Holiday/Christmas Tree, Round 2
Gov. Chafee's office backtracks from an announcement Monday that there would be no official tree-lighting ceremony this year.
There will be a tree-lighting ceremony this year after all. Gov. Lincoln Chafee's top press aide said Tuesday she spoke in error Monday when she said there would be no tree lighting ceremony.
"There will be an official tree lighting ceremony at the State House with the Governor in attendance," said Christine Hunsinger in an email statement. No date has been set.
Now, the question is, will protesters turn up again as they did last year, when Gov. Lincoln Chafee referred to the large evergreen in the middle of the State House rotonda as a holiday tree instead of a Christmas tree. The tree was erected Monday.
Last December, Chafee was lambasted by GOP lawmakers, some talk show hosts, and the Roman Catholic Bishop Tobin for his decision to use the term holiday tree.
As pointed out in a story by the Providence Journal Tuesday, former Gov. Donald Carcieri also did not use the term Christmas tree in 2009. They quote from Carcieri's invitation to the lighting ceremony that year: "The Annual Holiday Tree Lighting."
Does it matter what the tree at the State House is called? Let us know in the comments section.
Good Year
3:22 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
The liberal democrat attack on religion and anything traditional is absurd. Just call it what it is, A CHRISTMAS TREE!
settler
5:14 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Actually, Gov. Carcieri was a rather conservative Republican. So the attack isn't from liberals or conservatives, Democrats or Republicans. The attack is obviously from people who's last names begin with C!!!
MILSPECGUY
4:35 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Every day we see more and more the cultural and word shift to erase the Christmas meaning and spirit. Shame on these politicians to appease every person and group that wants a say...
Founding fathers would cry....
TJ
11:43 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Why even celebrate if you're not going to call it a Christmas tree. What are we celebrating then? Happy Nondenominational Winter National Holiday!
The Shill
12:52 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Yes we need to reclaim Christmas for it's original meaning Saturnalia, it was a celebration dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture. Like many celebrations, Saturnalia involved drinking, feasting, and gift giving. There was even mistletoe, and kissing under it was supposed to bring fertility for the coming spring.
It wasn't just the Romans though. In ancient Babylon there was a celebration in December near the time of the solstice (when there is the longest night of the year). There were similar celebrations by the Druids in the British Isles, and by the Norse and Germanic tribes in Northern Europe (often called Yule). While the details of the celebrations might vary, they all played to a very specific theme. The close of the year, and the beginning of a new one. The point at which the days would begin to lengthen as the sun ascended once more, and brought spring to their lands anew. So, beneath jolly old elves and Christmas carollers, that's what's really being celebrated... the survival of another year and the coming of a new growth.
Chris Christensen
10:51 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
If it is a Holiday Tree and not a Christmas Tree then erect it the first day of Spring.
If somebody dislikes calling the Christmas Tree a Christmas Tree then go find some other country to live in.
The Shill
9:28 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Chris if you want to live in a theocracy then it is you who will have to go find some other country the government is barred by the constitution from getting involved in religion. The U.S is a secular country. As to erecting the tree in the spring at least it would be closer to the birth of Christ because he was not born in December but sometime in the spring.
Karen Day
2:46 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
Please buy your "CHRISTMAS" Trees from the Kiwanis Club of Aquidneck Island. (Corner of Forest Avenue and East Main Road, Middletown). All proceeds to go help children in our Island community. We only sell Christmas Trees, damn it!