CHRISTMAS TREE / FREEDOM FLOWER

For a couple years now there has been a newsworthy controversy over whether one of the most beloved symbols of Christmas should be called a Christmas tree. Of course it should. The tree is a symbol of Christmas, a time in the year that is supposed to be meaningful to a significant number of people. The Christmas tree should not be forced to represent a generic holiday.

Since other groups also enjoy a holiday around the end of the year, greetings during this time could be more generic. If we know the significant event being celebrated by the person we greet, then we could use the appropriate specific greeting. However, if as is more often the case we aren't sure who celebrates what, then a greeting of  "happy holiday" should be acceptable. 

If we need a plant to represent this time of year for everyone, I would suggest a single red rose. We could call it the "freedom flower". It would symbolize freedom from the ways we try to fill the void in our lives which are the cause of all conflict from deadly wars to the petty squabble over whether to call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree. While giving the flower we could greet each other with simply, "Freedom". 

CHRISTMAS POEM , CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL of LIGHTS,
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT OF GETTING,
CHRISTMAS.
The Last Why: the poem 

Comments

[Carolyn Plitz]

I like the rose idea. Re greetings around Christmas, if you know the appropriate greeting for someone, fine. However,if you don't then I think that a "Merry Christmas" should be totally acceptable. We are a country that was supposedly founded on Christian principles and that is what December 25 is supposed to be celebrating. This greeting is not meant as derogatory remark but a cheerful greeting. I would like to think that it is accepted in the manner that is intended.