The holiday spirit has arrived at Waterloo Town Square in the form of a more than 30 foot high Blue Spruce tree, which was being decorated on Thursday afternoon.
City crews were busy adding lights and decorations to the evergreen, but controversy over what the tree should be called is growing.
The tree was donated by a long-time city employee, Heather MacDougald, who says it was taking up too much room on her front lawn.
But she won't say whether it should be labelled a Christmas tree or a holiday tree, "I donated the tree for people to enjoy, they can call it what they like."
Some people are upset with the decision not to call it a Christmas tree.
Donna Duguette feels the tree is a symbol of Christianity.
"I just think it should stay Christmas because of the meaning of Christmas, Christmas is about the birth of Christ," says Duguette.
Frank Sollezzo watched some of the decorating and says, "They can take it down if they're going to call it that… a holiday tree, where did they get that crap from? Toronto, NDP crap, that's all it is."
No political party was involved in naming the tree but the idea was once a hot issue in Toronto. In 2002, the city gained international attention over the controversy raised by calling its tree a holiday tree.
Waterloo councillor Melissa Durrell says the city will keep the name, "the city of Waterloo calls it a holiday tree because we're respecting all the different people who celebrate at this time of year."
The Islamic community in Waterloo appears to be in favour of the traditional Christian title for the tree.
Adbul Sayed is the imam at the Waterloo Mosque and says he wouldn't be offended if it were called a Christmas tree, "I never thought about it, trying to get offended if it is called...because whenever I see it, I see a Christmas tree."
The tree will stand in Waterloo Town Square until after the holiday season.
