I DID not read Rupert Smythe's column on Christmas, but I did read with some interest and curiosity Rachel Bradman's piece.

Why should people in Luton rename the Christmas festival Luminos so as not to offend Muslims?

I can't fully comprehend or accept that Muslims are offended by the Christmas festival.

Do we hear of them changing the name of Ramadam because it offends Christians?

Having said that, I will also add that as a committed Christian I find the whole commercial side of Christmas hard to take.

I prefer to celebrate, in a simple way, the fact that God gave us Jesus, in human form, as a gift and as the bible says "that whoever believes in me (Jesus) shall not perish but have everlasting life". We can know our wrongs are forgiven and start again, because of the gift of Jesus.

This is why Christians celebrate Christmas.

People will find it offensive because they don't believe. There are many people in other cultures in this country who believe in Jesus.

We Brits are not the only ones!

MRS M BICKLEY

Balfour Road

Bromley

December 12, 2001 13:42