Oh Tannenbaum

Here in the Northeast there is a tempest in a teapot, or perhaps a eggnog cup, about the Rhode Island governor referring to a festive tree in the Capitol as a ‘Holiday’ tree rather that a ‘Christmas’ tree. The local Catholic Church, as well as the Republican Party, which generally seems to coalesce best around the negative and inane, are up in arms about the Governor trying to be inclusive. Shame on him, how dare he think of other people, particularly at such a time of good will towards all?

Can’t you just imagine the newly born Christ smelling the sweet fragrance of conifer trees so soon after his birth? Yea, it’s hard. We don’t usually associate fir trees with that area of the Middle East, probably because there weren’t any. But there were many early religions in Europe in particular that perceived the fir tree as home to pagan gods. Certainly the Church was being inclusive then by co-opting their traditions.

Perhaps the Governor should have referred to it as the Druid tree or possibly even more guileful as a Yule tree.

Shame on me, but, no matter your tree, Happy Holidays!