Is a wreath a Christian symbol? Offensive to Jewish?

[treedimensional]

I have some greeting cards to mail to clients.
On the card is a winter scene of a house and deep snow. The house has evergreen garland around the porch and a wreath on the door.
It is done in B&W pencil and ink. the only colors are the red and green of the wreath and the swag, plus a cardinal perched on the mailbox.
Is this to Christmas-y to send to Jewish households? If you are Jewish, would this offend you?
The card does not mention any holiday. It says 'blah, blah, thank you for your support, wish you a happy and prosperous New Year'.
I can't find a definitive answer online.
Please help.

[DirtySouth]

Dh is Jewish and it wouldn't bother him or his Jewish mom. That said, they are terrible Jews and we celebrate Christmas with our son. My office is half Jewish and my coworkers actually attend temple and are much better Jews than DH and we are doing secret Santa at work and no one is offended. I also have many Jewish friends. I cannot imagine that any of them would get upset over this card.

Sent from my HTC One mini using proboards

[emjacobs]

I believe the history behind them is Christian based as advent wreaths, but I don't think that people automatically assume that wreath = Christian = you hate all the other people.

Honestly as a Christian, I would not (and am not) offended by the holiday cards that are based off of other religions. We get Happy Diwali cards from partners, it's no big deal.

I really hate that the "Winter Holiday" is becoming so dang PC, can people just buck up and not get so terribly offended that someone from a separate religion just wished good tidings to you?

[msmerymac]

I am not Jewish, and not sending company cards, but I try to make my personal cards a bit more generic (and use Happy Holidays) because I have quite a few friends who are Jewish/atheist/agnostic, and I'm wishing them a nice November-December season, too.

That said, a wreath seems totally fine to me. While a wreath itself might be a vaguely Christian symbol, like a Christmas tree, it's basically made of branches of a tree that is common to see in many areas during this time of year. It seems like a generic winter holiday image, IMO.

[raangoli]

Dec 11, 2013 17:27:20 GMT -5 emjacobs said:

I believe the history behind them is Christian based as advent wreaths, but I don't think that people automatically assume that wreath = Christian = you hate all the other people.

Honestly as a Christian, I would not (and am not) offended by the holiday cards that are based off of other religions. We get Happy Diwali cards from partners, it's no big deal.

I really hate that the "Winter Holiday" is becoming so dang PC, can people just buck up and not get so terribly offended that someone from a separate religion just wished good tidings to you?

I see sending greetings during a holiday as a way to send my best wishes to those I care about during a festive holiday season. I send a Diwali greeting to my non-Indian friends each year even though they obviously do not celebrate it. They are not offended nor am I offended when I get Christmas cards in the mail. (ETA: I also send Christmas cards out as well even though I'm not Christian.)

[emjacobs]

Dec 11, 2013 17:50:26 GMT -5 raangoli said:

Dec 11, 2013 17:27:20 GMT -5 emjacobs said:

I believe the history behind them is Christian based as advent wreaths, but I don't think that people automatically assume that wreath = Christian = you hate all the other people.

Honestly as a Christian, I would not (and am not) offended by the holiday cards that are based off of other religions. We get Happy Diwali cards from partners, it's no big deal.

I really hate that the "Winter Holiday" is becoming so dang PC, can people just buck up and not get so terribly offended that someone from a separate religion just wished good tidings to you?

I see sending greetings during a holiday as a way to send my best wishes to those I care about during a festive holiday season. I send a Diwali greeting to my non-Indian friends each year even though they obviously do not celebrate it. They are not offended nor am I offended when I get Christmas cards in the mail. 

YES! Who cares what religion / non religion / color everyone is, why can't people just be happy that someone cares enough about them to share something with them. 

[auntie]

Eh. If I know someone is Jewish, I send them a Jewish New Year card at Rosh Hashanah.

My insurance agent always sends me a card at Thanksgiving expressing the sort of sentiment you are looking to send. Maybe that's an idea for next year.

[munkii]

It would piss off my FIL, not in the sense that someone is sending him a Christmas card but in the sense that someone is tip-toeing around Christmas with an obvious Christmas card.

This is really dependent on the individual, and I would hate to say, "No biggie," when, in fact, it could be. I like Auntie's suggestion, which doesn't really help you now. Sorry.

Or...could you get a 5-pack or individual card with a dove or something universal on it? A new year's or peace-on-earth type card that could swing any way?

