Wednesday, December 17, 2003

A short pagan history lesson is in order here

Unbelievable. I never would have imagined that the naming of a tree at Christmastime would become a “turf-war.” Wow! And I thought an attempt to bring all faiths together at a time when we need it most was a good thing!

It’s sad that there is such a deep sense of hostility in some people who see any deviation from their own view, as “hating God and country” or “hogwash.” Historically speaking, that is why Christians were persecuted in the first place, because they wanted to practice in their own way. And now, those who consider themselves the most devoutly Christian, act out with the same hostility towards others who may have varying opinions.

Personally, I was raised as a Christian, but the increasingly hostile attitudes I witness from “believers” is pushing me further and further away from the Christian faith.

If you are so enraged about a retail establishment calling the tree a “peace tree” how would you feel if your own neighbor was calling it that in their own home? Would you show them the same hostility? Where does the hostility end?

I think I’ll start a new tradition in our home and start calling our tree a new name each year. Next year, I may call it the “paradise” tree (the historical name of the original Christmas tree).

Before people become so enraged over the naming of the tree, they should expand their minds and learn something about the history of the Christmas tree itself, which was popularized in 16th century western Germany. The celebratory tree was actually called a “paradise tree” and was placed in homes on Dec. 24 to celebrate the feast of Adam and Eve and had nothing to do with the birth of Christ.

Pennsylvania Germans initiated the Christmas tree custom in America, and referring to the tree as a “Christmas tree” was adopted around the 1700s, to fit into the Christmas celebration framework.

If you want to go even further back in history regarding the origins of the “tree” in important celebrations, the first decorating of an evergreen tree began with the Greeks and their worship of their god Adonis.

In addition, there are no religious references about the “Christmas tree” in the Bible. Cutting and decorating trees is actually seen as a pagan ritual by the prophet Jeremiah: “Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” Jeremiah 10:2-4

By calling a “Christmas tree” an alternate name is not defacing the true meaning of Christmas. At the most, it could be considered going back to its origin of calling it a “paradise tree.” (Peace, paradise, whatever; how about peaceful paradise?)

Maybe your readers are just more perturbed about taking a different spin on a long-held American tradition. If that’s the case, they should stop hiding behind a religious cloak, proclaiming it’s an “attack” on their “Christian religion” and come out and voice their opinions as such.

Julie Williams

Peachtree City, Ga.