We are a historic house museum, owned and operated by a city government. 
We receive general fund support.

We decorate and celebrate the holidays. Our community is among the most 
diverse in the United States with significant numbers of Hindu, Sikh and 
Muslims.

We had extensive rules about prohibited decorations. While some of the 
rules were historic in nature, many were driven by City policy. Included 
were restrictions on the use of angels, Santas (even the word) and it 
was a Holiday Celebration.

One of the docents took exception with the limitations dictated by the 
city, and as a result we asked the city attorney to review the 
restrictions. His review was based on case law, not city policy. He 
found that there were very few items which were illegal: Christian 
Crosses, Nativity scenes, and Menorahs. He also found cases which 
suggested the courts found that “Christmas” and many of the common icons 
had become secularized, and therefore use was acceptable.

He further found that there was protection for accurate historic 
representations of celebrations, so for example, if we could find 
evidence of a nativity scene in use by the family who occupied our house 
we could include a nativity scene. (We have found evidence of the use of 
a Christian cross in the decorations, on a early 19^th century family 
Christmas card)

The attorney’s findings have allowed us great freedom in decorating, and 
we now call our Celebration “Christmas”, but still find the City 
Manager’s office objecting to the use of some icons including the word 
“Christmas” and representations of Santa on the city web site.

Randy Hees
Patterson House at Ardenwood Farm
City of Fremont, California

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