Religious Expression in Strasbourg

By: Zara Rabinko

December 4, 2014

What do a Jewish choir from London, folkloric singers from Sardinia, and a Tibetan monk have in common? I had the pleasure of finding out over the few days preceding Armistice Day. Annually hosted in Strasbourg, Les Sacrées Journées (the Sacred Days) celebrates the music of the world’s religions in a festival that sees performers of various backgrounds come together in Strasbourg’s many religious centers. It is not every day you get to see a Buddhist monk perform sutras in a cathedral or a Jewish choir sing Adon Olam in a mosque, but the Sacrées Journées saw this and more at a time of year in which this festival’s chosen theme, “Faire la Paix” (to make peace), resonates particularly poignantly with audiences.

This was an exceptional event to attend, but this attitude of not only acceptance of other faiths, but hunger for learning about and celebrating diversity, is what I have come to expect from Strasbourg. According to a French friend, the outward expression of one’s faith is unique in France, where more often than not religion is considered a private matter. Her parents are “always shocked” by the plethora of kippahs and hijabs and other religious garb seen on the streets of Strasbourg when they visit. She has lived in various places around France and says with a certain amount of pride that this relatively conspicuous diversity is typical of her new home in Strasbourg, but definitely not so of the country as a whole, which values secularity in its public spaces.

At its base, Les Sacrées Journées really is just a music festival, and by its end, I had seen talented performers of the world’s major religions share that music with their eager (admittedly slightly older) crowds. On November 11, the last day of the festival and anniversary of the end of World War I, religious leaders came together to contribute their unique perspectives on “Faire la Paix.” Given the conflicts that continue around the world today and their often religious bases, the pieces all shared a somber undertone—a recognition that misunderstanding and violence still shape the world today. Yet, the belief that peace is possible expressed in these reflections conveyed a strong message of hope for the future, accentuated by Alsace’s turbulent historical background since the end of World War I.

Les Sacrées Journées is not meant to solve all of the world’s problem’s related to religion, but rather to celebrate how far the region has come in terms of making peace, and look to the future with the attitude that such a message can reach people of all religions today. The artistic edge with which both unity and diversity were celebrated made the experience an enjoyable spectacle, and I think emphasized even further the idea that peace can be achieved in unexpected ways. In a way, these days were sacred not only because they offered the public the opportunity to learn about and honor the world’s religions, but also because they accentuated the importance and sacredness of “faire la paix"—of making peace.

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