GETTYSome schools have replaced nativity plays with the 'more PC' Elvis and aliens
It starred all the usual suspects including Mary, Joseph and Jesus, and told the Christmas story as only a group of four to sevenyear-olds can, in costumes craftily constructed out of bed sheets and teatowels. Yet the PC brigade would rather schools dispensed with this traditional tableau in favour of some nondenominational nonsense featuring monsters, aliens and even Elvis. Why? Christmas, by its very definition, is a Christian festival; the clue is in the name.
However, the beauty of it is that it is still celebrated by non-Christians around the world. If they do not object to the overtly Christian nature of Christmas, how can anyone else? Last week, we learned that officials at the Department for Energy and Climate Change had been urged not to say "Merry Christmas" for fear of "offending" people of other faiths and agnostics. (What about atheists, I hear Richard Dawkins cry? They are presumably too busy trying to get their heads around the Big Bang theory.) The ministry, lead by Ed Davey (a Lib Dem, natch), advised staff to send e-cards carrying the message "Season's Greetings" instead, adding: "As an organisation of multiple faiths and agnostics serving a community of the same and in the interests of inclusion, I'd avoid images with skin."
Images with skin? What were they expecting employees to do, send out cards featuring a blacked-up Santa for goodness sake? Offensive? I will tell you what is offensive: emails like these that are an insult to everyone's intelligence, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Have you ever heard a non-Christian complain about Christmas? No, me neither, and yet still we have to be subjected to these right-on imbeciles tiptoeing around the subject of Jesus as Judas might a post-Last Supper game of Truth or Dare.
What is worse, this crucifixion of common sense becomes ever more rampant with each passing year.
Now someone has brought out a "Multi-faith" Christmas jumper adorned with the Islamic Star, the Hindu Aum, the Star of David, peace sign and that yin and yang Chinese symbol called a Taijitu. Well at least the royals know what to buy Prince Charles this Christmas.
But, seriously? It is being sold by the London knitwear designer Cheryl Madley whose company website explains: "We think everyone should be able to wear a Christmas jumper and celebrate the festive season; however they wish, no matter what their colour, creed or culture."
For the love of God, everyone is already able to wear a Christmas jumper and celebrate the festive season, no matter what!
Because we live in a free country people are even "allowed" to wear their seasonal sweaters with a turban, skull cap or hijab if they like. And if you are silly enough to think such statements incur the wrath of Muslims everywhere then I urge you to consider the words of the Muslim Council of Great Britain which last week declared: "Keep Calm, It's Only Christmas."
Adapting the famous wartime poster, the organisation added for good measure: "Who wants to ban Christmas? Not Muslims. None of us will be offended if you go ahead and enjoy the Christmas cheer."
The irony here is that Christmas does not even belong to the Church any more. Thanks to the fact that most of our population is more rational in its thinking than the average equalityobsessed civil servant, Christmas belongs to everyone.
Who does "Winterfest" belong to except a narrow-minded group of naysayers with nothing better to do than to agonise about upsetting any unbelievers? I do not care who you are or what you believe but do me a favour next week, will you? Have a very Merry Christmas.
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GETTYPrince Harry's trip to Lesotho was full of tender and sweet moments
WHAT a difference a week makes in the world of royal reporting. In the past seven days we have seen new pictures of Prince George, Kate wearing a woggle around her head and William joking about his wife's "nightmare" hair.
Could the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have read last week's column, I wonder? Meanwhile Prince Harry continues to be the royal gift that keeps on giving after his charity Sentebale released adorable new images of him cuddling up to orphans in Lesotho.
One particularly touching picture shows him tenderly planting a kiss on the cheek of a little Afrcan boy.
Could you ever imagine William or Kate appearing so natural and relaxed in photographs? They could do worse than take a leaf out of Harry's book.
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IF WE hadn't wanted to see The Interview before, we do now.
The decision by Sony Pictures to withdraw the movie spoof about a CIA assassination attempt on North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un came after its computer systems were hacked revealing a string of embarrassing emails about stars including Angelina Jolie and Michael Fassbender.
The Guardians of Peace group stepped up its battle against the film by claiming in an online post: "The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001". Clearly these humourless nerds cannot have seen Team America: World Police, the 2004 film by South Park's Matt Stone and Trey Parker which mercilessly mocked Kim Jong-un's father, Kim Jong-il.
While it would be wrong to ignore such a serious terrorist threat, the flick has to come out eventually, doesn't it? Otherwise we all may as well be living in North Korea.
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NEWS that bets have been placed on the Queen announcing her abdication in this year's Christmas Day message have been met with bewilderment at Buckingham Palace.
Bookmaker Coral last week stopped taking bets on Her Majesty stepping down after receiving a "rush" from punters including one £200 wager.
"Will the Queen ever abdicate?" is the second most common question I am asked after: "Is James Hewitt Prince Harry's Dad?" The answer to both remains a resounding "No".
How many times do royal reporters have to debunk these urban myths for people to stop believing them? Clearly Coral's customers do not take the Queen's coronation oath as seriously as she did.
ITVMel B has not commented on the rumours so far
MEL B's silence on the issue of whether she has been beaten up by her husband has been deafening.
The former Spice Girl sparked concern after appearing on X Factor last weekend apparently scratched and bruised and without her wedding ring.
It followed a three-day hospitalisation for a mysterious illness.
Stephen Belafonte, her husband of seven years, has denied domestic abuse and said the couple, whose relationship is said to be "on life support", plan to take legal action.
Mel, meanwhile, has been conspicuous by her absence despite never usually being backwards in coming forwards.
The sooner she speaks up, the better, for all concerned.
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