Reply to Christmas Trees

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here--

Reading through the last 5 pages it seems that half the people believe a jewish home does not need to host a tree and half the people believe that a home in which a member is of a Christian faith should have a tree.

I go back and forth and can see both sides of the argument.  On the one hand this is her home and she should feel comfortable.  On the other, this is my home and I should feel comfortable.  Yes, I am the older adult in this situation but that doesn't mean I can't have strong feelings about this.  I suppose what makes me the older adult is how I choose to respond to my feelings.

My original questions were:
What is the meaning of the tree?
Why is the tree traditionally associated with Christianity?

[b]From this thread I have learned that the tree is secular and that the tradition was taken from the pagan winter solstice.  It seems that the tree isn't really related to the birth of Christ so I'm having a hard time understanding its significance.[/b]

If my SD would like to put a nativity scene on our dining room table next to the menorah, I have no issues or concerns.  To me, that is a religious symbol and it acknowledges the Christmas holiday.  I'm not sure why the nativity scene does not bother me as much as the tree.  [/quote]

Having never grown up celebrating Christmas and having a tree, you are never going to really get it, OP. The tree is a symbol of Christmas and the birth of Christ for many Christians. We put a star on the tree or an angel because that is part of the Christmas story. If your family is from Europe, you might have other Christmas traditions like an Advent wreath or calendar or celebrate the coming of the Christkind (Christ child) rather than Santa.  Christmas is BIG in Europe and you will see how seriously people take their traditions there, regardless of how "secularly" some in the US treat it. [/quote]

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