It isn't particularly triangular, but just spikey. I think the story about the trinity and a fir tree is actually an old wive's tale thought up by someone other than Luther. Luther can be linked to the tradition of lights on trees, however.
Posted on 12/22/2006 1:51:56 PM PST by familyop
A Hawaii county erected a Christmas tree to protect a Chanukah menorah from a church-state separation challenge.
The American Civil Liberties Union complained to Maui County this week after seeing the menorah, accompanied by a dreidel, in front of the county building. A local rabbi had asked authorities for permission to set up the menorah. The ACLU cited laws that say that displaying a religious symbol by itself could constitute endorsement of that religion.
County workers scrambled Wednesday to find a Christmas tree, in short supply in Hawaii this late in the season. One was found at a local botanical garden.
Then a holy suicide bomber decided to enter the debate and, well, that was the end of that.
Christmas trees do not equal Menorah.
a Christmas tree is a pagan solstice symbol and the Menorah is a religious system.
The correct Christian symbol would be a nativity scene...that might just equal a Menorah.
"The American Civil Liberties Union complained (fill in blank here)....."
Ugh. What jerks........
According to some you are right. According to Luther the Christmas tree is a wonderful symbol of the trinity.
Someone needs to start a religion called "Screw You ACLU", so that every time one of these law suits comes up, they can demand that they too get to put up a banner.
All the county needed to do was call the menorah a "holiday candelabra".
Obviously, the ACLU folks should be institutionalized permanently. Anyone who thinks MAUI COUNTY HAWAII is *endorsing* Judaism is mentally defective, and cannot be entrusted with car keys, sharp instruments or the right to vote.
"According to Luther the Christmas tree is a wonderful symbol of the trinity."
How so?
Yes and no. Paganism is a religion. However, while the Christmas tree was originally pagan, the Church up and decided one day that they couldn't have the sheeple celebrating anything pagan. So, instead of a solstice tree which celebrated renewal of life with the changing seasons, they would from thence forth refer to the tree as a Christmas tree... which coincidently (kudos to the dude thought up that) also celebrated never ending life, but Christ's life and the red holly berries (ball ornaments today) be His blood given to save the pagans, um, make that the new Christians.
What, Maui doesn't have a Walmart? Surely, they could have found a cheap fake tree somewhere. Likely there were at least 3 in the building's attic, along with a nativity scene, if they'd just bothered looking instead of wasting tax payers' dollars.
I nominate you to start it. I'm sure you'll have a huge following within moments.
The story of the Christmas tree goes back more than 1,200 years, back to the missionary trip of an English monk traveling to Germany. The legend is that the monk used the triangle shape of a fir tree as a means to illustrate the Holy Trinity.
Protestant reformer Martin Luther is said to have decorated his tree with candles in about 1510. Luther's effort became one of the earliest recorded decorated trees.
"Protestant reformer Martin Luther is said to have decorated his tree with candles"
That wasn't real bright.
"That wasn't real bright."
He used candles because he couldn't find and electrical outlet for his christmas lights!
:0)
When did a Christmas tree become a religous symbol?
It really isn't a triangle. It is cone-shaped. For that matter, I think the fir trees that Luther would have seen in his local forests are not particularly cone-shaped.
They started in Germany as "paradise trees." Before that, they were given offerings, decorated and paid homage to as Yule trees. Germanic peoples regarded (and continue to regard) trees as being sacred.
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