Regarding the Christmas Tree in Museums...
     Hmmm. Well, I can certainly understand your point to a degree, that
     is, that you don't celebrate Christmas. Here in San Francisco, the
     Chinese community puts on a big show for Chinese New Year--and I
     always feel a little left out, too. But I have never understood why
     the Christmas tree has come to be seen as a religious symbol or why it
     can cause such an uproar.

     I was raised in a non-religious home where we never attended church. I
     have very funny memories of my family stringing up tree lights (that
     never worked), standing in awe of the 'splendor' of our tree decorated
     with so much tinsel and glass that you couldn't even see the tree, and
     best yet, that cat tipping the whole thing over and breaking the
     ornaments. Later, as an adult, I did choose to join a church and am
     now Christian. Still, I see no correlation between the natavity and
     the Christmas tree. I have done a bit of research of the origins of
     this tree, and back some 200 years ago, it was decorated in such a way
     that it did hold some religious symbolism.

     But would you really say (and I'm not being sarcasitc) that the
     Christmas tree as we know it today is a Christian symbol?  If so, why?

     John Handley
     Museum of Ophthalmology


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: The Holidays
Author:  [log in to unmask] (Stephen Brand) at INTERNET
Date:    8/21/98 4:10 PM


The discussions about diversity and feeling the temperature starting to get
cooler in the north makes me suggest a conversation that I believe is very
important, but sensitive, in our industry.

I have had lots of trouble with this issue.  Since I don't celebrate
Christmas, I have always felt a struggle with how we can make our holiday
environments more welcoming for everyone.  I believe this is a big challenge
for both mission and market driven reasons.

I remember working at a museum where all different religious groups decorated
Christmas Trees in the lobby.  The person in charge wanted to know why a
Jewish group didn't want to decorate a tree.  "A Japanese group decorated a
tree and they don't celebrate Christmas".  Since this made me uncomfortable,
they put up a Hanukah Menorah which still made me personally uncomfortable
because I don't feel a religious object belongs in a quasi public institution,
unless  it is part of  an exhibit presenting the traditions of that particular
religion.  It certainly doesn't belong in a science museum.

In my next job, I asked my staff to try to be sensitive to this issue (from a
guest services perspective) and create a more wintery themed celebration, I
got a cold shoulder from the staff and even the Mayor of the city for many
months into the new year.  However, I was told by a number of non-Christian
visitors that it was one of the only public spaces that made them feel
comfortable during that time of year.  Festive but non-suggestive of a
particular religious celebration.

I continue to struggle with this issue and would like to turn from frustrated
and defensive to insightful and welcoming.  I come to this diverse group and
ask for your thoughts, experiences, and compelling ideas as we try to make our
learning and cultural environments comfortable for all.

I urge this thread of dialog to continue in a respectful, sensitive and
rational manner.  It can lead to  very hostile comments -- I know, I have
lived with it for a while.  Think twice before pressing send if your message
might hurt others.  Place yourself in the shoes of others when thinking about
this issue.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

Stephen Brand
The New Enterprise Factory

American Academy of Ophthalmology
http://www.eyenet.org