Religious festivals by different denominations are taking place all over Britain at the moment leading some to fear Christmas is no longer the celebration it used to be and the country is somehow losing its 'Britishness'. This week News Shopper

reporters RUPERT SMYTHE and RACHEL BRADMAN consider the issue ...

Let's try to keep it British, please

CHRISTMAS in the words of Sir Cliff Richard, is a time for giving, a time for receiving, mistletoe and wine.

It's a time for families to come together under one roof, exchange gifts and presents, eat turkey and watch the Queen's speech.

So why should I be forced to sit through hours of American films which always end with the family getting back together on Christmas Day and snow falling outside.

That's odd, in none of them do I see people waiting on bitterly cold train platforms looking to see if the next train has been cancelled, stamping feet and blowing steam.

What I do see is a load of different festivals taking place all over the country and no idea of what is being celebrated. What are these festivals? I get told names but I don't know what they are all about. Ramadam, Hanukkah, Diwali?

The problem comes when you consider there is not enough education in different cultures around. I understand we have had immigration for generations and appreciate we have to live alongside each other, especially in these dangerous times with the war on terror.

But can't we just have a little bit of Englishness about the whole affair? After all, we are in England. How about breaking the Ramadam fast with a traditional ploughman's lunch? Perhaps we can mix Diwali candles with advent candles?

By mixing culture we will add to it. Yet we must be honest with each other and keep the whole thing quintessentially British. We are in Great Britain after all. There's no need to celebrate separately.

Look at the positive side, by celebrating Ramadam we would not get to eat after sunrise or before sundown, but by celebrating all these religious festivals, we could get a couple of months off work!

So long live diversity, as long as we keep our English Christmas.

Other faiths are no threat to us

AFTER a couple of months away, I see my fellow columnist Rupert Smythe is ranting about how Christmas is not the same as it used to be.

He should remember we live in a multi-cultural and multi-faith society and part of that is about embracing different cultures.

So, what's the problem if there are lights on and fireworks going off at the end of November because it's Diwali?

Diwali is the Indian equivalent of Christmas, so Hindus and Sikhs should be allowed to celebrate it freely.

And what if people are fasting in the daytime and celebrating at night during Ramadam?

And what does it matter if Luton's Christmas festival is going to be renamed Luminos so as not to offend Muslims?

The face of Britain has changed enormously over the last 50 years due to immigration and it can only enhance our culture.

Of course, the majority of people are Christians and they have no reason to feel threatened.

Calling Christmas "Luminos" is surely just a small concession to make. It doesn't mean Christmas is dead. So British people have no reason to worry.

The War against Terrorism in Afghanistan has shown how important an understanding of different religions is.

And at the same time, how dangerous religious extremism is.

It is time for the small-minded British public to wake up and realise by embracing other cultures, they are not losing their Britishness or compromising their Christian values.

So it's time, the Brits relaxed and got on with their Christmas preparations without worrying or moaning about the effect Diwali and Ramadam is having.

Long live Christmas!

November 26, 2001 10:44