Virginia Prodan, who fled socialist Romania in 1988, recounts her first free Christmas in America and draws parallels to the erosion of religious freedoms under Nicolae Ceaușescu. She argues that growing socialist influences in the U.S. are secularizing Christmas celebrations, much like in her homeland. Prodan urges vigilance to protect religious liberties amid rising support for socialism.
Virginia Prodan, an international human rights attorney who escaped Romania's communist regime in 1988, describes her initial Christmas in America as a moment of profound joy and relief. For the first time, she could celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ without fear of arrest by a totalitarian government. 'It was the first time I was able to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ without fear of being arrested by a totalitarian socialist regime,' she writes.
As a child in Romania, Prodan attended a Socialist Party Christmas event at party headquarters. The room was adorned in red, with portraits of leader Nicolae Ceaușescu alongside Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin on the walls. A small Christmas tree featured images of fallen soldiers and Ceaușescu, topped by a red star bearing a yellow hammer and sickle. There were no angels, nativity scenes, or traditional stars. Gifts for children carried communist themes—soldier toys and books about Ceaușescu for boys, red-scarfed dolls for girls. The following year, gifts ceased, and Santa was replaced by references to the dictator.
Under Ceaușescu, who rose to power with anti-capitalist appeals promising equality, the regime systematically suppressed religion. It promoted atheism, controlled religious institutions, demolished churches, and enacted Decree 177 in 1948 to regulate faiths. New groups struggled for recognition, religious texts like Bibles faced censorship, and public displays such as nativity scenes and crosses were removed. Some families secretly maintained home altars with icons and candles, risking severe punishment.
Prodan sees echoes in America, where court rulings since 1971, including Lemon v. Kurtzman and Allegheny County v. ACLU, have limited religious elements in public Christmas displays to ensure neutrality. She cites George Barna's research showing increasing U.S. support for socialism, particularly after the election of self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani in New York City. Mamdani critiques capitalism as exploitative and advocates secular policies tied to social justice. Prodan warns that socialism opposes faith, substituting government for God and eroding freedoms rooted in Judeo-Christian heritage. 'We cannot remain silent,' she concludes, calling for defense against these trends.
