What is a "holiday tree?"

[JennyMominRI]

I guess I should have included the quote earlier. The city of Orlando did indeed say ALL religions..and it seems they have some history homework to do.

(Emphasis is mine)



All religions don't use a tree---and coincidentally--not all Holidays are in the month of December.

.

My kids public school get the Jewish High Holy Days off ,Yom Kippor and Rosh Hashanah.Chanukkah is really not a big deal to the religion itself so I'd much rather we got YK and RH off.
Incidentally my kids will sing Chanukah songs and religious Christmas songs in their public schools concert.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Then why does it matter if it is called a holiday tree.

From the perspective of the Orlando Government--b/c they claim to include all religions--and it is not a worldly symbol of anything but secular Christmas and the pagan portion as posted by jipsy.

It has never been nor never will be a symbol for those who do not celebrate Christmas or Winter Solstice or whatever other faith that actually uses a tree in the winter time (or summertime in teh southern hemisphere ).

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I guess you could call what I have a holiday tree..I don't deny it's become Christian associated.. As the only follower of JudaismI don't deny my family their beloved holiday of CHristmas..There is nothing of Christian symbolism on the tree and it's main color is blue.. I have Chanukah stuff out in other places and we will celebrate both .

Well I hope you and yours have a Happy Chanukah and a Merry Christmas. I think that is a great way to incorporate both belief systems. I bet your "holiday tree" is quite lovely.

 

[phorsenuf]

I think you need to read the 4 or 5 paragraphs that were written before your quote, which by the way starts with the phrase "Legend has it..."

I did, I was just pointing out that the tradition of The CHRISTMAS tree has been around since Martin Luther. prior to that it was not referred to as a Christmas tree. I was showing how it came to be here, in America as well.

 

[phorsenuf]

Then why does it matter if it is called a holiday tree.

Bacause now for PC reasons a traditional name is being changed. I am against the name change, not the reasoning behind it.

 

[DarkSideMoon]

Show me

According to Adherents.com it's 82%
Religious Preference % June 1996 % March 2001 March 2002
Christian 84 82 82
Jewish 1 1 1
Muslim * 1 *
Other non-Christian 3 2 1
Atheist * 1 1
Agnostic * 2 2
Something else (SPECIFY) * 1 2
No preference 11 8 10
Don't know/Refused 1 2 1
TOTAL 100 100 100

happy?

 

[DarkSideMoon]

You are absolutely incorrect. Christians did replace the winter solstice with the Christmas holiday. You people are killing me with your lack of knowledge.

I admitted that Christian leaders HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO replaced it. WE, being the current church, had nothing to do with it, why should we get the fallout? it is the same as punishing a child based on their parent.

 

[phorsenuf]

JennyMominRI - not to be flip, as I am genuinely curious, from a Jewish standpoint would you be upset it people started referring to the Menorrah as the holiday candlestick? I know I would be.
It's the same line of thinking as the whole tree thing to some I think.

**raised Catholic, though my mother was Jewish, later became Baptist**

 

[JennyMominRI]

JennyMominRI - not to be flip, as I am genuinely curious, from a Jewish standpoint would you be upset it people started referring to the Menorrah as the holiday candlestick? I know I would be.
It's the same line of thinking as the whole tree thing to some I think.

**raised Catholic, though my mother was Jewish, later became Baptist**

I don't think I would be,but honestly,I don't know..
A menorah is not nearly as exciting as a Christmas tree though
Edited to add, I don't know it that's a good comparison.. A christmas tree is a secular symbol of a a Christian based holiday.Millions of non-catholics put up Christmas tree..A Menorah is not a mainstream thing..It's not a secular symbol used by millions of non-Jews. It would be accurate to call it a candleabra,
I'd certainly be offended for Christians if the started calling a Nativity Scene by some PC type name. That would be wrong

 

[phorsenuf]

I don't think I would be,but honestly,I don't know..
A menorah is not nearly as exciting as a Christmas tree though
Edited to add, I don't know it that's a good comparison.. A christmas tree is a secular symbol of a a Christian based holiday.Millions of non-catholics put up Christmas tree..A Menorah is not a mainstream thing..It's not a secular symbol used by millions of non-Jews. It would be accurate to call it a candleabra,

No, probably not the best comparison, but it is a symbol of your holiday, just as a tree is to Christmas, secular or not.

I just wish this country would lighten up. Things used to be sooo much easier. LOL

 

[phorsenuf]

Well, this has been alot of fun tonight, but my brain is fried. Goodnight!

 

[MoniqueU]

I put up a Christmas Tree even though I don't go to church and I don't really care about celebrating Christmas in it's religious sense. I know that isn't the PC thing to say but I really could give a merry mistletoe about the true meaning of Christmas. I do however refer to it as Christmas!

 

[Geoff_M]

The whole "Holiday Tree" thing is pretty darn silly. But on the topic, see if you can spot the PC irony in this photo from a Lowe's in Texas:

I also find it amazing that stores will have "Christmas in July" sales, but dare not speak the holiday's name in the month when it actually takes place!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

The whole "Holiday Tree" thing is pretty darn silly. But on the topic, see if you can spot the PC irony in this photo from a Lowe's in Texas:

I also find it amazing that stores will have "Christmas in July" sales, but dare not speak the holiday's name in the month when it actually takes place!

Ahhh the old Navidad.

 

[simpilotswife]

yes, but how many druids do you see out on the street NOW celebrating the winter solstice?

That would depend on where you are now wouldn't it? After all, how many Christians would you expect to see celebrating a Christmas tree in say Iraq?

 

[simpilotswife]

Lighten up about the whole religious aspect, because truthfully I think you are being disrespectful to Christians.

Why? Because she is pointing out that Christmas trees were used to convert the masses from paganism? It's only disprespectful if you are uncomfortable with truth I guess......

 

[Geoff_M]

After all, how many Christians would you expect to see celebrating a Christmas tree in say Iraq?

Actually, there are quite a few Iraqi Christians.... About 3% of the population from what I've read.

 

[simpilotswife]

So to be equal for everyone--Christians must be excluded and then suffer for it?? How does that make any sense?

It makes as much sense as anyone who has to take their religious holiday off as time off without pay (or not take it at all) because the whole world soes not celebrate their holiday.

Heck even some Christians don't get that time off.....just ask an Orthodox Catholic if they can take off with pay for those days.

 

[simpilotswife]

To me everything in bold I find disrepectful.

I know it's really terrible when someone points out the truth isn't it?

 

[simpilotswife]

Yeah, we put the gun right up to their head and say celebrate or die.

No but practically the whole country shuts down for Christmas. What about those people for whom it is just another day?