Christmas Trees
Last December (2004) for the first time, I saw an instance of evergreens (Christmas trees) being sold as "Holiday trees". When did anyone buy a cut evergreen in December for any other reason than because they wanted a Christmas tree? Look for the signs drawing customers before you buy. If you came across this unfortunate phenomenon, enlighten the sellers about their product. Express bewilderment over why they'd want to call them that. Go to the signs that say "Christmas".This can be nipped in the bud.
Wreaths of evergreens are likewise "Christmas wreaths". The first printed mention of Christmas trees resembling our modern decorated version goes back to Strasbourg,1605. Most historians trace it back further to the medieval mystery plays and "the tree of life" hung with apples. Still others with an interest in pagan underpinnings assure us that evergreen wreaths and trees come to Christmas by way of the Druids. Any way one looks at it the customs are very old and their history shouldn't be disregarded.
