North and South Korean relations have faltered again — this time over a Christmas tree.
North Korea warned its neighbor on Sunday that the South would trigger an “unexpected consequence” if it allowed a Christian group to put up a massive steel Christmas tree.
The Associated Press reports that the 100-ft Christmas tree-shaped tower would be lit on Aegibong Hill, near the border. North Korea said it considers the tree a form of “psychological warfare.”
According to the BBC, the giant Christmas tree is a tradition that dates back for years. South Korea briefly halted the ritual in 2003, following slightly improved relations with Pyongyang. Last year, however, the South Korean government decided to allow Christian groups to celebrate Christmas on Aegibong Hill again. Although the North threatened to fire artillery at the structure that year, too, nothing happened, the Daily Mail writes.
Yes, the Christmas tree—and in fact the date of Christmas itself—was taken from a pagan celebration to further the spread of Christianity to that culture in northern Europe. This plan worked quite well since, like most mythological characters, no one had yet designated a day for the birth of Christ.
@Liberal1 (objectivity):
Actually most place his month of birth as March with a year range of 4 to 6 BC. (both secular and religious scholars)
Christmas is almost universally (once again, including Christ believing religious scholars) recognized as being the pre-emption of the winter solstice ceremonies and a figurative “birth of Christ” feast…it simply “works” better.
Beyond that it would be highly speculative to finger an exact date or day as the actual birth of Christ.
Labeling Jesus as purely “mythological” is just as speculative — your implication that you are telling people that “Santa” isn’t real is simply a function of your own bigotry and not a sign of reasonable “objectivity”