Tree Kindles Leverett Debate

While cardboard Santas and plastic menorahs are going up throughout Harvard Square, in one Harvard House the religious symbolism of holiday decorations has come under scrutiny.

Leverett residents have flooded the House’s e-mail list with an at-times heated discussion over whether the House should have a Christmas tree—started after House Master Howard Georgi ’68 requested resident input—and more broadly the proper way to celebrate religious holidays in a diverse community.

Many residents argue that while the Christmas tree may be a relic of some people’s childhoods, for others it is a divisive symbol.

“When I was a young person the tree was used to divide groups into those who were with the ‘right’ religion and those who weren’t,” says Leverett Resident Tutor Stuart E. Schechter.

Schechter fueled much of the e-mail debate when he compared having a tree in the House to letting in a “Trojan horse.”

“The comparison with a Trojan horse is a description of how the Christmas tree is used to get young people to associate with a religion,” Schechter says. “The symbol of a Trojan horse is getting something in the door with something that looks innocent.”

Schechter also created debate in responding to a student’s e-mail that questioned the importance of his concerns about the tree. In that response he suggested that people would have a different reaction if he were suggesting placing another symbol—such as a swastika—in the House.

“By allowing the Christmas tree, all other symbols are permitted,” Schechter says.

Some students in Leverett House say they also share the view of the Christmas tree as a divisive symbol.

“Part of it for me is knowing that when I was younger teachers suggested I celebrate Christmas to fit in with everyone else,” Hannah S. Sarvasy ’03 says. “Some Americans say the Christmas tree is a universal American thing and for me it’s really not. I can’t separate Christmas from the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.”

And while some students say they are not offended by the Christmas tree, they do believe that the House should err on the side of being careful of people’s feelings.

“You can put 1,800 Christmas trees in your room if you want,” Grace E. Bloodwell ’03 says. “It’s more important to me to not offend people than to have something I think is a neat thing.”

This year’s debate comes after the decision of the House Committee last year to reinstate the practice of buying a tree for the House.

According to Michal Y. Spechler ’03, a member of the Leverett House Committee, HoCo bought the tree and put it in the dining hall after a resident suggested it.

However, she said some people objected after the tree had already been placed in the dining hall.

This year the tree, which was again purchased by HoCo, will be placed in the House’s Junior Common Room (JCR).

Georgi says this location was chosen as a compromise between those who objected to a tree and those who did not.

“Most people in the House would be happy to have a Christmas tree in the dining hall, but we’re willing to accommodate a few thoughtful people,” Georgi says. “I thought the JCR was more appropriate anyway because it has a fireplace and a piano so it’s a lace that one associates with a Christmas tree.”

A menorah also sits in the window of the Senior Common Room.

Spechler says that these compromise placements are a good solution because no one is “forced to be in the presence of any ‘religious’ symbol.”

Spechler also notes that the Christmas tree is just part of the Leverett holiday festivities, which include a menorah, a candle-lighting ceremony and a snowflake- and gingerbread-making study break.

“Winter’s a dark season and we want to make it brighter for everyone,” Spechler says.

While several opposed to a tree view this as an improvement, for some it is still an imperfect solution.

Leverett resident Emily S. Lin ’02 says the solution strikes her as supporting a “separate but equal” view of religion in the house.

“Instead of having everything separate, it would be nice for everything to be together,” Lin says. “Somebody raised the point that a Christmas tree is bigger and more dominating than a menorah.”

And regardless of the placement, Schechter says he still sees a problem with the purchase of the tree with HoCo funds.

He says that he still thinks it is wrong that Leverett tutors are required to work at the ’80s Dance in order to raise money for the House Committee—some of which is used to buy the Christmas tree.

“In essence, tutors are asked to raise money for religious symbols they may not agree with,” Schechter says.

Elfswhere

While other Houses have not had the debate that Leverett had this year, many employ similar solutions in celebrating the religious holidays.

Most Houses have both menorahs and Christmas trees. Many have also instituted menorah-lighting study breaks as well as Christmas caroling.

Pforzheimer House’s gift exchange is called “Secret Snowflake” instead of “Secret Santa” in order to make it a secular holiday event, says Pforzheimer HoCo President Teresa L. Bechtold ’02.

“Santa is a term which is now used secularly, but is really a Christian symbol,” Bechtold says. “Because we have members of the House who are not Christian it is exclusive to use the term ‘Santa’ rather than ‘Snowflake.’”

Kirkland House, on the other hand, embraced the holiday spirit Sunday night as it kicked off its Secret Santa events by decorating the dining hall Christmas tree and putting up shiny stars of David on the walls. Students and tutors drank eggnog, ate red and green M&Ms and sang Christmas carols like “O Come All Ye Faithful.”

Kirkland resident Abigail A. Carlin ’04 says she is glad that the House has so many holiday festivities and decorations.

“It gives the dining hall more personality,” Carlin says. “It makes the House feel more like an actual home than some place you’re staying.”

—Staff writer Anne K. Kofol can be reached at kofol@fas.harvard.edu.