I was quite un-moved at first when I read that the new Equalities Commission had formerly issued a statement, together with a range of leading faith figures, that it's OK to celebrate Christmas. And, more to the point, it's OK to celebrate Christianity.
Well, obviously, I thought. But then it took me just seconds to remember the plethora of stories hitting the papers that nativity plays have been banned from nearly half of England's schools; that only one in ten of Christmas cards sold in the UK have the word "Christmas" in them; and that Birmingham City Council, in a PC panic back in 1998 decided to re-name Christmas 'Winterval' so as not to offend anybody.
Britain's employers too are scared of putting up decorations for fear they will leave out those non-Christian employees.
The taboo of Christmas - and Christianity - does seem to be growing: and finally, a formal commission has spoken out about it.
The joint statement issued by the Commission, together with senior figures from the Hindu, Sikh and Muslim communities, says: "Let's stop being silly about a Christian Christmas."
Speaking at a conference on Diversity in London this week, Trevor Phillips, chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, will said:
"A lot of these stories about Christmas are the usual silly season stuff. But I can't help feeling there's sometimes an underlying agenda to use this great holiday to fuel community tension.
That's why I asked leaders in different religious communities to join me in saying: It's time to stop being daft about Christmas. It’s fine to celebrate and it’s fine for Christ to be the star of the show."
Maybe this will help in 'freeing up' an often too-PC society. Or is it wildly off the mark? Tell me your thoughts and experiences.
Comments (1)
As well as Winterval, fans of the US sitcom Seinfeld will be familiar with another substitute for Christmas - Festivus
This alternative holiday was invented by the character Frank Costanza in response to the commercialisation of Christmas.
Festivus involves novel practices such as the "Airing of Grievances", in which each person tells everyone else all the ways they have disappointed him or her over the past year. Also, after the "Festivus Meal", the "Feats of Strength" are performed, involving wrestling the head of the household to the floor, the holiday only ending if the head of the household is actually pinned.
There is no Festivus Tree - just an unadorned aluminium pole - "very low maintenance" and with "a high strength to weight ratio".
Apparently, some people now actually celebrate Festivus on 23 December.
Posted by Rob | January 2, 2008 3:35 PM
Posted on January 2, 2008 15:35