Portland’s annual lighting event in Pioneer Courthouse Square avoided using the word “Christmas” throughout its 41st ceremony on Friday night, referring to the city’s 75-foot fir only as “the tree” in promotional materials, stage remarks, and the program itself.
The choice drew attention as thousands gathered downtown for the event.
The ceremony opened with a woman from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs thanking attendees for coming out on Native American Heritage Day.
She introduced two younger members of the tribe, who described the gathering solely as “the tree lighting” before turning the microphone over to the next scheduled speaker.
A woman draped in a Palestinian flag then addressed the crowd.
Early in her remarks, she said, “This is the perfect time to bring this up. There are a lot of genocides going on.”
She continued, “Can I get a ‘free, free Palestine,’” a line that prompted some in the square to respond.
Meanwhile at last night’s Christmas tree lighting in Portland Oregon… pic.twitter.com/p5GnWPdU9j
— Conservative in Oregon (@oregonducksmama) November 30, 2025
She then led the “Strong Woman Song” with two children and another woman, adding that it “felt appropriate since we’re representing our matriarchs up here.”
While references to Christmas were absent from the event’s program and stage announcements, the city included a Santa Claus for photos and a sing-along of traditional carols.
Songs performed included “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Deck the Halls,” and families lined up for photos before and after the lighting.
Mayor Keith Wilson took the stage nearly an hour into the program.
He appeared with Santa Claus and city representatives and led the countdown before the 10,000 bulbs on the tree were illuminated.
The ceremony proceeded without interruption, and attendees remained in the square as the lights came on.
After the event, social media users reacted to the omission of the word “Christmas.”
One user wrote on X, “They can’t even say Christmas tree in Portland. They call it ‘the tree.’”
The City of Portland and local media outlets are calling this “The Tree” because they despise Christians like me and many of you so much they can’t bring themselves to say the word “Christmas.”
— David Medina 🦫🇺🇸 (@davidmedinapdx) November 30, 2025
Friends, I’m reclaiming this tree and it is HEREBY the Portland CHRISTMAS Tree 🎄✝️ pic.twitter.com/OPq78JxV6p
Another asked, “WHY DOES everything have to be so DIVISIVE??!!”
A separate commenter wrote, “It’s a Christmas tree, it’s always been a Christmas tree, and it will always be a Christmas tree.”
Others compared Portland’s event to celebrations in other parts of the country.
“Just saw a Christmas parade in Texas and everyone was saying Merry Christmas. God bless Texas,” one user posted.
The city has not issued a statement addressing the terminology used in the ceremony or the reactions that followed.
The lighting remains one of Portland’s annual public gatherings, marking the beginning of the holiday season in the downtown area.
