Word: seculare
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...Christmas tree is a secular (i.e., non-religious) symbol, then why is it called a Christmas tree? Over the years, I've heard many people claim that Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and other "symbols of the season" have nothing to do with Christmas. At my public (i.e., state-run) high school, school officials were thrilled to display five Christmas trees prominently throughout the building--this despite the "separation of Church and State" which this country supposedly promises. The librarian even claimed that the evergreen in the library--decorated with tinsel, lights, and ornaments, which appeared in early December...
Kleinbaum said he wants to meet the needs of the secular and reform Jews at Harvard...
...Christmas tree is a secular symbol of the season. There wasn't a glimmering pine tree beside the manger on the first Noel, just as there wasn't a bunny hiding eggs in the tomb on Easter morning. There's a lovely story about a lost woodcutter led home by fairies placing lights on trees, and the evergreens could be a pagan tradition incorporated into seasonal preparations, but nothing holy is involved. For that reason, Christmas trees do not deserve protection as religious symbols...
...trees are displayed as seasonal art exhibits from a particular tradition and people do not object, fine. But if one or two house residents feel this is not an art exhibit they want house funds paying for, I'll be the Grinch, Scrooge or other secular symbol of Christmas-bashing and suggest it's time to take the trees down. If we are serious about sharing religion and learning from each other, I am ready to light the pink candle of an Advent wreath next Sunday and explain the religious significance and celebrations of the Christmas season...
...make of my newfound holiday cheer. So I decided to take a cue from the star above Mass. Ave. and start planning early. I came back from Thanksgiving break well-armed. I bought boxes of cards, planning carefully ahead for the right variety of humorous and serious, religious and secular messages, in sharp contrast to my typical last minute trip to the Coop for the leftover box of Shoebox Greetings with clever jokes about killing reindeer...