Seattle airport removes Christmas Trees to avoid lawsuit...

[CathyBogart]

Theyre christmas trees, always have been, always will be.

No, the decorated tree was originally a pagan Yule tradition, NOT an Xmas tradition.

[Lady's Human]

Christmas was moved to the date it is celebrated now by the Roman emperor when he was trying to make Christianity the official religion of Rome. The date was chosen to overlap and obscure the celebrations of other religions.

[sparks19]

How did this turn into an argument about who's religion started first and who's is more important? Isn't this what the thread is about trying to stop?

If someone had the same birthday as you would you tell them it CAN'T be celebrated on that day because it was your day first? That is an extreme and not very relevant case but that is kind of what this is turning into.


I don't care who's day it was first. Or what a tree means or what lights mean or what a candle means. I put up a tree because I think it is beautiful. I put up lights because I think they are beautiful and they make me happy. I celebrate Christmas because I believe in it and it makes me happy. Others celebrate their holiday their way because it makes them happy. I just wish people would stop raining on everyone else's parade just because they are in a bad mood.

[junescrater716]

That is a bunch of bull!!! Why does it really matter if the trees are there or not??? The Jewish religion has taken this way too far. IT'S A FREAKIN CHRISTMAS TREE!!! Does that mean that any other x-mas trees visable to the outside should be taken down because it "offends" a certain religion????!?!

This is dumb why do people have to take the fun out of the holidays. We should put 1,000 GINORMOUS trees all over the airport and see what they say about that. It's rediculous.

[todd]

That is a bunch of bull

[ramanth]

Here's the mind blower.......If you do not clelebrate Chrstmas....Why DO YOU TAKE THE DAYS OFF?

I don't take days off. The school is closed in observation of the holiday.

[Twisterdog]

Oh my goodness, people, take a step back, take a look at this thread. It started out as basically saying, "Let's not be petty and negative about other people's religious traditions and holidays. Let's be tolerant instead." However, this thread seems to have developed into "Let's be petty and negative about other people's religious traditions and holidays. Let's be intolerant of just about everything."

IMO, EVERY positive thing in the world is just that ... a positive thing. There are SO many negative things on a daily basis, we ought to be grateful for ANY small kindness. I would MUCH rather have someone tell me "Merry Christmas!" or "Happy Hannakah" rather than "F*#k you, lady!" or "Get the h*#l out of my way!" ... wouldn't you? I happen to be neither Jewish nor Christian. So what? It's the THOUGHT that counts, not the particulars. I'd MUCH rather look at a pretty, lighted tree or a star of David than graffitti and garbage. Wouldn't you?

Tolerance. Kindness. Let's try to see the big picture.

[ramanth]

A breath of fresh air. Thanks Twisterdog.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

I don't take days off. The school is closed in observation of the holiday.

You know, I've often wondered how long that will last. With Christmas getting tossed out of everything, it's only a question of time when all business start staying open.

Ok, everyone, I found out whose fault the entire Christmas tree mess is!
It was Queen Victoria of England. In the 1840s she and her husband, who was from Germany, put a tree up in their Palace for Christmas. The tree was a common practace in his country for holidays. She liked that and put one up in the Palace for Christmas. Everyone started copying it and it became a regular tradition in England and the US since.

So blame it all on Queen Vickie!!!
this was on the history channel this morning - so no arguing with me, ok?

[ramanth]

You know, I've often wondered how long that will last. With Christmas getting tossed out of everything, it's only a question of time when all business start staying open.

I don't think Christmas will ever stop being celebrated. I can only imagine the uproar if government employees were told they had to work.

I dislike PC stuff as well but on the flip side I see nothing wrong with places deciding to decorate with the words Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas if they just want a well rounded greeting that covers all the religions that celebrate this month.

People have been using 'Happy Holidays' and 'Season's Greetings' for years before all this PC stuff hit the fan, but nowaday's if that is displayed, people gripe that the companies and stores are folding under PC pressure.

How so??

Like Twisterdog said, it's not about what is said as much as it's the genuine feeling behind it.

[JenBKR]

I personally have no problem with 'Happy Holidays' - it's when people aren't ALLOWED to say Merry Christmas that bothers me.

[ramanth]

I personally have no problem with 'Happy Holidays' - it's when people aren't ALLOWED to say Merry Christmas that bothers me.

Are you going to get arrested if you say Merry Christmas? Has someone come to your home telling you to take down your Merry Christmas signs in your home?

You are allowed to say Merry Christmas.

It's sad that a buisness should get flak for displaying a Christmas sign, banner, decoration, whatever... but people are petty. I think those that gripe about such things are just miserable people with nothing better to do than to rain on others parades.

And in such circumstances, the buisness shouldn't change a thing and should tell the griper to get a life.

[JenBKR]

Are you going to get arrested if you say Merry Christmas? Has someone come to your home telling you to take down your Merry Christmas signs in your home?

You are allowed to say Merry Christmas.

Yes of course I am allowed to, I didn't mean me, I meant others....such as employees at stores. Remember the whole Wal-Mart thing last year, when employees were not permitted to say Merry Christmas? Not that I would go as far as to boycott a store for that, as some did, but I have to admit, I don't like it.

[ramanth]

I don't recall that story but you are right and that isn't right to do that.

Maybe something changed because when Andy and I were shopping at Walmart last night, we were wished Merry Christmas by a few employees. It's just nice to see them in good spirits with all the craziness of shoppers.

[JenBKR]

I don't recall that story but you are right and that isn't right to do that.

Maybe something changed because when Andy and I were shopping at Walmart last night, we were wished Merry Christmas by a few employees. It's just nice to see them in good spirits with all the craziness of shoppers.

I think I heard that they changed it this year and allowed employees to say Merry Christmas this year - that's what I heard.

I do really feel for retailers this time of year, I know how crazy it gets out there and I don't think I could do some of their jobs!