Drop that candy cane, Mister

The University of Minnesota reined in a memo last week that originated in its Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action office that advised recipients to keep “inappropriate religious celebrations” out of public spaces.

The “religious iconography” deemed inappropriate included “Santa Claus, Angels, Christmas trees, Star of Bethlehem, Dreidels, Nativity scene, Bows/wrapped gifts, Menorah, Bells, Doves, Red and Green or Blue and White/Silver decoration themes (red and green are representative of the Christian tradition as blue and white/silver are for Jewish Hanukkah that is also celebrated at this time of year).”

The office said recipients, instead, should “consider neutral-themed parties such as a ‘winter celebration.’ Decorations, music, and food should be general and not specific to any one religion.”

Employees and students workers were encouraged to report violators of “inappropriate religious celebrations in their work or learning environment.”

Apparently apprised of the release of the “Religious Diversity and the Holidays” memo, the university distanced itself from it, calling it an “ill-advised” missive from “one individual that was not distributed broadly” and was a part of a diversity training session.

Oblivious of the obvious, a university representative simply declared, “There is no ‘Religious Diversity and the Holidays’ memo.”