Christmas Tree at Manhattan Beach School

Re “Christmas Tree Surprise Quickly Wilts at School,” Dec. 20: As the father of a Manhattan Beach elementary school student and someone who has always tried to be respectful toward the faiths of others, I’d like to offer some perspective to hopefully diffuse some of the tensions that seem to arise more and more at this time or year. The parents who demanded the removal of the tree from the classroom and Rabbi Steven Silver, quoted in the article, should be aware that the “Christmas” tree is not “a symbol of Christ’s birth.” It is, in fact, a surviving remnant of the ancient pagan celebration of the winter solstice, during which a tree branch would be brought into the house and decorated.

Dec. 25 isn’t Jesus’ birthday. Early Christians celebrated that in the first week of January. Dec. 25 was originally the day when the birth of Mithras, the sun god was observed. Since these competing festivals led to religious strife, the Emperor Constantine decreed, in the 3rd century, that both would be celebrated on the same day.

Perhaps the old boy was on to something. Why don’t we agree to observe/respect Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Mithras and the winter solstice and “all just get along.”

NEIL ROSS

Manhattan Beach

* I couldn’t decide if the cheery little seasonal item on the dismantled Christmas tree and Star of David at the elementary school depressed me because I am Catholic, my husband is Jewish or because I’m a teacher, or maybe all three.

Granted it was the teacher’s “territory” and there was a regrettable naivete in the parent’s generosity. But this teddy bear-laden tree and Star of David could have been used to give a sorely needed lesson in joyful acceptance of our differences in our multicultural society. Instead the lesson plan veered to teaching children that the differences in what one group believes and celebrates are so offensive, or so out of taste to the others, that they have to be hidden, maybe even made illegal, and that if we are not terribly vigilant, this tree and star could turn into a veritable forest and galaxy that will destroy our freedom.

KAREN SODIKOFF

Del Mar