Don't know if anyone else read about this in the papers, but lots off Shopping Centres have banned Santa Claus this year from appearing and have got rid of the grottos, for fear of insulting non-christians. How ridiculus is this?
I personally feel insulted that as a Christian (well I was christened) that I can't celebrate and visit Santa if I wish.
What's next, shall we start banning Ramadan so not to offend non-muslims? Rosh Hashanah so not to offend non-jewish?

Anyway, nowadays Santa isn't about religion. It's more to do with promoting Christmas so everyone spends money.

Anyone on this forum a non-christian who is offended by Santa Claus?

Anyone got a link? Or is this another BNP 'spoof' (my arse) along the lines of the racist horse.

And before I get jumped on by anyone i'm not for a second saying that Foxxx endorses anything remotely BNP-ish, just sounds a tad unlikely.

Yes, certainly looks like another Daily Mail scare story. I'd be interested to know which shopping centres and the real reason.

If it's true, it's more than likely the centre management don't want non-christmas celebrants being put off spending money. Commercially driven rather than religious.

I'm pretty sure we had all this 'Ooh, we're not allowed our christmas because the country's turning into a muslim state' last christmas.

Ummm.....

Having looked through the four Gospels of the New testament I can't find any reference to Santa Clause / Father Christmas making a showing in Bethlehem.

The Coca-Cola Corporation was at that time 1900 years short of making the red clad gentleman part of our Christmases.

Now, I like Father Christmas, but it's no more part of a Christian celebration than is the Christmas Tree, or the Queen's Speech. tehy're simply British traditions for that time of year.

Now, having said that, I DO think that the shopping centre big-wigs need to get their fingers from their arses and realise that although they may be trying to be politically correct, many Muslims, Jews, Hindus and such don't actually CARE that much that the Christians celebrate their festivals as well. People tend to be a lot more tolerant than the PC brigade give them credit for, and the PC decisions made like this usually do seem to create bad feeling.

In the UK this is done in The Bullring, and there have also been cases of the ban going in in Australia and the US. Funnily enough, some churches ban santa for representing pagan beliefs.

A Google search will give you plenty of reputable sources.

Don'cha just love it when small minded people come out to play?

Joe

Story proven to be a load of ******:

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=14854939&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=no-santa-ban--says-shopping-centre-name_page.html

or if you can't be arsed to click the link:

No Santa ban, says shopping centre Nov 10 2004

One of Europe's largest shopping centres tonight denied reports that it had imposed a "scrooge-like" ban on Santa Claus.

Birmingham's £500 million Bullring complex insisted that Father Christmas had not been barred from the arcade and would be handing out presents at its two main department stores.

Bullring general manager Tim Walley said: "In fact, he will be appearing daily at Debenhams from November 12 and at Selfridges every weekend from November 27."

Selfridges will also host three "Santa parties" on December 21, 22 and 23.

Mr Walley stressed that Bullring and other city centre retailers had also pledged financial support to Birmingham City Council's Grotto in Centenary Square.

"Shoppers can be reassured that the festive spirit is very much alive and well at Bullring," he added.

"We have a line-up of seasonal activities planned, including gospel choirs and community bands, who will keep people entertained throughout December."

A report in a national newspaper claimed officials had banned Santa from the centre in case his presence offended non-Christians.

Have they banned them or simply decided they are not profitable enough, compared to other typical festive concessions that can be sited in similar places?

A "ban" implies some kind of policy decision - either at board level or even national legislative level. Is this the case?

Why Christians should see anything remotely christian in the figure of Father Christmas, who is Jultomten or 'Yule gnome' of Scandinavian legend; redrawn for Coca Cola as part of their legendary marketing campaign that reinvented Christmas.

St. Nicholas (aka Santa) never looked or acted like Father Christmas.

This is the saturnalia, a time tradionally spent (in the northern europe at least) filling the house with evergreens (to remind of the coming spring) trying to fight of SAD with lots of lights and fires, and eating all the things we were busy picking and preserving in the autumn (pickled fish, nuts, salted, sugared and smoked foods, preserved fruit etc). As well as generally keeping our fat reserves up to scratch, ready to take us through until february.

It's also time to party, to punctuate the gloominess with a bit of cheer.

What any of this has to do with Christ is beyond me.

Father Christmas (Santa, Grandfather Frost, Father Yule etc) offends me because now every other avaricious b*****d has jumped on his sleigh to make a quick buck, and our festival of light is being sold back to us.

So f*** christmas, roll on Yule.

Is Santa in the Bible then?

FUNMAS RULES!!!

Originally posted by Barra
'spoof' (my arse)


I have not heard of this, what does "spoofing" involve ?
It sounds kinky.

I thought the reason Santa's grottos wetre bieng pulled was becasue in the current climate it's not acceptlble to let lots of little kids go and sit on an old mans knee and get a cuddle.

Funny, but the only people i know who are offended by santa and the Coca Cola brand of chrismas are Christians.

I don't think i would like anyone to spoof my arse!

I heard that Sainsbury’s weren't going to be putting up decorations this year because they can't afford it. Not sure if it's true, but if it is I’m sure it'll be spun into some story about them not wanting to offend Muslims by the anti-pc brigade.

Originally posted by Fowler
I don't think i would like anyone to spoof my arse!

