Christmas traditions 'not under threat', despite the headlines

Celebrating Christmas is not under threat, according to the Church of England and religious sections of the two main political parties, despite reports implying the contrary.

Some headlines have been dominated by the claim that the annual festival celebrating the birth of Christ was “under threat”, “at risk” or could be “killed off” because of political correctness and migration.

The stories have cited a government report by Dame Louise Casey, currently awaiting publication, which said one “incredibly well-meaning white manager” referred to a Christmas tree as a "festive tree" to avoid the possibility of offending non-Christian staff.

“What offence did he think he was causing? What did we ever think would be offensive about celebrating Christmas with a tree?” Dame Louise wrote.

While referencing just the one event, the line featured prominently in a number of news reports.

But religious figures have rubbished the claim that Christmas is under threat from political correctness.

When asked if the Church of England felt its celebrations of Christmas was under threat or impeded, Steven Jenkins, a spokesperson for the organisation, told The Independent: “I think the simple answer is no.”

“There was a time a few years ago when people came up with some strange ideas, but generally speaking, not in recent years.”

Gareth Wallace, executive director of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, a Christian body within the Conservative party, also rejected the idea that Christmas was under threat.

“I thought the traditional ‘Christmas is getting banned’ story is getting earlier and earlier,” Mr Wallace said.

“I’m pretty relaxed about it. I think often the criticism or the fear [of banning Christmas related stuff] comes from a really well-meaning place, but officials are sometimes concerned offence can be caused.

“But if you speak to religious people, particularly those of other faiths, they’re absolutely fine with it. They’ll celebrate Christmas as well.

“I think well-meaning secularists need to discuss this in a triangle with Christians and people of other faiths. And I think that they might find out that people of other faiths don’t have a problem with people celebrating Christmas.

“These stories do emerge, but to me it’s not a trend. Christmas is celebrated and everyone enjoys the holidays.”

This sentiment was echoed across the political divide. Christians on the Left, which is associated with the Labour party, expressed a similar view.

"Occasionally when trying to show respect for faith, people mean well but come up with the wrong outcome,” said Stephen Beer, a spokesman for Christians on the Left.

“What you actually find in practice is that people of different faiths are not offended when they see each other’s religious occasions celebrated. Instead, they view it as a sign that faith is respected by society.

“It is part of this country's Christian hospitality, which we should cherish and which is threatened by fear-mongering about immigration."

Mr Beer added that he didn’t think Christmas was under threat from immigration but he did “share the concerns of church leaders over the years that the real meaning of Christmas risks being lost at the expense of commercialism”.