Every year on Dec. 1, the town of Danvers, Mass., holds its annual Christmas tree lighting in the main town square.

The roads are closed, and the town gathers for fireworks, food and the majestic 100-foot evergreen lit in white lights.

The tree is decorated with ornaments from the town’s five elementary schools and the town hall.

In the small town – for the Northeast, at least – of 25,000 people, this ceremony was a big deal and reason for residents to get out, mingle and enjoy the spirit of the season.

I went every year – I would eat some roast beef sandwiches, hang out and go home – until the town changed the name to “The Holiday Tree Lighting,” in 2003.

The Holiday tree? It’s not a holiday tree, it’s a Christmas tree.

Despite being a town made up predominantly of Catholics, the town hall received complaints from residents who were offended by calling the tree a “Christmas tree.”

They believed in a separation of church and state, and they didn’t want their tax money going toward celebrating a religious holiday.

Soon neighboring towns followed suit, and the public Christmas tree lighting as we knew it disappeared.

In addition to being a state known for its Catholicism, Massachusetts is also one of the most liberal states in the country, wrought with atheists.

I have no problem with atheism, but when it intrudes on the spirit and magic of the Christmas season, then it bothers me.

What other holiday has a tree, adorned in lights, tinsel and decadent ornaments or cherished family heirlooms?

There is only one – Christmas.

Another town had an inflatable menorah on its town hall lawn next to its tree. The menorah retained its proper name while the tree was forced to shed its name like dead pine needles.

While I have heard of towns calling a menorah a “holiday candle,” that is just as distasteful.

A menorah is not a holiday candle. It a symbol of Hanukkah and the Jewish faith and deserves to be called such.

Just as a Christmas tree is a symbol of Christmas and the Christian faith.

America is the land of the free where its citizens have the right to worship however they please. Just because you have the right to complain about something, that doesn’t mean you should.

On CBS Sunday Morning recently, Ben Stein lamented against calling Christmas trees anything else.

“I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish,” he said. “And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened. I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are, Christmas trees.”

“It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, ‘Merry Christmas’ to me. I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year.”

I am not Jewish, but regardless of my religious affiliation, I appreciate what Stein said. No one should feel threatened by a Christmas tree or a season’s well wishing. I have been wished a “Happy Hanukkah” before and I didn’t feel offended. People should have the right to express their thoughts on the holiday season with fear of repercussion.

America was founded on the basis of a freedom of religion and it should continue to remain that way.

I don’t want to live in an America where I can’t wish people a “Merry Christmas.”

This is a magical time of year, no matter the holiday you celebrate. Stores should not ban employees from wishing their customers a “Merry Christmas.” If you don’t celebrate Christmas, and if being wished a merry one offends you that much, then build a bridge and get over it.

How hard is it to simply smile and walk away?

During this Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa season, wish people whichever holiday you please. Just don’t force us to shed what brings us warmth, comfort and family.

Even if that something is just calling a decorated pine tree a “Christmas Tree.”

- Michael Fitzpatrick is the opinions editor for The Red & Black.