CALL TO ACTION: Christmas trees should celebrate Julian Christmas also (12/26/04)

CALL TO ACTION: Christmas trees should celebrate Julian Christmas also

by Olena Turkalo

For many years, Ukrainians in the New York area who celebrate the Julian Calendar Christmas in January have been disappointed by the absence of the famed Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Why is it removed prior to the arrival of Christmas?

Ukrainians are not alone in their celebration and observance of Christmas on January 7. Bulgarians, Greeks, Serbians, Belorusians, Armenians and Russians all celebrate in January as well. The Rockefeller Center tree is the very symbol of Christmas for all New Yorkers. It should remain proudly standing and happily illuminated for Christians from all Eastern European heritages just as it does on December 25. And this year it is especially important and precious to Ukrainians living outside Ukraine, observing the current struggle for democratic justice in Ukraine.

Just this past week a historic decision was made in New York. An e-mail campaign generated by this writer brought many thoughtful, supportive and heartfelt letters to the Property Management Offices of Rockefeller Center.

On December 17, the effort was rewarded with a note from Peter Dillon, director of marketing at Rockefeller Center Tishman Speyer Properties: "Due to your inquiry, along with several others, we are making arrangements to extend the tree's presence through the end of the day on January 7. We consider the tree at Rockefeller Center to be the world's tree and we are happy to try and accommodate as many perspectives and beliefs as we can."

In honor of this decision, many of us will be meeting for a peaceful celebratory candlelight gathering on Friday, January 7, at 7 p.m., at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. People of all cultures are welcome to join together to celebrate and acknowledge Christmas.

January 7 is Christmas and many Ukrainians will be celebrating with their families in their homes. "In respect to current events in Ukraine, perhaps you would be willing to celebrate with us outdoors instead!" one supporter said.

The response to the campaign was so moving that we were inspired to bring that spirit to the tree that we worked hard to keep standing. The majority of participation came from non-Ukrainian friends, which is truly telling. It clearly shows that people care about Ukraine, and that this is not merely the voices of an ethnic minority group speaking.

Please join us in thanks by creating a lasting impression on the management of Rockefeller Center, as well as all New Yorkers. Christmas exists in January. We would like this to be a decision that stays firm for all future Christmases. (Please bring your own candles.)

The New York City campaign has now gone from a local effort to a national one. The White House tree joyfully symbolizes and supports the holiday season in the Washington area and the absence of the tree is felt by many thousands of people. But it is also a national tree.

Wouldn't it be genuinely appreciated by hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people nationwide, that the White House acknowledges its Eastern European population by keeping the White House tree illuminated in celebration of Christmas on January 7?

Readers are asked to send letters to President and Mrs. George W. Bush requesting that the White House tree be left standing annually through the end of Christmas on January 7. The tree is currently scheduled to be dismantled on January 2.

The White House supports countries struggling for democracy. Your assistance in support of Ukraine is appreciated. This is a choir of voices from all walks of life, of all ages, from all ethnic and religious backgrounds - all are invited and encouraged to participate. Please send your letters to one or both of these two e-mail addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

Olena Turkalo, a designer by profession, is a first-generation Ukrainian American and a native New Yorker.

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