Star and crescent joins Christmas tree, menorah

uscitizen

uscitizen

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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
 
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.
 
Solitary said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
Damocles said:
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.
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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.
 
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.
 
uscitizen said:
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.
Click to expand...

The only people who call atheists pagans are christians & muslims.
 
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