Christmas message is only under attack by 'rage bait'

It’s that time of year when most of my clergy don’t want to talk to me. We haven’t fallen out, it’s just their diaries are packed with carol services, nativity plays, concerts, crib blessings and celebrations.

- DAVID WALKER

Meanwhile, in churches, schools, town squares, care homes and shopping centres, people are gathering to share a moment of light during the longest nights of winter.

It is a precious time of year. And in the times in which we're living, the simple but powerful Christmas message, sung by the angels, of peace on Earth, goodwill to all, could scarcely seem more urgent.

Yet each year, we see a rather strange tradition: familiar claims that somewhere, someone is trying to “ban” Christmas.

I'm sure you know the kind of thing I'm talking about: anything from markets or trees to pastries and chocolates or the words of traditional songs, even carols. We've seen a few such tales this year already.

Christmas, we're told, is being rebranded, erased even – or, more specifically, the Christ part. And, they imply, it is all part of the same thing: an unease with or outright hostility to our great British festive traditions; an attack on our culture itself.

The message is loud and clear: we all apparently have to get very angry.