An angry post appeared in my Facebook News Feed over the weekend, echoing a theme that seems to be common this time of year.
"It's called a CHRISTmas tree not a holiday tree!!!" my good friend lamented. "Jesus died for us, so show some respect!!!"
Within a few hours, the post got 18 likes. I have to say, I was not among those "liking" the post.
It's not that I don't agree that it's a little silly when folks try to rename something that already has a perfectly obvious name. I just don't think it's anything to get too worked up over.
The way I see it, when it comes to the decorative tree folks put up in their home during the holiday season, you ought to be free to call it whatever you want. I call mine a Christmas tree; I always have. But if you want to call yours a "holiday tree" or a "Festivus fir" or even a "Wiccan willow," it's no skin off my back. None of that will have the least effect on that way I celebrate the holiday in my home.
The same goes for community trees, such as those put up by city and state governments. (I suspect my friend's Facebook posting was a reaction to some news story about a government tree somewhere being called a "holiday tree.")
Again, it just doesn't seem like something to get too upset about. There's a whole lot of folks who celebrate the holiday season who aren't necessarily Christians. I've got no problem with mayors or governors trying to be inclusive. It seems like a nice thing to do. It kind of all falls in line with that whole "love thy neighbor" thing.
Of course, this is all part of a bigger issue, the so-called "war on Christmas" that lights up the blogosphere every year about this time. Whether it's someone calling a Christmas tree a "holiday tree" or a store worker daring to utter the phrase "happy holidays," some folks are convinced their Christian way of life is under attack.
But reality suggests such fears are unsubstantiated.
When there are Christmas-related TV specials on every night of the week for a month and a half; when every neighborhood in town is adorned with Christmas decorations; when every inch retail space in America is dedicated to luring Christmas shoppers; when radio stations turn over their entire format to Christmas music; it becomes pretty obvious that Christmas is alive and well ... and will be for some time.
Admittedly, there is a secular side to Christmas, that continues to grow. But this has always been the case. There is very little that is Biblical about Santa Claus, sleigh rides or Christmas trees, yet icons like these have been a part of the holiday season for ages. Even the aforementioned phrase "happy holidays" originated in the 1890s -- and has been in popular use since the 1950s. But it's only been in the past seven or eight years that anyone's had a problem with it.
When I hear people loudly belittling anyone who doesn't use "merry Christmas" as their exclusive holiday greeting; or when I hear people sounding indignant because some governor across the country called the state tree a "holiday tree," I feel like I'm listening to people who have a different take on the holiday season than I do.
To me, Christmas is a time for good cheer. It's a time for celebration. It's a time to embrace the ideas of peace on earth and goodwill toward men. It doesn't matter to me if someone uses different words than I do. I don't care if people say, "merry Christmas" or "happy holidays" or "happy Hanukkah" or "bright blessings" -- I am just happy that people care enough to spread some holiday cheer.
That ought to be enough. We need more goodwill in this world. And spreading happy tidings -- no matter what form it takes -- is what Christmastime is all about.
aweld@blythevillecourier.com