At our most recent editorial board meeting, while discussing possible ideas to editorialize about, the issue that the Obamas were going to call the White House Christmas tree the “holiday tree” came up. After a moment of rather shocked silence, both the liberals and the conservatives on the editorial board alike were disturbed by that possibility.

In a flurry of outrage, comments flying from our lips like loosed arrows, hands and arms gyrating about the air like those of a drowning man flailing in the water, we went down the “this is why conservatives hate liberals” road right away, followed quickly by a detour down “it doesn’t frickin’ matter” lane, with a left on “people are sensitive crybabies these days” street.

One board member, rabidly frothing at the mouth, exclaimed that Jewish menorahs are no longer to be called menorahs, but rather “holiday candlesticks.”

“By God, Zeus, Vishnu or no god at all (whatever floats your boat), we’ve gotta write about this insanity!” we declared, all-inclusively. As we broke from the meeting, heading right for our closet full of torches and pitchforks to go storm… something… it was realized shortly after that this holiday tree business was a hoax.

No, dear reader, the Obamas will not in fact be calling this year’s White House Christmas tree a holiday tree. Nor have they ever, nor will they any other year. Disappointing, we know.

In the post-”we’ve been had!” moments, upset that we’ve been denied the chance to gripe about the Muslim Kenyan socialist in the Oval Office, sounds of “O Tannenbaum” echoed in the air from a distance, visions of the end of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” dancing in our heads like those nasty little sugar plums.

Somewhere in the middle of all this fabricated Christmas tree pseudo-controversy, the meaning of Christmas had been lost.

Yeah, we know Christmas began as a co-opting of pagan winter solstice celebrations. We know Jesus Christ probably wasn’t born December 25 given the fact that sheep were grazing, according to the Bible, when he was born. Pope Benedict XVI, in his recent book “Jesus of Nazareth — The Infancy Narratives,” even admits the fallacy of the date and exposes other myths about the holiday.

But, for a holiday that’s supposed to be about peace, love and goodwill towards men, do any of the “religious” details really matter? We find it ironic that some lunatic would create this divisive hoax to defend something that stands for unity and love. It’s even more ironic when what America needs a lot of these days is more unity and love for one another — and without needing a war to get it.

So, this Christmas season, whether you’re a devout Christian or a hardcore atheist or something else entirely, keep in mind that the details don’t matter. After all, if the ever-dogmatic Catholics don’t care, why should anyone else? Love thy neighbor and forget the rest.