Hypersensitive Holidays

In another news story published in November of 2005, the city of Boston officially changed the name of a giant spruce tree in Boston Common to a “holiday tree” rather than a “Christmas tree.” The modification created an uproar in the community and there was a great deal of controversy all based around the label of this tree. Some believed that the attempt to “secularize holiday displays” was an effort to reach a wider range of beliefs and their corresponding holiday celebrations (www.thecrimson.com). If changing the tree’s label addresses more holidays and reaches a greater audience, why not call it a holiday tree? But others thought the change was ridiculous and believed that things should be called what they are. Should we call a dreidel a “holiday dreidel” even though the icon is obviously associated with the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah? No. And therefore many believed that a “Christmas tree” should be called just that. In any case, the name change for the most part did not go over well in the community, and many people were not happy. Looking at the way in which this article was written, it seems as though the writer had a slight bias against the term “holiday tree” as well. The number of quotes in opposition of the “holiday tree” compared to the number of quotes in favor of the new title was seven to two. The article appears to be leaning towards calling a Christmas tree a Christmas tree.

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