Who took the Mary out of Christmas?
2.4 billion Christians take part in a tradition that has endured for over 2000 years - Christmas, or the birth of Christ.
The Garden of Even offers another take on the story: Over 2000 years ago a peasant teenage bride was labouring in squalor and filth to birth a child who would embody a new idea of how to be a human in the world.
Images of Mary are everywhere - a meek, docile paragon of motherhood, setting an impossible unrealizable standard for women. For centuries Mary has been portrayed as a passive selfless vessel with little to no autonomy.But what if her historical role has been downplayed? And what can she teach us about curiosity, consent, and courage?
Garden of Even will be unveiling a NEW ARTWORK of MARY!
Learn how Mary’ s subversive anti-imperialist views birth a whole new way of being in the world. And how she, like many women before and after, teach us that there is always the opportunity for something new to be born.
We’ll explore women’s AGENCY, CURIOSITY, CONSENT, and COURAGE to uncover a new way to step into ourselves.
Date: Nov. 25th, 2025
Time: 5:30 - 6:30pm Registration + light refreshments
6:30 - 7:30pm Event Programming
7:30pm onward Bespoke Mary Christmas Reception in a bespoke space with the Garden of Even exhibition, music, premium food and beverage and Tanya Shapenko revealing a new jewelry line inspired by Mary.
Location: Accessible downtown Toronto Venue
2.4 billion Christians take part in a tradition that has endured for over 2000 years - Christmas, or the birth of Christ.
The Garden of Even offers another take on the story: Over 2000 years ago a peasant teenage bride was labouring in squalor and filth to birth a child who would embody a new idea of how to be a human in the world.
Images of Mary are everywhere - a meek, docile paragon of motherhood, setting an impossible unrealizable standard for women. For centuries Mary has been portrayed as a passive selfless vessel with little to no autonomy.But what if her historical role has been downplayed? And what can she teach us about curiosity, consent, and courage?
Garden of Even will be unveiling a NEW ARTWORK of MARY!
Learn how Mary’ s subversive anti-imperialist views birth a whole new way of being in the world. And how she, like many women before and after, teach us that there is always the opportunity for something new to be born.
We’ll explore women’s AGENCY, CURIOSITY, CONSENT, and COURAGE to uncover a new way to step into ourselves.
Date: Nov. 25th, 2025
Time: 5:30 - 6:30pm Registration + light refreshments
6:30 - 7:30pm Event Programming
7:30pm onward Bespoke Mary Christmas Reception in a bespoke space with the Garden of Even exhibition, music, premium food and beverage and Tanya Shapenko revealing a new jewelry line inspired by Mary.
Location: Accessible downtown Toronto Venue