There’s hot chocolate, music and cookies. Then the big cheer goes up as the red, green and blue lights flash on. It’s a standard sight around the country this time of year. Christmas trees in cities are lit in ceremonies during November and December. Iowa State’s own ceremony was just last night.

In the Montgomery County, Maryland town of Kensington, however, the town council voted to exclude one holiday standard – jolly old Santa Claus. That’s right. Because of a complaint from two families that they would feel uncomfortable if St. Nick was present.

If this town’s name sounds familiar, it’s because they are. Montgomery County received worldwide attention this year for a provision regulating smoking in private homes. The measure was vetoed Wednesday after intense worldwide pressure.

According to reports, the tree in Kensington will now be lit by the town’s mayor, Lynn Raufaste. It seems to defy logic that Santa Claus would make people feel uncomfortable at a ceremony that was lighting a Christmas tree. But in the town where they tried ban smoking in homes, anything can happen.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Zach Calef, Omar Tesdell