“Christmas on the Prado” has for years been a tradition for thousands in San Diego. Held over two nights in a beautiful section of the city’s famed Balboa Park, for a quarter century the event exemplified the Christmas season for many – a way to fully get into the spirit, with carols, strolling minstrels, chestnuts-a-roastin’ and a nativity scene, all held in as “crisp” an environment as possible, given San Diego’s usually warm climate.
It may still exemplify those things for some, as long as they don’t mind the new title: “December Nights.”
I know, you’ve definitely heard this one before, or perhaps a variation of it in a city near you. Yes – you guessed it – in a move towards “not offending anyone,” the San Diego Parks and Recreation Department jettisoned the “Christmas on the Prado” name about three years ago for the obviously less distasteful title.
Hey, I can see the logic, even from a bureaucrat … it’s held in December … it’s at night … two nights in fact, plural … how about December Nights? … who could have a problem with that?
Well, actually, a few folks, although the protests did nothing to stop the PC train. The event nearly went bust the year after the name change, and the City had to go begging for donors to keep it afloat. Gee, I wonder why?
As Anthony Porrello says now, “It’s held for two nights in the park, and has some of the same events that ‘Christmas on the Prado’ had, but without, well … Christmas. They now have rap bands who perform, with no carols allowed, for instance.”
That would be funny, Anthony, if it weren’t so sad.
Anthony knows it’s sad, and that’s why he’s doing something about it. He wants to bring back Christmas. A member of the SD Young Republicans and an activist with a flair, Porrello knows this is about far more than a name, it’s another part of that constant “chipping away” to which we have grown far too accustomed.
The plan, says Anthony, is “an entire section of the street dedicated to vignettes performed by actual people, depicting various scenes of Christmas IN AMERICA! Carolers, Santa, The Manger Scene … we will do this at night, with flash lights, by live people singing and performing … we will not use any of the park facilities, or utilities, we will provide our own security, we will not sell anything or provide food, so we don’t need any city permits (which we couldn’t get) … and we will remind anyone who needs to be reminded that we have the right to free speech and assembly, and we are using our rights to bring back our Christmas tradition in our park in our city, because it’s not just a religious tradition, it’s an AMERICAN tradition.”
I love this guy! As a result of his work, the PC train has started to roll in the opposite direction, as talk radio hosts Roger Hedgecock and Mark Larson have both picked up the story. There is a planning meeting this Saturday, November 19 at 11 a.m. (See info and attachment below.) Anthony is looking for supporters and volunteers. Check out the Restore Christmas website here. You may also contact Anthony Porrello at anthony@restorechristmas.org.
With enough momentum on this thing, maybe we can get one of our elected councilmembers in San Diego to ask why the bureaucrats are running the city, instead of the city council. Given the current makeup of the council, no question the majority will be “disinclined” to override their staff in favor of a name change back to Christmas. Yet, it only takes one of the council to be a hero by broaching the issue.
In the meantime, Anthony Porrello will most surely suffice.
###
Restore Christmas Planning Meeting Info:
Saturday, November 19, 2005 at 11:00 am
Our Lady of the Rosary Parish
In the Church Hall
1659 Columbia Street
San Diego, CA 92101