ARMONK, N.Y. — When they light the town Christmas tree in Armonk today, there will be a Jewish menorah right alongside, as usual. There will also be something new this year — an Islamic crescent and star.
And if there are any Buddhists or Hindus in town who want to see their symbols, the town is welcoming applications.
The display, sponsored by the town of North Castle, which includes the village of Armonk, is among a growing number across the country that include the symbol for Islam.
“We’ve decided to go in the direction of being all-inclusive,” said Reese Berman, supervisor of the town of 11,000, about 30 miles north of New York City and the site of IBM headquarters.
The star and crescent have been part of the national Christmas tree display in Washington for more than a decade.
The symbol also is part of the display in Mineola on Long Island, which also features a Christmas tree, a menorah, a Nativity scene and a Kinara candleholder for Kwanzaa.
And Wellesley, Mass., has had a star and crescent alongside its Christmas tree and menorah for several years.
Judy Wesley, director of the Armonk Chamber of Commerce, said she was raised Catholic and “in my opinion there’s nothing wrong with having a spirit of inclusion. Jesus Christ himself would have gathered everyone around him.”
However, Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights, said displaying a menorah and a star and crescent — which he considers religious symbols — “shows tremendous sympathy for Jews and Muslims at the expense of the majority Christians” because he does not believe a Christmas tree is religious. He favors adding a Nativity scene.
North Castle added its menorah about 15 years ago at the behest of a local temple, which felt Hanukkah should be recognized along with Christmas.
Last year, the town board was approached by Asad Jilani, who thought his family and other Muslim residents should also be represented. He said that although there is not always an Islamic holiday in December, he felt it would be an appropriate time to celebrate all cultures.
This year, the board approved the star and crescent and came up with guidelines for future requests: There has to be a formal application, the symbol will be displayed only during the Christmas season, it has to be privately funded, and the board will not try to distinguish between religious and secular symbols.
