A group of Christmas carolers was thrown out of a U.S. Post Office in Silver Spring, MD, after the post office manager told them they were not allowed to sing Christmas carols on government property.

A spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service confirmed the incident occurred Saturday at a branch office in the Aspen Hill Shopping Center. A trio of carolers walked into the building dressed in attire reminiscent of Charles Dickens and began singing.

“They were only a few notes into their carol when suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a scowling postal manager rushing to confront the carolers,” said JP Duffy, who was standing in a line with his wife and two-year-old daughter.

Duffy, who also happens to be a staff member of the Family Research Council, said he was stunned by what happened next.

“He told them that they had to leave immediately because they were violating the post office’s policy against solicitation,” Duffy said. “He told them they couldn’t do this on government property. He said: ‘You can’t go into Congress and sing and you can’t do it here either.’”

A spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service’s Capital Metro ARea said the carolers had “beautiful voices” but were told they could not perform in the lobby.

“Public assembly and public address, except when conducted or sponsored by the Postal Service, are prohibited in lobbies and other interior areas open to the public,” the spokesperson told Fox News & Commentary.

“We have rules and regulations governing conduct on postal property,” the spokesman said. “The only reason you should be inside is for postal business.”

The carolers explained that they had been performing at businesses in the shopping center for several years – including the post office – and they’ve never encountered any problems. But the post office employee refused to budge and ordered them to leave.

Duffy said that customers standing in line began to boo the postal worker.

“Over the last several years, we have watched militant secularists team up with federal bureaucrats in the effort to sterilize the public square of anything remotely connected to anything religious,” Duffy said. “This postal manager has clearly received the memo which has led him to stamp out Christmas caroling. But I have my own memo to all the Christmas carolers out there. Let’s not surrender to the secularist version of Christmas future.”

Duffy suggested that the U.S. Post Office follow the advice of its founder – Benjamin Franklin.

“So shalt thou always live jollily; for a good conscience is a continual Christmas,” Franklin once wrote.

“This is good advice that the U.S. Post Office and all of us would do well to heed,” Duffy said.

Words fail.

View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.

The crowd at Occupy DC had to deal with a little demonstration of their own on Sunday, December 18th. Their reactions are priceliess:

The battle over a nativity scene in Athens, Texas, reached new heights this weekend when up to 5,000 supporters flooded the town square. Their purpose? To stand firmly opposed to the attacks a prominent atheist group has waged on the religious display.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, a group that frequently targets the presence of faith and religion in the public square, is demanding that a nativity scene be removed from public property.

On Saturday, thousands of supporters assembled in Athens Town Square to rally around and support the religious display. According to WTKR, some likened the ever-intensifying scenario a “holy war.”

Supporters of the nativity scene claim that there’s an attack on Christianity in America. ”It’s time for us to stand together and protect the very principles that made this nation great from its birth,” said Pastor Nathan Lorick, a nativity scene supporter. ”We‘ve become so busy with our lives that we’ve forgotten our first love.”

National Group Wants Courthouse Nativity Scene Removed: MyFoxDFW.com

Critics though — mostly atheists — believe that the scene is offensive and that it should not be present on government property (the nativity is currently positioned in front of the Henderson County Courthouse). The Daily Mail has more:

Saturday’s rally passed without incident and included speeches, patriotic music, Christmas carols and prayers.

The FFRF sent a banner to the court house that it wanted displayed, with a very different message than the birth of Christ.

The group‘s banner read ’At this season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail.’

‘There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but a myth & superstition that hardens hearts & enslaves minds,’ it finished.

The sign was initially put up by a mystery man, but was later removed because the proper compliance forms hadn’t been filed. While the FFRF is known to sue if it doesn’t win in these sorts of situations, the town, so far, shows no signs of backing down.

The Swedish Army Museum has decided to sell grenade-shaped Christmas tree ornaments in an effort to raise money for charity. Proceeds will go to Christian Aid, a charity that aids in disaster relief and those affected by poverty.

The museum states that these ornaments will be a subtle reminder of those who are less fortunate during the holiday season.

There are some, however, who feel that the grenade-shaped ornaments set a bad example and glorify the horrors of war. One museum visitor stated:

“Quite simply I think it’s distasteful, especially if they are raising money for charity. This is a museum frequented by children and it’s hard to explain to them why there are hand grenades in the Christmas trees. This is an Army Museum, but should still try to highlight a non-war perspective.”

Helena Martinsson, the museum’s division head, understands the negative viewpoints, but emphasizes that the money raised from the sales will go to a charitable cause.

This is not the first time a weapon-inspired Christmas tree ornament has caused controversy. In 2006, Urban Outfitters offered an ornament in the shape of a glittering gun. They recommended people to “bust a cap” in their Christmas trees.