Capitol “Holiday Tree” Once Again Called “Christmas Tree”
Posted on November 29, 2005
House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert has told federal officials that the lighted, decorated tree on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol — known in recent years as the “Holiday Tree” — should be renamed the “Capitol Christmas Tree,” as it was called until the late 1990s.
The Capitol’s senior landscape architect confirmed the name switch yesterday for The Washington Times.
“It was known as the ‘Holiday Tree’ for several years and just recently was changed back to the ‘Capitol Christmas Tree.’ This was a directive from the speaker,” said Capitol architect Matthew Evans.
“The speaker believes a Christmas tree is a Christmas tree, and it is as simple as that,” said Ron Bonjean, spokesman for the Illinois Republican.
The Capitol tree, traditionally overshadowed by the White House’s “National Christmas Tree,” was renamed a “holiday tree” several years ago, according to the Capitol Architect’s offices, in an effort to acknowledge the other holidays of Kwanzaa and Hanukkah — although no one seemed to know exactly when the name was changed or by whom.
Calling a Christmas tree a Christmas tree has become a politically charged prospect in jurisdictions across the country — from Boston to Sacramento and in dozens of communities in between.
“It’s a growing problem,” said Jared N. Leland, spokesman and legal counsel for the Becket Fund, a District-based legal and educational institute. “Celebrating the season with Christmas trees … and leaving them named ‘Christmas’ is simply recognizing the religious nature of people. Christmas should be able to be called Christmas.”
Mr. Staver of the Liberty Counsel went on to say that to rename a Christmas Tree a Holiday tree was just as offensive as renaming a Jewish menorah a candlestick. I think that makes a lot of sense. The political correctness in America has gone too far, and America is speaking up….and we are being heard. Worldnet Daily is reporting that Lowes has dumped the “holiday” reference in favor of calling the traditional trees what they are, Christmas trees. AFA President Tim Wildmon said companies that choose to abandon the national observance of Christmas are finding Americans are not afraid to speak out with their pocketbooks.
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12 Responses to “Capitol “Holiday Tree” Once Again Called “Christmas Tree””
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I’m sure that Christ himself – as big a fan as he was of eggnog, mistletoes, Frosty the Snowman, Amazon.com gift cards, and other traditional markers of the true spirit of the world’s most wasteful holiday – would have been happy to know of this revolt against the PC crowd. Jesus may be long gone, but the true spirit of Christmas lives on!
My bad, I meant to leave that as a track back, not a comment… We’re on the same page though, it’s CHRISTMAS TREE in my house, and all of my readers are the same way too..
And THAT is MY Opinion… by TexasFred
Thank God, literally.
If Point Five would go to the doctor and have the doctor check for prostate cancer the doctor would stick his finger where the holiday tree needs to be stuck. It has been Christmas Tree for hundreds years and is still a Christmas Tree regardless of what Lowe’s sign says. Yes a candle is used to celebrate in both the Christian and Jewish faith. Read stop the ACLU and you might learn more.
Point Five is satire Dethanial.
“Holiday Tree”? “Holiday Tree”?! What other “Holiday” do we buy trees for other than “CHRISTMAS”? If they are going to start calling them “Holiday Trees”, then I guess we will start seeing ”Holiday Trees” for sale on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Halloween, and Thanksgiving! On Easter, are we going to hide “Holiday Eggs”, have “Holiday Eggs” decorating kits, and start celebrating the arrival of the “Holiday Bunny”? This is getting a little ridiculous!
Good job, kudos, and keep up the good work!
yeahhhhhhhhhhhh yahooooooooyyyy
its a step in the right direction …
In Sherman, Tx it is called the Giving Tree and according to KXII-TV that it is proper because more than one faith celebrates with this tree, hell I am only 70 years old but I did not know of any other religion other than Christians that celebrated the birth of christ. It did not take long for them to stop debating by e mail with me.
Joy to the World! We have our Christmas tree again, thanks to House Speaker Dennis Hastert.
Be aware, though. The ACLU and their ilk will continue their efforts to secularize our country.
Parents had better MAKE the time to object, en masse, to any destructive agenda in their children’s schools. If 50% or more refuse to send their kids to that school, how can their message be ignored?
We have to be strong and vigilant on all fronts if we want our children and grandchildren to inherit the same freedoms upon which this country was founded.
I’ve gotta add my two cents on this subject, also:
ENGLISH is the language of the United States. Learn it or leave.
Finally…some sense.
It amazes me how much squabble goes on over something so ridiculously simple. Call it what it is: A Christmas tree, and let it be the end of it. Would I be offended that a Menorrah is called that instead of a candlebras? Good grief.
Calling it a “Christmas Tree” is accurate, and a victory for our cultural tradition. But considering Christmas Trees as having anything to do with Christianity is baseless. Celebrating life by using a symbolic evergreen tree was a largely pagan tradition to celebrate the winter solstace. The name “Christmas” was applied to it later by Christians who found that if they couldn’t stop the newly-converted pagans from celebtrating their feast, they would instead, merge it into a Christian celebration.
Yeah, yeah, pagan tradition, we all know that. Christmas is the word that has Christ in it, and that is what is really at issue.