I think it might be somewhat unfortunate that this festival seems to be more important in Britain than New Year. Christmas’s original connotation is certainly religious, but why should Britain, being a Christian country, be ashamed or afraid of celebrating one of its main holidays? Moreover, it is not Britain alone who is celebrating Christmas on the 25th of December – entire Europe is apparently doing exactly the same thing.
I am sure that non-Christians who live in Britain appreciate the differences in religion more than various advisory bodies tend to believe. Two weeks ago I spoke to a Pakistani taxi driver, whose life could not be any harder. Two of his daughters’ birthdays were coming up, and both young ladies wanted a new mobile phone. The driver reckoned he would spend about £80 on each. And then he had to buy presents for his entire family here, and also for his relatives in Pakistan, and there is little wonder he was doing extra shifts to afford all this. But there was no contempt whatsoever re Christmas. He was obviously looking forward to it, despite all expenses.
Strictly speaking, Christmas, with all its decorations and festive air, is no longer a purely religious holiday. It has long become a family event, a one of those rare chances during the year when you are almost compelled to spend a few days with your loved ones. Maybe someone somewhere is deploring the fact that Christmas is now associated with *prophane* things like a family dinner or a nice long evening for two under the Christmas tree. But if you ask my opinion, I think this is what really is religious about this holiday. What can be more wonderful, spiritual and symbolic than putting up together a Christmas tree, going shopping together, cooking the dinner together, having a meal together – basically, doing everything together, creating that precious moment of togetherness?
I notice I am speaking exactly like Her Majesty a few years ago in her Christmas address. It was my first English Christmas, and I had just completed a mandatory course in Presentation Skills at the University of Manchester, where we were drilled on the subject of the importance of teamwork in academic research. To hear the Queen uttering the word ‘teamwork’ in her speech was almost too much. But this is very true about Christmas.
The worst thing about it all is that because of desperation for political correctness the country and its workplaces are now being denied the chance to experience the anticipation of holidays and the joy of coming into a lovely decorated office, which otherwise may be awfully dull. I must admit, I could understand the appeal to exclude various ‘Christian’ themes from the decorations (I still would not approve of it, although I am not religious), but to ban the decorations altogether is too much.
I mean, seriously, what is so offensive about tinsel?