Christmas

[AlanKeeler]

I realize this might be a rather partisan subject to raise after all I am a Vicar and thus Christian. But I would be interested to know what people of other faiths make of England (and other places) great winter bonanza. There has been a fashion for Borough Councils with a very secular ethos to take the Christmas out of Winter. What do you think?

[qaisrakhan]

I love Christmas for various reasons and I also love living in a very diverse community.

I worked for a voluntary organisation years ago where we I edited a Winter Festival edition of our newsletter. We did not take out the Christmas or the Jesus element from it. We ensured that there was a place for someone who celebrated Christmas, Hannukah, Diwali, Eid and the Winter solstice etc to say something about it. It was a lovely edition and a very personal contribution from everyone which just higlighted for me the uniqueness and common themes running through us all. Christmas and Jesus was definately in the newsletter but it was not the major focus of that newsletter which may have been a issue for some.

My preference would always, be to put more things in rather than taking anything out.

I also think that the taking out Christmas and Jesus from the "winter festival" is not really a symptom of our greater diversity but greater consumerism. It was Eid ul Adha on Monday which is one of the key Muslim festivals. I asked my 6 year old nephew what the most important thing one needs to do on that day and he said "have fun." I then went on to ask him ask him what the most inportant thing was for a Muslim do which is when he gave me what I thought was the right answer and it definately was not to party, buy presents or just have fun for funs sake.

We do seem to live in a consumer ordinated society in which it looks like every problem can be solved through buying things- from credit crunch to terrorism and Christmas is a part of that. We have on the one hand a deeply moving spiritual experience and then people trying to ensure others do not drink too much. Like a lot of stuff you see the best and the worst of society.

In terms of the Christmas extravanga that happens at this time of year. I also feel for all those people who are lost and lonely at this time of year because there is much "jollity" around that they feel alienated from. This fact has always inspired those with faith to do amazing things. For example Churches coming together to provide winter shelters, provide a christmas meal etc. This may be controversal for people of various faiths but I do think that Jesus; God would rather we were "good Samaritans" than ensure his name was mentioned. I saw a lovely advert the other day that some churches seem to have sponsored with Jesus being born in a bus shelter. Makes you think and makes it relevant.

I have also heard people criticise people for never going to church "except at Christmas." At least there is one time of year when people do remember. Also because of the bank holidays more people are able to make time for friends, family etc.


Qaisra