Lawyers Threaten Suit Over 'Christmas' Tree

City Confirms Spruce Is Not 'Holiday' Tree

POSTED: 7:46 am EST November 23, 2005
UPDATED: 1:39 pm EST November 23, 2005

BOSTON --

One day after being threatened with a lawsuit, city officials say make no mistake about it: The tree that will be lit on the Boston Common next week is a Christmas tree.

Tuesday, a group of conservative lawyers for the Liberty Council threatened to take the city to court for calling the spruce a "holiday" tree.

The attorneys told the Boston Herald that is misinformation that slights people who celebrate Christmas.

They said a Christmas tree shouldn't be called a holiday tree, just like a Menorah shouldn't be called a candlestick.

"Calling a Christmas tree a holiday tree isn't being inclusive. It's disenfranchising people of faith. It's like calling a menorah a candle stick," said Mathew Staver, Liberty Counsel's president and general counsel.

The city was quick to confirm the tree's title.

"This is a Christmas tree," Boston Parks Commissioner Toni Pollak insisted about the Nova Scotia spruce the city will light Dec. 1 on historic Boston Common. "It's definitely a Christmas tree," she told the Herald.

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