Snippets and gleanings - hot and cross

Not cross buns
As Easter approached supermarket chain, Iceland, was criticised for promoting a line of hot cross buns without crosses. They pointed out that the traditional versions with crosses were still available but I'm not sure whether the pale cross atop the buns is generally perceived as a Christian symbol and if it is how far it acts as a deterrent to non-Christian shoppers. In any event, Iceland now finds itself under fire for 'wokery'. Instead of coming up with this misguided marketing stunt, wouldn't it have been easier to promote teacakes, equally traditional and effectively the same thing - only without the crosses?

Flagging enthusiasm
Crosses also feature prominently in the flag of the UK, of course. With the cross of St George combined with the saltires of SS Andrew and Patrick (the latter made up for the purpose) to create the Union Flag or 'Jack', the Christian symbolism is overt and unapologetic. Unfortunately, Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party's decision to plaster its election material with them has gone down about as well as using swastikas - and for similar reasons. To many the 'red, white and blue' evokes not patriotism so much as the fascist ideology of the National Front. Nothing wrong with Labour's red rose, surely? (Except maybe in Yorkshire? Ed.)

The uncut version
And it's not just Christian imagery that's causing controversy. Since 1504 Michelangelo's naked David has been admired by residents and visitors in Florence. His face (and other more intimate parts of his anatomy) now adorn t-shirts, key rings, bags and a range of tourist tat. Step forward Cecilie Hollberg of Florence's Galleria dell’Accademia. The redoubtable Ms Hollberg has a formidable reputation for suing the ass off anyone who 'debases' David's image in such a manner. Other jurisdictions abopt the same principle towards unlicensed use of iconic cultural images. Whether Michelangelo's version of a Jewish hero sporting a foreskin debases historical truth is, it seems, not up for discussion. 

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