Oh Tannenbaum!! The Reason Of The Season: Day 2

I’ve often wondered if pine trees’ feelings get hurt – you know that ones we use for Christmas (or Joshmas 😉 )

Maybe I took Ferngully too literally.

For years I’ve enjoyed real trees in my house during December. They smell good, they all have unique character, and I love nothing more than finding pine needles hiding in my couch or behind furniture in summertime.

I love Christmas trees. Do you think they are as offended as the guy in the video about being called “Holiday” trees?

Far be it for anyone to be inclusive. Why do people like this guy completely disregard ALL other holidays being celebrated during the month of December. Even if we take out all religious holidays (except Christmas) we are left with New Years Eve – which is a pretty big one. But to say, “Happy Holidays” or “Holiday Tree” is in NO way a WAR ON CHRISTMAS. I’m not offended by Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Kwanza. Why is using the term “Holiday” so offensive to Christians? Holiday is used to include everyone and all holidays – From World AIDS Day through New Year’s Eve.

How pompous do you have to be to believe you are the only group of people celebrating something this month?

Well, Mr. John Timothy Leydan, your precious “Christmas” Tree originates – not with Jesus – but with Pagans and Druids. But you knew that, right?

Long before Christianity, ancient people held great belief that plants and trees that remained green all year round had special meaning.. and powers. They decorated with evergreen boughs over their doors and windows and in many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

The evergreen tree was an ancient symbol of life in the midst of winter.

You see, before science and the understanding of why these plants and trees remained so lush through harsh winters, when nothing else was fruitful or green, ancient people believed many a thing that we now know to be untrue.

The longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, December 21 or 22, is what we call the Winter Solstice. Many ancient people, believing the sun was actually a god, thought winter came each year because that sun god was sick and weak. The evergreen was a reminder of what was to come, when the other plants and trees would grow again, that their sun god will begin to become stronger and bring back bounty and harvest.

Ancient Egyptians: 

They worshipped a god called Ra, who had the head of a hawk and wore the sun as a blazing disk in his crown. At the solstice, when Ra began to recover from the illness, the Egyptians filled their homes with green palm rushes which symbolized for them the triumph of life over death.

Early Romans:

Celebrated Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The solstice meant soon farms and orchards would be green and fruitful again. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs.

Druids:

These priests of the ancient Celts, decorated their temples with evergreens as a symbol of everlasting life.

Scandinavian Vikings:

Evergreens, mistletoe, is associated with the the Norse sun-god, Balder.

By the by, found this in the bible:

Jeremiah 10:2-8

² thus saith Jehovah, Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them.  ³ For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.  ⁴ They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.  ⁵ They are like a palm-tree, of turned work, and speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.  ⁶ There is none like unto thee, O Jehovah; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.  ⁷ Who should not fear thee, O King of the nations? for to thee doth it appertain; forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is none like unto thee.  ⁸ But they are together brutish and foolish: the instruction of idols! it is but a stock.

Wait a minute… you mean… cutting a tree to decorate used to be… bad? Because it was from the pagans…

All in all, it’s safe to say that the “Christmas” Tree was a re-packaged idea (along with many other symbols and traditions) to help convert  individuals, cultures, symbols, and traditions to Christianity. Clever Christians. #sarcasm

I hope that Mr.  John Timothy Leydan can get the pine needles out his panties long enough to realize a couple things:

1. Happy Holidays and a Holiday Tree isn’t so much politically correct as it is inclusive. Whereas, claiming sole ownership of  the December holidays is exclusive and douchey.

2. The Christmas Tree isn’t an original Christian idea, symbol, or tradition. However, claiming ideas as your own and dismissing the actual history of something is a long practiced Christian tradition.

Can’t wait to put up my Holiday Tree this year!

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The Reason Of The Season is a new series that will take place from December 1 – December 25. I, like many non-theists and non-Christians, love the holiday season. I love taking the this chilly time of year to remind the people I love how much I love and adore them, to help and give to those less fortunate, and feel the innocent hope of when I was a child. This series is an effort to educate many on tradition and history as well as an opportunity to share why I love this time of year and the traditions we use and have created in our family.

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