Until this year, Maya attended Montessori schools. When she was six, and other years as well for all I know, they had historical Halloween. Children were to come dressed as real people and explain who that person was and what they had done.Maya's first choice was to be "Mary, mother of God*". Julie and Ted explained to her that she couldn't do that. "But," she asked, "you said that Jesus was a real person. So Mary must be a real person."
"Yes, she was a real person. But it might seem less than respectful for an atheist child to dress as Mary for Halloween.**"
Maya considered that gravely, and decided to be Pocohontas. When Maya practiced her presentation for her parents, she explained that "Pocohontas was a princess who was born in India."And here we have a picture of Maya as Pocohontas and her friend Chanel.
* Which would have made me God's great-grandmother. An odd thought.
** Although, it obviously is ok for someone to dress as Mary, since they sell this costume.
6 comments:
I had totally forgotten that she wanted to dress as Mary. Ha! Should have let her. Then explaining about Indians not being from India. The confusion of it all. But what do you want from a 1st grader, after all?
This is, so far, my favorite Halloween story.
That's hysterical. Only because I've got an 11 year old daughter who's traveled a similar educational and spiritual route.
You'd make a great great granddaughter of God. :)
I can't think of anyone better to be the great granddaughter of God. Maya looks adorable.
Both Maya and her friend looked wonderful, and oh so happy, and I just loved this post.
Back in the 70's, when I was in Jr. High, I joined this little church. My parents and brothers didn't go- just me. I loved their Jr. High Youth Group and was excited to hear they were hosting a Halloween party. I thought it was funny a church would have a Halloween party. Back then there didn't seem to be any controversy over Halloween vs Christianity. The two things were seperate. The church just had the party because there was a local law that kids couldn't trick-or-treat after the age of 12. I'd never heard of a church hosting a Halloween party. I decided I should dress as something church related. I settled on the Virgin Mary- pregnant. It sounds like such a smart-ass thing to do in retrospect, but at the time I honestly thought it was witty and fitting since the costume party was at a church. Needless to say, my costume was not a big hit.
Your grandaughter and her friend are adorable!
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