Ironically, as we approach the new millennium celebrating the 2000th anniversary of Christ's birth, we are coming under increasing pressure to have a secular Christmas. Though they've recently reversed their decision, it was Birmingham City Council who wanted to drop the very name 'Christmas' and rename the festive season 'Winterval'.
Some time ago now, the entertainer and comedian Stephen Fry wrote an article in the Christmas issue of The Listener, arguing in quite a bellicose fashion for doing away with the traditional Christmas. With the bit between his teeth, he lambasted what he saw as the hypocrisy of it all. Let me quote a few sentences.
Get on with the party
'Christmas is a time for saying that Christmas is a time for doing things that, frankly, one should be doing anyway. Christmas is a time for considering people less fortunate than ourselves. Oh, June and August aren't, is that it? Christmas is a time for forgiveness. We should be beastly the rest of the year? Piffle!'
