“You are looking for Christmas in the wrong place. If you are a dedicated Christian why are you even looking for Christmas in a shopping centre?!!! You are feeding the profit-led corporatism that has embraced & is cashing in on your religious festival. It's only NOVEMBER for god's sake!

All the trappings of the modern Yule - the Santa, the tree, the presents, the alleged birth of the 'son' (aka rebirth of the sun 4 days after the solstice) are all hijacked from pre-Christian beliefs and have NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with Jesus' birth.

It's about time Christians took back ownership of their celebration of Jesus' birth and had their festival at the correct time of year. As it is, the whole 'holiday' is no more than a money-oriented festival of greed. And in taking your grandchildren to Freeport you are playing right into the hands of the profiteers.”

“AS YOUNG CHILDREN LIKE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS THEY LIKE TO SEE THEM, BUT IT IS GOOD TO SHOW THEM WHAT CHRISTMAS SHOULD BE ABOUT AS WELL, BY THE WAY WAS NOT SHOPPING BUT SHOWING THE NATIVITY BUT ALAS NO NATIVITY . HAVE SINCE BEEN INTO POTTERIES CENTRE CANNOT FIND NATIVITY IN THERE EITHER, APPARENTLY NO ROOM”

“They're right. There is no room for the birth of Jesus in the corporate profit-led agenda.
Maybe you should ask your vicar. Although I'll bet she/he will politely remind you that it's ONLY NOVEMBER ***.”

“True enough about the time of year for Jesus' Birth. As the Shepherds were still tending their flocks when the 'Star' appeared it means they had NOT headed for shelter for the Winter season. Many Seminary Teachers agree Jesus was born before November but the Tradition of the pre-christian Holidays made Christian Holidays more palatable for everyone back then. The rest is History as they say.”