rueh writes:
I just believe that you should call something what it is.
But "what something is" evolves as cultures change.
Link writes:
King Tut never saw a Christmas tree, but he would have understood the tradition which traces back long before the first Christmas, says David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture with the Springfield Extension Center.
The Egyptians were part of a long line of cultures that treasured and worshipped evergreens. When the winter solstice arrive, they brought green date palm leaves into their homes to symbolize life's triumph over death.
The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a fest called Saturnalia in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. They decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts. They gave coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness, and lamps to light one's journey through life.
Centuries ago in Great Britain, woods priests called Druids used evergreens during mysterious winter solstice rituals. The Druids used holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life, and place evergreen branches over doors to keep away evil spirits.
Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early traditions.
Link
rueh writes:
You are already excluding these other cultures by performing a ceremony that is traditionally involved with Christmas.
Traditions evolve and adapt to the cultures in which they take place. Forcing this change might well (possibly understandably) upset those who consider their version of the tradition the "real" tradition.
But adapting traditions to be include members of the culture in which they take place happens naturally anyway.
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