Emma Swan (right) is the Savior in the world of Once Upon a Time. Living in an American city, Emma is found by her son (Henry) whom she gave up for adoption when she was younger, and is told she must come to the town of StoryBrooke (oh the puns!) to put an end to a curse placed by the Evil Queen and save the people of the town whom Henry claims are all characters from fairy tales (is this kid crazy?!).
Emma decides to bring Henry back to StoryBrooke as his adoptive mother is probably worried sick. Upon arriving, Emma is confronted by Henry's mother Regina who seems to have a spark of hatred towards Emma. Henry pleads to Emma to stay in town, as the people never grow old, and time doesn't move in this town. Emma checks into a motel after deciding to spend some time to look around the place, and through that night, the town clock starts to move again... could this really be a coincidence?
Alright, enough with the general backround stuff. (If you want to know more of Emma's background, watch the show. I highly reccomend it!)
So how does Miss Swan tie into all this religious stuff? Well she's known as The Savior... who else in history has been called that? Jesus Christ, of course! The Son of God. The Messiah. Christianity tells us that God gave his only son to the world to save the souls of people and set them on a path to righteousness. Emma Swan was transported to Earth in a magical tree stump. Not really immaculate conception or anything, but a baby shows up without explanation in the middle of the woods... seems pretty suspicious to me. Also, Emma's mother, Snow White, is known in our world as Mary Margaret. Mary... Mother of Jesus. (I think they're hinting at something here.) Daddy, aka Prince Charming, aka David, could be a reference to King David, another biblical reference, who was once a shepherd and then became royal.
There's also a prophecy (several actually) in the series. A dark curse will fall upon the land and the only way to break the curse must come from the product of True Love. Emma is this product. Born of the love between Snow White and Prince Charming.
Emma weilds a great magic within her. Light magic, with the power of pure heartedness, hope, and love. Emma is able to break the curse with the kiss of True Love, the most powerful light magic there is. (Video clip in the media page if you want a peek!)
Throughout the series, Emma is faced with a number of challenges, but ultimately is able to overcome them with help from friends, family, love, and light. Emma's biggest moment as the Savior comes when the force of darkness is unleashed upon the town, trying to destroy all things that are light. Jesus died for our sins. Emma sacrificed herself as the Savior to tether the darkness to her own human soul in order to save everyone she loves and cares about. (Video in the media page!) She may not have died, but there was a sacrifice all the same. Now Emma's fate rests in the hands of her loved ones whom she's entrusted with the task of bringing her back from the darkness.
Another reference to Jesus through Emma, the usual weilders of light magic, and those who help guide Emma on her path, are the Light Fairies. These fairies in the real world are Nuns, suggesting that light magic is divine and holy.
Here we have Blue. Leader of the Fairies, and the most powerful of them. Fairies use light magic, going around the world doing good things for good people who deserve it. In our world, Blue is known as Mother Superior. Once again, she leads all the Fairies (Nuns in this world) doing the bidding of God, helping those in need, trying to keep peoples hearts away from the darkness.
Major spoiler below
(If you're not up to date with the show, you may want to avert your eyes for this next part)
With the recent season of Once Upon a Time, another huge reference to Christianity has been revealed.
The Holy Grail
(Yes, that Grail)
The Holy Grail is the cup said to have been used by Jesus Christ at the last supper before his crucifixion.
Merlin (yes, the wizard in Arthurian legend) discovers the Holy Grail, and after asking permission of God to take a drink to quench his thirst in the dry desert heat, he is able to take a sip from the cup. (Video in media page!) The Grail grants Merlin the power of magic. Very powerful light magic. After a thousand years of life, Merlin wants to use the power of the Grail to make him mortal again. He uses the flame of the first men to melt the cup into the mighty sword Excalibur. Merlin is tricked by the original Dark One and gets turned into a tree. Excalibur has the power to destroy the powers of darkness, but it can also be used to destroy the light. Can love, family, and friendship break through the darkness to reclaim Emma's light and finish the darkness once and for all? Watch the show and find out!
