Wow Jeanne! I love these pictures of your tree...its Magnificent with the blue lights and all the Lovely Angels. I mentioned in another post to you how I enjoy seeing Mr & Mrs Claus....as a Holiday Tradition here! Love their 'Group of Friends' too. TFS jane

I call it a holiday because I don't feel the need to make everyone feel the same way. I celebrate the holiday because it's fun to be a part of things, not because I believe in the "origins" of it. Would you feel equally sure that you were right if all the stores began wishing you happy XXXX for all the other religions? Or would you then say it should be nondenominational because you didn't enjoy having someone else's beliefs thrust upon you. It's easy to have an opinion about something dear to you, but do you support the parallel argument as well? I suspect not. You also said "our largely secular society" in your post. To me that says it all. Perhaps there are more people who see it in a secular way than a religious one. In that case (and I'm basing it on your own words) perhaps this is an issue of a small vocal group trying to put forth an agenda of their own against a majority. No one is stopping you from saying "Merry Christmas." Why are you so strongly in favour of forcing others to do so. The people who produce cards and run stores are basing their decisions on the wants of the largest groups. It's financial. Apparently their target demographic is larger. I think everyone should be free to celebrate what they want as they want. I don't get the sense that the OP feels that at all. To each his own I guess.

This is not my tree nor my idea, but I just happened upon it and want to share it. I am definitely going to start buying those old toppers I see...I have a topper on my tree that I love so couldn't imagine what to do with more - I'm not crazy about the pastel, but more vibrant colors or silver or gold would suit me.... Here is a link that might be useful: american harvest blog

Oh, Christmas Tree is one of my favorites, too.... My mother sang it in German (she was of German descent from Northern Ontario, Canada, and didn't speak English until she went to school), and that's how I always remember it - auf Deutsch. When I was in 5th grade our small class was a human Christmas Tree for the school Christmas program and we sang O Tannebaum. Being the smallest girl in the class, I was the angel on the top of the bleachers that formed the "tree", and the kids all held pine boughs. I was so tiny I needed a wooden box to stand on to be seen, and the teacher was so afraid I would fall off. I was so proud because I already knew all the words to the song (LOL)! Deutsch Tannenbaum TEXT: Ernst Anschütz, 1824 MELODIE: Volksweise (traditional) O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter! Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit, Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter! O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut! O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Dein Kleid will mich was lehren: Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit Gibt Trost und Kraft zu jeder Zeit. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Das soll dein Kleid mich lehren.