Post-Christmas tree

So, StraightMan and I took down our tree and put it out at the curb last night. This morning, in the time it took to take Bubbie to his nursery school, the city workers had hauled it onto their truck and taken it away to be mulched.

Shedding its needles like a man in his late 20s can lose his hair: It was time for the tree to go. (Let it be known also that StraightMan has kept his hair.) However. I wanted to hold out for as long as I could: I do not wish for my children to think of me as one of those People who Pack Up the Tree on New Year's Day.

So, I admit that I talked about the idea of spruce butter. Kind of a lot. Did not do it. Wonder whether or not spruce hot chocolate or spruce martini might work?

Then I read this post, which I missed during finals week, on feminist philosophers: "Christmas Trees Not So Harmless."

The post quotes a recent report on a study that finds:

Reminders of Christmas can make religious minorities feel ill at ease — even if they don’t realize it. When people who did not celebrate Christmas or who did not identify as Christian filled out surveys about their moods while in the same room as a small Christmas tree, they reported less self-assurance and fewer positive feelings than if they hadn’t been reminded of the holiday, according to a new study.

Not so surprising, but I guess I thought it is worth reminding ourselves (and with data!) of the taken-for-grantedness of Christian ideas and practices (including public displays and gestures) - and how and why inclusion really ought to matter.