Christmas is coming and as usual the papers will be full of stories of councils and organisations banning Xmas in a tirade against political correctness and multiculturalism.
Dave Hill is quick off the mark on Guardian media this morning to scupper the first stories of the season
I first saw it in – surprise! – the Daily Mail. "Oxford dumps traditional themes in favour of Winter Light festival," announced the online headline, a message that might have been designed to enrage Middle England and have saloon bars from Tewkesbury to Tatton vibrating with talk of "political correctness gone mad". It alleged that, "There will be something missing from Oxford's Christmas lights display this year – any mention of Christmas," and went on to quote local leaders of non-Christian religions expressing their dismay and asserting that "the British identity" was being eroded.
The council responded with a full rebuttal on its website, denying it had banned neither the word Christmas or Christmas itself and explaining that the Winter Light festival, organised by cultural events promoters Oxford Inspires (which the council partly funds), "Incorporates Christmas lights switch on events in towns from Abingdon to Woodstock, Christmas Carol concerts, pantomimes and other seasonal events." The Bishop of Dorchester, a board member of Oxford Inspires, offered Winter Lights his delighted support.
Mind you the paper itself is carrying a Xmas story today
A Santa Claus was removed from his grotto after a woman complained that he asked if she wanted to sit on his lap, despite warnings about his behaviour by his helper elf.
Andrew Mondia, 32, who says he was sacked from the central London Selfridges store after only three days on Monday, said: "I had no intention of offending her, I just wanted to include her in the moment. Christmas is for adults too.
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