# Xmas and the First Amendment

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xmas-and-the-first-amendment/644973>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [December 24, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xmas-and-the-first-amendment/644973 "2012-12-24T02:15:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 11

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**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xmas-and-the-first-amendment/644973/202 "2013-01-01T02:17:12Z")

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The Holiday Formerly Known as Christmas. I like it.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xmas-and-the-first-amendment/644973/203 "2013-01-01T04:42:34Z")

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> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#):
>
> You sure about that? Because my entire argument rests on my actually being Rosa Parks, without which nothing I say makes any sense…

This might explain the last 7 years of your posting…😛

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xmas-and-the-first-amendment/644973/204 "2013-01-01T04:43:56Z")

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> [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](#):
>
> My recent Middle Ages professor would disagree a bit there. This passage was taken from A CHRISTMAS CHRONICLE by Aloysius Horn, Newman Press, 2001.

Maybe. From wiki:

\*It is frequently traced to the symbolism of evergreen trees in pre-Christian winter rites, especially with the story of Donar’s Oak and Saint Boniface.[8]  
According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, “The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmastime.”[9]  
\*

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