While cardboard Santas and plastic menorahs are going up throughout Harvard Square, in one Harvard House the religious symbolism of holiday decorations has come under scrutiny.

Leverett residents have flooded the House’s e-mail list with an at-times heated discussion over whether the House should have a Christmas tree—started after House Master Howard Georgi ’68 requested resident input—and more broadly the proper way to celebrate religious holidays in a diverse community.

Many residents argue that while the Christmas tree may be a relic of some people’s childhoods, for others it is a divisive symbol.

“When I was a young person the tree was used to divide groups into those who were with the ‘right’ religion and those who weren’t,” says Leverett Resident Tutor Stuart E. Schechter.

Schechter fueled much of the e-mail debate when he compared having a tree in the House to letting in a “Trojan horse.”

“The comparison with a Trojan horse is a description of how the Christmas tree is used to get young people to associate with a religion,” Schechter says. “The symbol of a Trojan horse is getting something in the door with something that looks innocent.”

Schechter also created debate in responding to a student’s e-mail that questioned the importance of his concerns about the tree. In that response he suggested that people would have a different reaction if he were suggesting placing another symbol—such as a swastika—in the House.

“By allowing the Christmas tree, all other symbols are permitted,” Schechter says.

Some students in Leverett House say they also share the view of the Christmas tree as a divisive symbol.

“Part of it for me is knowing that when I was younger teachers suggested I celebrate Christmas to fit in with everyone else,” Hannah S. Sarvasy ’03 says. “Some Americans say the Christmas tree is a universal American thing and for me it’s really not. I can’t separate Christmas from the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.”

And while some students say they are not offended by the Christmas tree, they do believe that the House should err on the side of being careful of people’s feelings.

“You can put 1,800 Christmas trees in your room if you want,” Grace E. Bloodwell ’03 says. “It’s more important to me to not offend people than to have something I think is a neat thing.”

This year’s debate comes after the decision of the House Committee last year to reinstate the practice of buying a tree for the House.

According to Michal Y. Spechler ’03, a member of the Leverett House Committee, HoCo bought the tree and put it in the dining hall after a resident suggested it.

However, she said some people objected after the tree had already been placed in the dining hall.