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


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