Or if you will, a Jul (Yule) tree. It is put up to celebrate the Great Annual Turning of the Cosmic Wheel (or Jul in Old Norse).

Godt Jul.

Spread a little Joy this Christmas...

-- Mal

She claimed that she always knew there was a reason she didn't like those things.

DEMAND that everybody call it by THEIR chosen name, was stolen from the pagans, including all the "traditional" elements of the celebration. so much fun watching their teeny weeny widdle heads explode.

after all, they're pretty protective of the money they stole from all of us, too.

20th C. "festival" completely unrelated to their history? HMMM???

I'll bet not.

I call it by a specific name. as I said, I only get into it with people who are actually in personal face about "the war on christmas". have not heard anything about "the war on kwanzaa"

A: no.

Said, "imagine....all that fuss over one murdered Talmud student and the pagan urge to celebrate the solstice..."

"was stolen from the pagans.."

More accurately, it's a historical concept known as 'acculturation' (also 'cultural appropriation') in which societies and cultures in close proximity to each other, over a period of time share traditions, diets, social institutions, values, customs, etc.-- often without realizing it-- in a two-way process of exchange.

Why get uptight because someone calls it a "Holiday Tree" instead of a "Christmas Tree"?

More technically, it's a plant... everything else is either cultural symbolism or individual petulance.

But then again, what's the point to get technical about the holidays during the holidays?

Just enjoy the season.....and have a merry Christmas!!!