Are we seeing the demise of Christmas?

I agree thatbags. It is a holiday but no longer a Christian celebration for the majority

This is nice: Oxford A Capella group singing All I want for Christmas is You.

OK, thanks, ab. Well, I have seen it reported that there are a lot fewer Christians in the UK than formerly, so maybe it's just that the Christian aspect doesn't feature so highly nowadays. It'd be odd if there were more evidence of Christian Christmas celebrations when there are fewer Christians.

There's nothing to stop any Christian who wants to from making it as Christian an occasion as they like.

So there still isn't a problem.

thatbags, Yorkshiregal is asking about the demise of Christianity st Christmas

The birth of Christ is implicit in the word Christmas Annie - and so many of the posts have been about loving and giving - that will do for me.

I do not see any problem at all. There is sharing and giving at this time of year whatever the motivation of individuals is. I love Christmas and love being with family and friends. I am not looking for things to grumble about!

People who want to use Christmas to celebrate the birth of Christ are perfectly free to do so.

People who want to celebrate it as the passing of the darkest day of the year are also free to do so.

And anyone who wants to call it holidays is free to do that.
It's called freedom.

There isn't a problem.

the Government have stopped religious assemblies in schools

Since when??

I don't know whereabouts you live in Yorkshire but would be interested to know which shops have been prevented from displaying Nativity scenes.

The whole country, media, shops & schools etc are full of Christmas.

I think you are just goading and fueling ill-will.

Urban myth.
All this Winterval /ban on Nativities,/Winter Festival stuff surfaces Year on Year.
Ignore and "have yourself a merry little Christmas"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ6yQgBvuoI

How many Christmas posts mention the birth of Christ Luckgirl?

I agree Luckygirl, Christmas is too commercial these days. As for schools, well yes they do teach other religions, which I have no argument with, but when I asked my GS how long they taught about Christianity he said two lessons. Compare that with the other religions and you will see there is a marked difference.

As for positives, Father Christmas visited us last night!

Gosh - I think the opposite - Christmas is coming out of our ear holes from October onwards!

Religion is on the curriculum in schools - pupils, quite rightly, have to learn about all religions and their festivals and thus learn tolerance. Christianity has been central in all the many school Christmas celebrations I have attended in the last couple of weeks. And rightly so - the message of Christmas is not lost on me as an agnostic and the symbolism is powerful. The government has not stopped religious assemblies in school - they just represent a variety of religious belief.

No-one is stopping anyone from putting a nativity scene in a shop window - where does that idea come from?

I do not know why your town has banned a Christmas tree - it certainly has not happened here or anywhere else I have been during this run-up to Christmas.

Shops opening over Christmas is not ideal for shop workers, but I am sure they would prefer to have a job than none. And Christmas with the family is not a rest for many!!

I have no problem with how things are in the main. I do not think that the real message of Christmas is lost - you only have to look at all those people who give up their time to provide meals for the street sleepers, or to give company to the lonely. OK, the commercial stuff is a bit of a pain, but religions have been heavily into this themselves over hundreds of years - go to a catholic cathedral or Lourdes if you want to see what real commercialism is about.

The tenor of the posts here on Gransnet is evidence of Christmas being celebrated in a loving spirit.

I think you should take a look at the positives - there are plenty to find.

I get fed up at this 'Happy holidays' stuff. Its Christmas!