Washing the windows for Little Jesus is an old story; it refers to cleaning before important holidays for Catholics, such as Christmas or Easter. A handful of people clean in order to experience significant religious holidays in a well-kept interior, while everyone else does it to avoid real or imagined criticism along the lines of “what will people say” if my place is dirty.
Putting on a dress for Little Mary is a new idea from men who wear robes every day. The “May in a Dress for Mary” challenge was issued to women by priests and monks, who interpret it this way: only a woman in a dress makes her body “worthy of the Lord’s temple.”
Apparently, they want to please the “heavenly Mommy.” Surprisingly, the organizers themselves consider wearing a dress throughout May a demanding task. Therefore, to women for whom this might be difficult, they recommend “entrusting these doubts to the Immaculate One. If She invites us to take up this challenge, She will surely also help us overcome all the hardships.”
The most interesting question is how they know that the Virgin Mary (if she exists) wants to see women in dresses. And how can they be sure that this will be the right gift for her? Because 2,000 years ago (the conventional date of Maria of Nazareth’s life) everyone wore dresses—men and women alike? The garment that is a dress for women today emerged in the 15th century, when a narrow garment fitted to the female silhouette became widespread.
Today’s approach to dresses is marketing that has been conducted by fashion designers since the 1920s. Coco Chanel’s “little black dress” was created in 1926. The famous designer was shown in a black silk dress on the cover of Vogue. Coco Chanel was then mourning her lover, Arthur “Boy” Capel. The simple knee-length cut and minimal accessory—a pearl necklace—turned the creation into a fashion icon.
Can one wear such a dress for Mary? Or will a woman then hear: you put on such a dress, so why are you surprised that you experienced sexual aggression (harassment, kissing noises, staring, molestation and other forms)?!
The preferences of goddesses and gods, Maria and Jesus, are unknown. One thing never changes. Whatever these gods and goddesses may be like, they always need money—that is, believers in places of worship.