![This Is a Christmas Tree This Is a Christmas Tree](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/031/788/holiday.jpg)
This Is a Christmas Tree
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About
This Is a Christmas Tree refers to a series of tweets made by former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. In the tweets, Walker posted images of a Christmas tree and a Hanukkah menorah, insisting that they are elements of the specific holidays Christmas and Hanukkah, respectively, criticizing his successor, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers for calling the evergreen tree on display in the state capitol a "Holiday Tree."
Origin
On November 8th, 2019, the Associated Press[9] reported that Governor Evers had reversed Walker's decision to refer to the evergreen tree at the capitol as a "Christmas Tree," opting for "holiday tree." According to the story:
Politicians called it a Christmas tree until 1985, when they began referring to it as a holiday tree to avoid perceptions that they were endorsing religion. DOA allows other groups to place displays in the rotunda as end-of-the-year holidays approach, including a menorah and a Festivus pole, a nod to the fictional holiday in the āSeinfeldā television series. But the controversy over what to call the tree has never really died.
Walker tweeted[1] an image of a menorah and the caption, "This is a Menorah candle this is lit during the Festival of Lights as part of Hanukkah. This is not a holiday candle holder." The tweet received more than 1,000 likes and 200 retweets in less than one week (shown below, left).
Minutes later, Walker tweeted[2] a photograph of a Christmas tree and the caption,"This is a Christmas Tree that is used by people celebrating Christmas š This is not a holiday tree." The tweet received more than 39,000 comments, 25,000 likes and 8,400 retweets in less than one week (shown below, right).
![This is a Menorah candle this is lit during the Festival of Lights as part of Hanukkah. This is not a holiday candle holder Scott Walker @ScottWalker This is a Menorah candle this is lit during the Festival of Lights as part of Hanukkah This is not a holiday candle holder. 000090000 2:02 PM Nov 8, 2019 Twitter for iPhone](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/635/587/b38.png)
![This is a Christmas Tree that is used by people celebrating Christmas š This is not a holiday tree. Scott Walker @ScottWalker This is a Christmas Tree that is used by people celebrating Christmas This is not a holiday tree. 2:07 PM Nov 8, 2019 Twitter for iPhone](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/635/585/552.png)
Spread
Following the tweets, people mocked Walker for his use of the term "holiday tree" and his overall point that people would not know a Christmas tree or menorah. Comedian Chris D'Elia tweeted,[3] "Honestly? I canāt believe people would care about this EITHER way. If someone called it a holiday tree. Who. Absolutely. Gives a shit? It matters zero. Call it a fuckin Subaru I donāt give a shit." The tweet received more than 87,000 likes and 10,000 retweets in less than 24 hours (shown below, left).
Producer Elan Gale parodied the tweet.[4] He wrote, "This is an Apple Tree that is used by people growing apples. It is ALSO not a holiday tree." The tweet received more than 4,100 likes and 160 retweets in three days (shown below, center).
Comic book artist Eli Valley parodied the tweet,[5] replacing the menorah for a dreidel. The tweet received more than 1,200 likes in less than one week (shown below, right).
Several media outlets covered the meme, including HuffPost,[6] CBS,[7] Yahoo[8] and more.
