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uscitizen
12-15-2008, 09:29 AM
Dec 13, 9:34 PM EST

Star and crescent joins Christmas tree, menorah

By JIM FITZGERALD
Associated Press Writer

ARMONK, N.Y. (AP) -- When they light the town Christmas tree in Armonk on Sunday, there will be a Jewish menorah right alongside, as usual. There will also be something new this year - an Islamic crescent and star.

And if there are any Buddhists or Hindus in town who want to see their symbols, the town is welcoming applications.

The holiday display, sponsored by the town of North Castle, which includes the village of Armonk, is among a growing number around the country that include the symbol for Islam.

"We've decided to go in the direction of being all-inclusive," said Reese Berman, supervisor of the town of 11,000, about 30 miles north of New York City and the site of IBM headquarters.

The star and crescent have been part of the national Christmas tree display in Washington for more than a decade. The symbol also is part of the display in Mineola on Long Island, which also features a Christmas tree, a menorah, a Nativity scene and a Kinara candleholder for Kwanzaa. And Wellesley, Mass., has had a star and crescent alongside its Christmas tree and menorah for several years.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CHRISTMAS_CRESCENT?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
evince
12-15-2008, 09:32 AM
How about the pagens who started the whole holiday?
uscitizen
12-15-2008, 09:36 AM
How about the pagens who started the whole holiday?

Np Desh we have Santa, Rudolph, and Christmas trees. We still rule :clink:
Damocles
12-15-2008, 10:03 AM
How about the pagens who started the whole holiday?
It says that if you are willing the town will accept your application.

However, the winter holiday isn't only a pagan tradition.
Damocles
12-15-2008, 10:04 AM
Np Desh we have Santa, Rudolph, and Christmas trees. We still rule :clink:
You have no idea what a pagan is, do you?
uscitizen
12-15-2008, 10:06 AM
You have no idea what a pagan is, do you?

pa·gan (pgn)
n.
1. One who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, especially a worshiper of a polytheistic religion.
2. One who has no religion.
3. A non-Christian.
4. A hedonist.
5. A Neo-Pagan.
adj.
1. Not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish.
2. Professing no religion; heathen.
3. Neo-Pagan.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pagan

ME A PAGAN :clink:
Damocles
12-15-2008, 10:35 AM
Rudolph has nothing to do with polytheistic traditions.
Cancel3
12-15-2008, 10:38 AM
Actually, the word pagan comes from an roman word for "rural dweller". Its lossely used to define earth-based faiths and shamanistic faiths common to the rural peoples of the past. Druidism, wicca, witta, and many other religions come under this umbrella of paganism.

Pagans brought the tree and the yule log, but santa and rudolph are strictly products of commercialism.
Damocles
12-15-2008, 10:44 AM
Actually, the word pagan comes from an roman word for "rural dweller". Its lossely used to define earth-based faiths and shamanistic faiths common to the rural peoples of the past. Druidism, wicca, witta, and many other religions come under this umbrella of paganism.

Pagans brought the tree and the yule log, but santa and rudolph are strictly products of commercialism.
Santa isn't a product of commercialism. It is an extension of an idea that lasted a long time before TV commercials.

Rudolph is simply a character in a TV show though.
Cancel3
12-15-2008, 11:13 AM
Santa isn't a product of commercialism. It is an extension of an idea that lasted a long time before TV commercials.

Rudolph is simply a character in a TV show though.

The basic idea for Santa is not commercial, this is true. And I should have said it differently.

But the popular image of Santa is as far separated from Saint Nicholas of Myra as Rudolph is from actual reindeer. But you are correct, there is a seed of truth to the legend.
uscitizen
12-15-2008, 12:59 PM
And the current view of Santas image is from a Coca cola advertisement I think.

Who cares if rudolph is from a tv show or a song or what is it is not religious so it is pagan.
Cancel3
12-15-2008, 01:19 PM
And the current view of Santas image is from a Coca cola advertisement I think.

Who cares if rudolph is from a tv show or a song or what is it is not religious so it is pagan.

The only people who call atheists pagans are christians & muslims.
uscitizen
12-15-2008, 01:21 PM
The only people who call atheists pagans are christians & muslims.

I base my comment on the definition I posted.
It was the first definition that cam up on my google search and the only one I read.