Verlag Dr. C. Mueller-Straten wrote:
>
> Allison Weiss wrote:
> > I don't care WHAT the origin of the Chirstmas tree is or how many
> > centuries back dates the tradition of decorating trees.
> > The fact is that in 1998, in this country, this tree symbolizes
> > Christmas!
> > If i walked into a public building and saw a cross hanging on the wall,
> > the explanation that the Christian cross was derived from an ancient
> > Egyptian symbol is irrelevant.  it has a definite meaning today and is
> > unmistakable and instantly recognized the minute it is seen by anyone
> > born in this country.
> >
> > Allison Weiss
> >
> > _____________________________________________________________________
> >
> Dear Allison,
>
> I do not agree with you. And this by some reasons:
> 1) the x-mas tree is a symbol. Like all symbols it is loaded with meanings. Part
> of the meanings is also the origin of the symbol and its history.
> 2) It makes a difference if a symbol is 100 years old or 1000-2000 years. The
> x-mas tree is quite a young symbol and only "the" symbol for x-mas in a certain
> region of the world. In most parts of the world the x-mas tree is not "the"
> x-mas symbol.
> 3) In North America and more and more also in Europe, the x-mas tree stands not
> for x-mas, but for the x-mas time. This makes a slight, but not unimportant
> difference. In northern catholic countries, the x-mas tree is set in the
> beginning of December and removed at least on the 2nd of February. Christian
> people believe that Jesus Christ brought light into the darkness, like the
> light gods of the western world. Light, sun, relevation, overwhelming the death,
> and, of course, setting his day of birth at the winter solstice, this is all
> entwined into this symbol. Therefor the real (!) tree with candles on it is a
> good symbol for all these connotations.
> 4) To cut all these connotations, means to treat a symbol unhistoric. Of course
> a symbol being valid in a certain society is a fact, but these existing
> connotations are also a fact.
> 5) To treat these connotations of symbols as "irrelevant", as you prefer to do,
> means to declare the here and now as the only interesting level. But the cross
> or the x-mas tree is not a traffic sign: it is grounded in the first myths of
> mankind (The cross, by the way, is much older the Egyptian ankh-sign, from which
> it is not directled derived! See the cross signs for example in early
> Australia). If you do not care for this dimension, which is of course your
> private right (but not as a scientist), you miss a lot.
>
> Yours
>
> Dr. Christian Mueller-Straten
>
> Verlag Dr. C. Mueller-Straten, Kunzweg 23, D-81243 Muenchen,
> Tel/Fax: 089-839 690 43, http://WebMuseen.de/VERLAGCMS
> MAGAZINES AND BOOKS IN MUSEOLOGY (GERMAN/ENGLISH)+ GERMAN THESAURI
Hello, from Muncie, IN Do any of you really know when Jesus was born???
CHRISTMAS.....are you sure???  I dislike violently the OVER USE of
X-MAS.....could not stand it as a child and at 65 (going strong) I still
get a bad taste in my mouth by the lazies who use .......I agree with
Handy Robert I believe.  If you want a symbol why not the STAR in the
sky that led the wisemen to the place of birth.   Anyway......so much
talk everyday makes me also wonder,  doesn't your museums need your
attention???? or is your job just AMUSE-ment for you? Think on
that!!Rainbows to each of you.  I check each day our e-mail find it
usually appears as 'chat rooom stuff' with a minimum of real, true,
questions. today was 89 five were actual the rest like this was ......