Hozliday Calendar

[vovat]

In Merry Go Round in Oz, Dorothy arranges an Easter celebration in the Emerald City, and goes to visit the Easter Bunny himself, who lives under the Munchkin Country. We also see several mentions of Christmas being celebrated in Oz, and Santa Claus lives in the Laughing Valley on the same continent. I don't think any of the references to Christmas are in Baum, however, even though he did write a whole book about Santa and had him visit the Emerald City in Road. He mentions Ozma's birthday (which falls on 21 August) as a national holiday, and the day that Dorothy melted the Wicked Witch of the West as a holiday for the Winkies. I'm sure there are plenty of other such days of Ozian significance, and that Ozma can easily invent another one if she wants to throw another party. But are Outside World holidays, like Christmas and Easter, traditionally celebrated in Oz, or were they brought in by immigrants? I'd sort of suspect the latter, but why would the Easter Bunny live in Oz if they didn't celebrate Easter until quite recently? There's also a mention of Halloween in Ozoplaning, and I get the idea that Valentine's Day could be popular there. Maybe there's also a harvest festival sort of equivalent to Thanksgiving, at the time of year when the fruit of the turkey trees is ripe.

Comments

[ozma914.livejournal.com]

Maybe the Easter Bunny moved to Oz after the outside world began getting too civilized, and he couldn't maintain a magical home of his own anymore? In that case, it's possible an immigrant did bring Easter to Oz -- the Bunny himself.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I'd say that's a distinct possibility.

[vilajunkie.livejournal.com]

If the Ozites can celebrate Christmas and Easter, why not Hannukah, Passover, Diwali, the Bon Festival, Buddha's Birthday, Mothering Sunday, Lughnasadh, and all the rest? *g*

[vovat.livejournal.com]

No reason, and I'm sure Ozma would welcome the chance for all the extra parties. {g} But most of the immigrants we know about are white Americans of European ancestry, so maybe that makes it more likely for them to celebrate popular American/Christian holidays more than others.