TREES
continued from page 7C
office in Eugene. "You can look for the one
that just strikes you as the right tree. For many
people it's a family tradition."
Most ranger stations have maps of areas suitable
for Christmas trees. Douglas firs are the most com
mon trees in permit areas; however, there are also
White and Noble firs and Ixxigepole pines at high
er elevations in permit areas. Permits are usually
for trees less than 12 feet and the topping of trees
is not allowed.
Many ranger stations, farms and tree lots pro
vide refreshments and tips for caring for Christmas
trees. Wherever a tree comes from, it is important
that all trees be placed in water to keep them from
diying out and becoming fire hazards.
'They7re actually not prone to fire unless they
get real dry, but anything that gets real dry is gonna
bum," Pepiot said.
Contact the freelance editor
at aimeerudin@dailyemerald.com.
MISTLETOE
continued from page 4C
ball of mistletoe decorated with evergreens,
ribbons and ornaments. When a young lady
stood under a kissing ball at Christmastime,
she could not refuse to be kissed. A kiss could
mean deep romance or lasting friendship. If a
girl was not kissed, it was thought she would
stay unmarried during the next year.
The beliefs that mistletoe has healing pow
ers and can spark love stem from the same
Scandinavian myth. According to the myth,
the god of peace was killed by mistletoe, and
his mother was able to restore him back to
life. The tears of joy she shed were said to be
the white berries on the mistletoe, and she
kissed everyone who passed beneath the tree
it grew on. The moral of the legend was that
if someone stood under mistletoe, no harm
would come to him or her — only a kiss as a
token of love.
Today mistletoe carries a similar tradition.
Many people use mistletoe to decorate their
homes and holiday celebrations. If two people
are found to be standing under mistletoe, they
are expected to kiss.
"1 think that the tradition of using mistletoe
should be incorporated into more than Christ
mas parties because it means love," University
sophomore Jayne Mercer said. "People don't
have to kiss — they can hug, too."
Photo Illustration Adam Amato Photo Editor
Mistletoe has traditional uses dating back several
centuries including the popular holiday ‘kissing ball.’
Unfortunately, mistletoe is becoming in
creasingly difficult to find during the holiday
season. Many florist shops in Eugene do not
carry fresh mistletoe because it is poisonous if
ingested. Synthetic mistletoe can usually be
found at grocery or craft stores.
Lisa Catto is a freelance reporter for the Emerald.
The O'Hara
Catholic
School,
located at 715
W. 18th Ave.,
has been
selling trees
for more than
20 years.
Tim Kupsick
Freelance
Photographer
CONSUME
continued from page 5C
United Methodist Church's Wesley Center. "It
seems each year it starts a day earlier."
Although people from all backgrounds —
religious or otherwise — now celebrate Christ
mas, Dec. 25 is in essence a celebration of the
birth of Jesus Christ. While it is not exactly
clear on what day Jesus was bom, the celebra
tion had been incorporated into the Christian
calendar as a early as the 11th century A. 13.
Reverend Ann Bowersox of the Presbyterian
Campus Ministry said that even if people do
not observe the holiday religiously, but instead
use it to spend quality time with their families,
it's still a good thing.
"What is not a good thing is the commercial
ization," she said. "People spend more money
than they have." She added that people get so
caught up in giving gifts that they rack up debts
because they believe they ought to.
But the commercial holiday frenzy is a
thread of the country's capitalist fabric. Ameri
cans purchase goods and services worth rough
ly $7.6 trillion a year, according to an article in
the Dec. 1 edition of The New York Times.
"I think it has to do with how this country
runs," Bowersox said.
Junior Allison Prasad agrees, saying "everyone
is trying to make a buck out of something."
"(Christmas) is supposed to be about the
birth of Christ, but people are more concerned
about the gift giving," Prasad said. "People
commodify the celebration."
However, Bowersox said people are starting
to realize that spending the most money is not
the goal of Christmas. Some are living by the
slogan, "remember the reason for the season."
"Among Christians, there's been a move to
simplify," she said, adding that one way a person
could do this is by making homemade gifts.
Prasad said she does buy gifts, but they don't
have to be big or extravagant. What matters is
that it's "something from the heart." She said
the most valuable part about Christmas is the
time spent with family and friends.
While commercialization may have in
creased, Hajdu-Paulen said the religious as
pects of Christmas are still strong.
"I think it's important for Christians to
claim that season," he said. He said for in
stance, there is a move to spiritually prepare for
the holiday by observing the Advent, the four
Sundays before Christmas, through prayer and
reflection.
White, who is Catholic, said at the core,
Christmas is a religious holiday. However, he
has nothing against people who view it differ
ently, and he too is part of the gift-giving and
gift-receiving network.
"We live in a society where everyone has dif
ferent beliefs and everyone has a right to cele
brate how they want," he said.
Contact the news editor
at ayishayahya@dailyemerald.com.
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