![Honestly? I canāt believe people would care about this EITHER way. If someone called it a holiday tree. Who. Absolutely. Give Chris D'Elia @chrisdelia Honestly? I can't believe people would care about this EITHER way. If someone called it a holiday tree. Who. Absolutely. Gives a s---? It matters zero. Call it a f----- Subaru I don't give a s---. Scott Walker @ScottWalker Nov 8 This is a Christmas Tree that is used by people celebrating Christmas This is not a holiday tree. 8:58 AM Nov 10, 2019 Twitter for iPhone](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/635/588/33b.png)
![This is an Apple Tree that is used by people growing apples. It is ALSO not a holiday tree. elan gale @theyearofelan Replying to @ScottWalker This is an Apple Tree that is used by people growing apples. It is ALSO not a holiday tree. 2:43 PM Nov 8, 2019 Twitter for iPhone](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/635/590/5b0.png)
![This is a jewish hexagram spinner Eli Valley @elivalley Scott Walker @ScottWalker This is a Jewish hexagram spinner that is used on the holiday of Sukkot after the fast Follow This is not a holiday hexagram spinner. QER ERF RF 5:02 PM-8 Nov 2019 3:02 PM Nov 8, 2019 Twitter Web Client 123RF](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/635/592/2ec.png)
Various Examples
![This is a Phone Tree that is used by people trying to disseminate info quickly. It is ALSO not a holiday tree. Alison Rosen @AlisonRosen Replying to @theyearofelan and@ScottWalker This is a Phone Tree that is used by people trying to disseminate info quickly It is ALSO not a holiday tree DialMyCallsm t Mnsag rodtng Mad y Phone Tree Template 2:52 PM Nov 8, 2019 Twitter for iPhone >](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/635/605/767.png)
![I have so many questions... 1. Has someone been bullying Scott Walker into calling his Christmas tree a Holiday tree? 2. Doe Hank Green**PIH.org/hankandjohn*** @hankgreen I have so many questions... 1. Has someone been bullying Scott Walker into calling his Christmas tree a Holiday tree? 2. Does Scott Walker's tree go up 20 days before Thanksgiving? 3. What kind of monster wraps every present with the exact same minimalist wrapping paper? Scott Walker @ScottWalker Nov 8 This is a Christmas Tree that is used by people celebrating Christmas This is not a holiday tree. 3:51 PM Nov 8, 2019 Twitter Web App](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/635/604/402.png)
![Check out this guys awesome Holiday tree. Itās the middle of November, but whatever. Colin Hanks @ColinHanks Check out this guys awesome Holiday tree. It's the middle of November, but whatever. Scott Walker @ScottWalker Nov 8 This is a Christmas Tree that is used by people celebrating Christmas This is not a holiday tree. 10:04 PM Nov 8, 2019 Twitter for iPhone](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/635/603/96d.png)
![This is a call memorandum. It is not a transcript, itās a reconstruction of the call based on participantsā notes. In it a XF14AE @XF 14AE Replying to @ScottWal ker This is a call memorandum. It is not a transcript, it's a reconstruction of the call based on participants' notes. In it a sitting POTUS asks for a "favor" to dig up dirt on a political rival. #ImpeachTrumpNow UNCLASSIFIE through a lot and Ukraine find out what happe like you to do us a favor hey say Crowdst server, 7:47 PM Nov 8, 2019 Twitter for iPhone hat](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/635/598/4bd.png)
![This is a HOUSE š± PLANT. It is NOT green foliage. It used by people trying to experiment with their self-worth by learning ho Jen @magnetsbyjen This is a HOUSE Y PLANT. It is NOT green foliage. It used by people trying to experiment with their self-worth by learning how long they can keep it alive MNF GIF GIANTMONSTER Amish PornStarTM @AmishPornStar1 14h This is a BIRTHDAY cake! It is NOT a cupcake! It is NOT a coffee cake! It is used by people celebrating a BIRTHDAY!!! twitter.com/scottwalker/st... YB RH A 7:34 AM Nov 11, 2019 Twitter for iPhone](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/635/596/6f0.png)
![This is a BIRTHDAY cake! It is NOT a cupcake! It is NOT a coffee cake! It is used by people celebrating a BIRTHDAY!!! Amish PornStarTM @AmishPornStar1 This is a BIRTHDAY cake! It is NOT cupcake! It is NOT a coffee cake! It is used by people celebrating a BIRTHDAY!!! YB RH A Scott Walker @ScottWalker Nov 8 This is a Christmas Tree that is used by people celebrating Christmas This is not a holiday tree. 6:31 PM- Nov 10, 2019 Twitter for iPhone](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/635/594/92f.png)
Search Interest
External References
[1] Twitter ā @ScottWalker's Tweet
[2] Twitter ā @ScottWalker's Tweet
[3] Twitter ā @chrisdelia's Tweet
[4] Twitter ā @theyearofelan's Tweet
[5] Twitter ā @elivalley's Tweet
[6] HuffPost ā Scott Walkerās War On Christmas Freakout Over Holiday Tree Backfires On Twitter
[7] CBS ā Scott Walker wades into "holiday tree" fight with menorah tweet
[8] Yahoo ā Scott Walker objects to 'holiday tree' and Twitter critics let him have it
[9] Snopes ā Wisconsin Governor Reinstates āHoliday Treeā Name
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Top Comment
Ten Shadows
Nov 11, 2019 at 12:52PM EST