"Rachel Talent" <[log in to unmask]> schrieb: I always find Christians becoming upset about the use "holiday" vs. "Christmas" a little amusing. From what I understand, a large number of Christmas traditions were adopted from older (pre-Christian) pagan winter solstice traditions, such as bringing a tree into the house and decorating it. Personally, I've always associated the winter holidays with human warmth and generosity, and in that spirit go with the term "holidays" to include everyone, not just Christians. Dear Rachel, I am engaged, not upset. So what to amuse? Your are right with the pagan traditions in christendom (as well as in the Old Testament) - and I love them. It is these pagan traditions, why these ideas are still working that strong. Summer is still summer and autumn still autumn. You are not right with the tree. The three is 1st quarter of the 19th cent. - and a protestant German invention. There is a picture showing "The first German Xmas tree" a a family with presents sitting near a table. "Warmth and Generosity" is also typical for the christian Xmas - and therefore we invite EVERYBODY to take part in our festivities ("Joy to the WORLD"). Best wishes Christian _____ From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Alexandra Trumbull Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 1:11 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Christmas vs. Happy Holidays I work and study at the Milwaukee Public Museum, where the term "holiday" is used to describe the season's themed events. However, it's not just about the generic holiday feeling here, since the museum's European Village immersion exhibit is decorated for Christmas every year (with pieces from each respective country in Europe--beautiful!). I'm not sure about other holidays being represented in these decorations, but I know there is also a Kwanzaa celebration on the 26th. It's a tough call, though, because I agree with Dr. Mueller-Straten that the term Christmas is much more evocative and rich for those with this tradition, but you are also excluding a large population. Do you have ideas about the demographics of your audience? I can also sympathize with Dr Mueller-Straten's views, since Christmas is something more than a religious holiday for most Germans. I grew up there myself and always look forward to Advent season and to all the festivities surrounding Christmas. Using the term "holiday" in place of Christmas would seem silly to me in a German museum. In the States it's probably a better idea to use the term holiday though, especially if the city you live in is pretty mixed in terms of its religious representations. In this day and age I think it's better to de-emphasize religion in the public sphere, since it seems to be infiltrating so many other areas of our lives already... Alexandra Trumbull Graduate Student of anthropology and museum studies UW-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Public Museum P.S. eine wunderschoene Adventszeit wuensche ich Ihnen, Dr. Mueller-Straten! "Dr. Christian Müller-Straten" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Dear Kim, what an anxious director... The 24th of December is, since more than 1000 years, the official birthday of Jesus Christ (eastern is in their understanding the "higher" event, of course). Christians of all kinds are happy about that and give presents to each other. Other religions have other high events. We do respect their events and expect them to do the same! Do not retreat to "Holidays". There are many holidays without any religious content, like bank holidays or independance days. This would soften the original meaning. Let us defend christmas time, christmas carols and christmas feelings - against all ods like commercialism or political correctness. By the way, now does not start christmas time at all, but "Advent" to prepare ourselves for the symbolical coming of the Lord. So get back to the roots. Christian "Kimberly Kenney, Curator" schrieb: Hello all, My Director has asked me to ask the List what your official position is at your museum regarding this festive time of year. We have traditionally called our programs "Holiday" events this time of year -- Holiday Open House, Holiday Tea, Holiday Hearth Cooked Dinner, etc. We are fully decorated with about 30 Christmas trees in our historic room settings and throughout our "Street of Shops" (a life sized indoor town). We do have an outreach program exploring the origins of Holiday Traditions, including Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, but most of our events in house focus around the Christmas decorations, visiting with Santa, and that kind of thing. We are wondering if other museums use the word "Christmas" in their events, or if you choose to say "Holidays." Thank you for your input! Kim Kimberly A. Kenney, Curator Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum 800 McKinley Monument Dr. NW Canton OH 44708 * 330-455-7043 * NEW EXHIBIT: "Hearth & Home" now open and on view through April 2006. * SPECIAL EVENT: Join us for our annual Holiday Open House on December 2. Members are free, $5 for guests. "Let us ever remember that our interests are in concord, not conflict; and that our real eminence rests in the victories of peace, not those of war." -- 25th United States President William McKinley __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). 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