Christmas

Advent

If you are to believe what you are told by mainstream British television channels, especially news channels, this is the first day of winter. Presenters make no mention of today being the First Sunday in Advent, lest it offend non-Christians in our pluralist, multi-cultural society. Yet these very same presenters lose no opportunity to remind us of Ede, Diwali, Chinese New Year and a host of other foreign celebrations that have nothing whatsoever do to with England which, in case people have forgotten, is a Christian country as by law established, irrespective of what its subjects may believe.

Should anyone need reminding, the first day of winter in the UK occurs this year on December 22nd.

When you observe advertisements on British television, seasonal themed family viewing which have not been imported, decorations and displays in major town and city windows, supermarket produce etc, you will be most fortunate to find a single reference to the Nativity, even though the Nativity is what Christmas is intrinsically all about, and its message of expectation is what Advent is all about.