Christmas Tree Banned

In December 2012, two dozen senior citizens at The Willows, a 75-resident senior apartment complex in Newhall, California, staged a lobby protest with a neon green sign: "Please Save Our Tree." Management had ordered Christmas trees and menorahs removed from communal areas, calling them religious symbols. The residents were having none of it.

What happened?

Tarzana-based JB Partners Group Inc., which had owned The Willows for four years, sent a memo to staff demanding the removal of Christmas trees and menorahs from common areas. Residents were told the tree had to go because it was a religious symbol.

"We're all angry. We want that tree," said Fern Scheel, a resident of nearly two years. "Where's our freedom? This is ridiculous." Resident Edna Johnson noted the absurdity: Easter baskets and Thanksgiving turkey were fine, but no tree for Christmas.

Frances Schaeffer, who is Jewish, said she did not understand the company's stance, calling the tree "a symbol of reverence that we can all enjoy regardless of our religious" background.

How was it resolved?

Fast. The story broke on December 5, and by December 6 the company had reversed course. JB Partners released a statement apologizing for a "misunderstanding" between management and staff, insisting there had never been an intention to remove the decorations. The tree and the menorahs stayed.

Civil liberties group Liberty Counsel had stepped in on the residents' behalf, with attorney Richard Mast arguing that once holiday decorations are permitted, they cannot be restricted based on religious content, and citing California's Fair Housing Act protections.

Why did it become national news?

The story hit every button of the annual "war on Christmas" cycle: seniors, a beloved tree, a faceless management company, and a reversal within 24 hours of media attention. It also illustrated a real legal point that gets lost in the shouting: in American law, the Christmas tree is generally treated as a secular symbol of a national holiday, which is why the "religious symbol" rationale collapsed so quickly.

FAQ

Where did this happen? The Willows senior apartment complex in Newhall, California, managed by JB Partners Group Inc. of Tarzana.

Did the tree stay? Yes. Management reversed the order one day after the story broke, calling it a misunderstanding.

Who defended the residents? Liberty Counsel, a civil liberties legal organization, threatened legal action under the First Amendment and California fair housing law.

Was the menorah also saved? Yes. The reversal covered both the Christmas trees and the menorahs.

The takeaway

Do not mess with seniors and their Christmas tree. The whole episode lasted about 48 hours, and the only lasting casualty was a property manager's memo.