[treedimensional]

Dec 11, 2013 18:16:58 GMT -5 munkii said:

It would piss off my FIL, not in the sense that someone is sending him a Christmas card but in the sense that someone is tip-toeing around Christmas with an obvious Christmas card.

This is really dependent on the individual, and I would hate to say, "No biggie," when, in fact, it could be. I like Auntie's suggestion, which doesn't really help you now. Sorry.

Or...could you get a 5-pack or individual card with a dove or something universal on it? A new year's or peace-on-earth type card that could swing any way?

It's a New Years card.

[munkii]

It may be a new year's card, but it's one that's decorated with a Christian house.

[munkii]

MH said it would not offend him, btw.

[lemon360]

I'm Jewish, it's not offensive.

[Deleted]

My Jewish coworker has a wreath on her front door.

I say it's fine.

And I agree with EM. I'm all about respecting other cultures etc. but since when did the fact that I celebrate my holiday and want to share good wishes automatically equate to me disrespecting or hating on someone else's celebration?

[sillygoosegirl]

Aren't wreaths a Pagan thing? I wouldn't be offended, but I'm Pagan, not Jewish.

[treedimensional]

Dec 11, 2013 18:53:00 GMT -5 munkii said:

It may be a new year's card, but it's one that's decorated with a Christian house.

So a wreath is a Christian symbol?

[munkii]

Not all wreaths are Christian. However, an evergreen wreath in December generally identifies the household either celebrates Christmas and/or is Christian.

[pitterwoo]

I had no idea that wreaths were a Christian thing. I mean, I guess I have seen those advent wreath centerpiece things before. So I wouldn't have the context to be able to be offended by your card. It sounds like a traditional winter scene - stereotypical snowy winter in rural America. Hard to be particularly annoyed by even if the recipient is non-Christian and hates winter and snow and wreaths.

I have noticed more people in my circle sending out New Years cards and greetings. I like the trend.

[adhdfashion]

I wouldn't be offended to receive a card with a menorah on it. I would be stoked to receive an actual piece of personal mail. I say go with it.
I don't see wreaths as a Christian symbol. I thought it was more a commercial American Christmas thing. Lol

[treedimensional]

Dec 11, 2013 22:12:06 GMT -5 munkii said:

Not all wreaths are Christian. However, an evergreen wreath in December generally identifies the household either celebrates Christmas and/or is Christian.

Generally identifies Christianity? That was my original question.  I'm looking for a specific link, not a seasonal coincidence. Is there one?

[dragonfly08]

Dec 12, 2013 15:24:22 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

Dec 11, 2013 22:12:06 GMT -5 munkii said:

Not all wreaths are Christian. However, an evergreen wreath in December generally identifies the household either celebrates Christmas and/or is Christian.

Generally identifies Christianity? That was my original question.  I'm looking for a specific link, not a seasonal coincidence. Is there one?

I don't know there's a specific link, but anecdotally no Jewish family I know hangs an evergreen wreath on their door this time of year.  I'm Jewish, and hang wreaths inside the house because 1) I like them, and 2) DH isn't Jewish so our house is decorated for Christmas as well as Hanukkah, and this card wouldn't offend me.  But I wouldn't call an assumption that it was a Christian home a far-fetched idea, either.

[munkii]

When searching for the history of wreaths and how they are related to Christmas, I did come across this:

www.northwoodsinspirations.com/wreath%20History1.htm

The use of evergreens for Christmas wreaths and other decorations probably arose in northern Europe, Italy and Spain in the early 19th century. The traditional colors of Christmas are green and red. Green represents the continuance of life through the winter and the Christian belief in eternal life through Christ. Red symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed at his crucifixion. but for most of the 20th century, the word "wreath" conjured up visions of rings of evergreens with red ribbons hung on doors at Christmas. The traditional Christmas wreath is hung anytime from right after Thanksgiving to mid-December and left hanging through the winter months.

In the end, though, I think this is just one subject where we will have to agree to disagree.

[katgal12]

It sounds like a winter card. More Pagan... doesn't sound Christian at all. I wouldn't be offended.

[snakeoiltanker]

I don't see a wreath as a Christian symbol. Your card sounds nice, and descriptive of the season in general.

I also associate wreaths with paganism. This sounds like the type of card I or a friend might send when celebrating the winter solstice.