or has been lost.  Especially with the consolidation of churches which used to dominate the city in great number, it's easy to believe that the festivities are just for enjoyment during a dark, winter season.  

 

According to Tertullian, the use of evergreens were precedented as a decorative practice by early Christians more than their non-Christian counterparts, who typically used them as gateway symbols.  The idols of wood cut from forest mentioned in Jeremiah were mentioned long before the celebration of Christmas began.  Evergreen trees and wreaths were essentially décor of the season during old times, for various reasons, similar to how bows and string lights are used today as a reminder of the upcoming celebration.  Skaters circling the PPG tree are unlikely to be worshiping it.  It would be quite funny to think that the locals today worship the giant Heinz pickle as well - although, some pickle fanatics may see it as a life source.  In fact, trees like Horne's show that the idea behind them is to keep hope during times when many were dying from the polio epidemic, to look forward to the celebration of when life conquered death in the birth of Christ.  

 

All in all, Pittsburgh is really keen on the meaning of Christmas.  So much so that the city makes great efforts to remind everyone of that.  With the way the community, local industries, students, and visitors come together to completely transform the city into a veritable Christmas town is truly remarkable.