You never know, it might be nice.

This item was on the 'Today' programme on Radio 4 yesterday. They didn't say that it was a spoof though.

Nick2 maybe if it was a lady doing the spoofing

Originally posted by Disco_Cat
I thought the reason Santa's grottos wetre bieng pulled was becasue in the current climate it's not acceptlble to let lots of little kids go and sit on an old mans knee and get a cuddle.

Funny, but the only people i know who are offended by santa and the Coca Cola brand of chrismas are Christians.

And me, and me.

Originally posted by Snook
...but if it is I’m sure it'll be spun into some story about them not wanting to offend Muslims by the anti-pc brigade.

Do you mean the Thick as Pigpoo © brigade?

Originally posted by Fowler
Nick2 maybe if it was a lady doing the spoofing

Ah, yes but it might involve a strap-on spoofer, did you think of that ?

In my opinion Christians are the only people who have a right to be offended about how their festival is celebrated.

I'm not a Christian but I think the commercialisation of Christmas is a bad thing. As it is I merely find it sad, if I was a Christian I would be distraught.

Originally posted by Barra
Story proven to be a load of ******:

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=14854939&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=no-santa-ban--says-shopping-centre-name_page.html

or if you can't be arsed to click the link:

No Santa ban, says shopping centre Nov 10 2004

One of Europe's largest shopping centres tonight denied reports that it had imposed a "scrooge-like" ban on Santa Claus.

Birmingham's £500 million Bullring complex insisted that Father Christmas had not been barred from the arcade and would be handing out presents at its two main department stores.

Bullring general manager Tim Walley said: "In fact, he will be appearing daily at Debenhams from November 12 and at Selfridges every weekend from November 27."

Selfridges will also host three "Santa parties" on December 21, 22 and 23.

Mr Walley stressed that Bullring and other city centre retailers had also pledged financial support to Birmingham City Council's Grotto in Centenary Square.

"Shoppers can be reassured that the festive spirit is very much alive and well at Bullring," he added.

"We have a line-up of seasonal activities planned, including gospel choirs and community bands, who will keep people entertained throughout December."

A report in a national newspaper claimed officials had banned Santa from the centre in case his presence offended non-Christians.

Aha...thanks for sharing! As this was only posted today and the story has been doing the rounds for a few days now, I think we can be foregiven for not being as up to the minute as you were!! :)

I woudl agree with Yodaymeister about the commercialisation of Crimble as well.

Joe

Here's a far more likely reason as to why shopping centres are banning santa's grotto:

Santa out in cold for Christmas (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3973697.stm)

It;s all down to commercial greed and store managers being reluctant to commit so much floor space to grottos.

Anyone remember the lame Santa ride they used to have at the Co-Op which used to be where Waitrose is now, with the tacky sleigh and the scenery that was wound past you while you sat stationary.

How fantastic was that ?

(not very)

Or was it Castle House ?

It's all a bit fuzzy.

Originally posted by nick2
Ah, yes but it might involve a strap-on spoofer, did you think of that ?

I don't think i could handle a strap on spoofer. I never even contemplated that such a device could exist.

Is it possible to use a spoofer on a woman?

Originally posted by nick2
Or was it Castle House ?

It's all a bit fuzzy.

Co-op in castle house ... ahh ... I remember it very well :)

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
Do you mean the Thick as Pigpoo © brigade?

Yep! That's the one.

It might not be true, but there was an item on Midlands Today yesterday, saying that there are plans to change the name of 'Christmas' to 'Winterfest'. I don't know who started these plans or if indeed there really are such plans, but I was shocked that the BBC would even entertain such a notion, and if it ever does happen (which it won't), I will be apalled.

I think that winterfest would be a good idea for the many people like myself who celebrate the time of year as a holiday, not as a religious time. The thing that I appreciate about that time of year is being with friends and family that I rarely get to see. I feel guilty referring to it as Christmas, when I don't believe in Christ. I think that notion would be shared by the vast majority of my friends who also see it my way.

How about we change it to either Greedmass or Salemass ?

Originally posted by nick2
How about we change it to either Greedmass or Salemass ?

Yeah that sounds about right.

Originally posted by Andy78
I feel guilty referring to it as Christmas, when I don't believe in Christ.

Does that mean you don't like saying Thursday, because you don't believe in Thor?

Originally posted by nick2
How about we change it to either Greedmass or Salemass ?

Moneymass I think ? ...that's what it's all about these days.

Although I'm not now a Christian the only things I really like about it are the carol sevices on TV and the radio, and a turkey dinner. We resolved many years ago to only eat turkey at Christmas so it remained as something special.

We still have a santa in debenhams in town on 3rd. £2.50 to see him, im assuming the money goes towards sleigh fuel or something.

Well it seems like another case of the papers making up stories to fuel racial anger. I read it, and thought it sounded a terrible reason to ban Santa. I really hate papers.

Thanks for the links, hope this clears it up anyway. I just hope everyone else who read the articles over the weekend have the sense to question it.

Originally posted by smedley
Does that mean you don't like saying Thursday, because you don't believe in Thor?


Thursday as a public Holiday in honour of Thor? Top Idea!

I'm sure the shops could make a lot of money selling toy hammers and greeting cards every week.

Merry Thorsday everyone!