MARSHFIELD, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Marshfield residents lined the streets Saturday in an effort to bring Christmas back to the town.
This controversy surrounding Christmas in the Massachusetts town started in September when the school committee voted to change the title of "Christmas Break" to "Holiday Break" on the school calendar. They say the title change was meant to include everyone, including those who do not celebrate Christmas. Still, residents were outraged and more than 4,000 people signed a petition to change the name back.
Members of the opposition group "Restore Christmas" along with thousands of others attended a meeting the school committee held regarding the backlash, but decided to keep "holiday break" on the calendar.
The controversy continued when the Department of Public Works was asked to take down more than one sign used to wish residents a Merry Christmas.
So residents banned together and lined the streets Saturday holding signs and protesting in an effort to bring Christmas back to Marshfield.
Laurie Futch said, "This is America, right? It's up to the individual. If you want to say 'Merry Christmas,' you should be able to. If you want to say 'Happy Holidays,' then say it."
She went on to say that the DPW signs weren't hurting anyone, just spreading holiday cheer.
Selectman Chair John Hall said, "We're less than a week away from Christmas and this should be a holiday of tolerance, sharing, and giving. And people are angry. And if I'm concerned about anything, I'm concerned about that."
Steve Barber from the DPW Worker's Union declined an on camera interview, but admitted that they did not have a permit for the signs in question. However, he still doesn't believe that the town should have asked for them to be taken down.