To think Christmas should not be treated differently from Eid and Diwali?

[RUNFAST11]

We are hearing the government could allow a few days meeting during Christmas. While I understand this may be necessary, this could lead to spikes of COVID again and put pressure on the NHS (nearly 600 deaths yesterday) we aren't out of the woods yet.

When it was Eid in May Muslims were warned not to congregate and meet other households. A similar message was said in Diwali to have a stay at home Diwali.

Christmas is the UK's biggest cultural event for everyone, regardless of which religious ceremony they don't attend.

Easter, Eid and the rest have all been cancelled, so hard as everyone will try, there's no argument for claiming religious discrimination. Incidentally, Easter is far more important to Christians than Xmas.

For the few people who don't do Christmas, it's a great way to earn extra money on double time when everyone else is away.

I'm afraid I disagree. If Christmas was a religious experience for most of us, then it would be unfair. But it's mainly cultural and anyone can celebrate, religious or not. Very very few people in the uk don't celebrate xmas in some way.

In a Christian country, how is this unfair?

Yabvu
It is different!!!!!

Tbh it's surely a economic decision not religious?

It's neither I'd say. If the current "rules" stay in place, people will just break them. They are being broken every day around here now and were in the first lockdown.

People are missing the point of my post. Health is the main priority. Whether it is Christmas, Eid, Diwali, Easter or other religious/cultural festivals. The message should be the same. What was said on Eid/Diwali should be said for every event.

It is laughable that there is even consideration of having few days off during Christmas that will mean a worse effect in the long run and the country being in lockdown more longer. I am sure we all agree there is something bigger than celebrating Eid, Christmas, Diwali etc.. and that is the quicker we can leave lockdown and reduce cases/death count. Nearly 600 deaths yesterday and 500 plus today. If they go ahead with the 4-5 day plan during Christmas spikes will be bigger and we will have a longer route out of lockdown.

I completely agree with you OP.

I love Christmas. It's my favourite time of year. I love everything about it including midnight mass and carol services...

...But, it wouldn't be in the Christian spirit to ignore the deadly disease, the mass deaths, the thousands suffering in hospital, the traumatised under pressure frontline healthcare workers.

Allowing gatherings at Christmas will prevent lots of other people from ever spending time with their loved ones again (because they'll die of Covid).

In the area that I live,from what I witnessed,I don't think many people took any notice of any the rules or guidelines in place during Eid or Diwali.

I don’t understand this discussion. Why does it matter if it’s the religion of the state or not?
If the rates are high then it would be stupid to allow everyone to make an exception for Christmas. If the rates are low, fair enough.
Seeing as it’s pretty much celebrated by everyone (including those of other religions who often still have family get togethers), it could be a time where the virus spread is huge.

They are not favouring one holiday over another. It’s a massive UK wide holiday with people travelling all over the country. They are not saving xmas despite what is being said. They know people will break the rules big time and so need to ensure the numbers are down so the NHs can cope with the inevitable surge after the big day and new year. It’s purely tactical and the added bonus of gifting some family time like benevolent Santa’s.

added bonus of gifting some family time
But it would be the opposite. Mass gatherings whilst Covid rates are so high would be denying forever family time for many people.

Any other rule breaking isn't allowed. Why should rule breaking that puts lots of other people's lives at risk and increases pressure on already traumatised frontline healthcare staff be tolerated?

If the government could have made an exception for other religions they would have done.*

No, they wouldn't. They specifically and deliberately brought in more restrictions at 11:30pm the night before eid.

@CheeseAndOnionIcecream

In the area that I live,from what I witnessed,I don't think many people took any notice of any the rules or guidelines in place during Eid or Diwali.

Same here. It was ridiculous. One of them on my street came out to greet the 5th carload and a neighbour actually came out his door and said "you do know there is a lockdown, yes? You are putting people at risk!". He was flatly ignored. All throughout May he had a house full the whole time and the police did nothing. Another family this weekend had about 15 people over I'm guessing for Diwali. No concern for rules at all. I'm not saying you haven't had rule breakers from across the board but certainly in my village there hasn't been. What I feel fueled it was supermarkets such as Asda and Morrisons selling a huge aisle of items for these events, yet you couldn't get any VE day stuff anywhere. We wanted a flag for the window (I regularly changed my window decoration once a month during lockdown to give people having a bit of exercise something to look out for) but was told head office didn't bother due to the restrictions. But yet they got stock in for other events which also were by definition of lockdown not able to proceed as normal. In our nearest supermarket, people were told they couldn't buy Easter stuff! The police actually started checking random customers bags for non essential items. The whole thing has been a total farce of chaos and mixed messages.

@RUNFAST11

People are missing the point of my post. Health is the main priority. Whether it is Christmas, Eid, Diwali, Easter or other religious/cultural festivals. The message should be the same. What was said on Eid/Diwali should be said for every event.

It is laughable that there is even consideration of having few days off during Christmas that will mean a worse effect in the long run and the country being in lockdown more longer. I am sure we all agree there is something bigger than celebrating Eid, Christmas, Diwali etc.. and that is the quicker we can leave lockdown and reduce cases/death count. Nearly 600 deaths yesterday and 500 plus today. If they go ahead with the 4-5 day plan during Christmas spikes will be bigger and we will have a longer route out of lockdown.

Bonfire Night, Halloween and Remembrance Day were all curtailed.

Christmas as well as being a national holiday, is the busiest time of year for and what keeps some businesses afloat for the rest of the year. Can’t be said of any other holiday, religious or not.

It’s a moot point. People have started already. They could stick to the rules we have in lockdown now and it would make bugger all difference. Some will want to visit people and some won’t regardless of rules.

Right so we stay in lockdown from now until 2nd January and then come out of it. That's going to be something to look forward to. You and all the other miseries on here can isolate yourselves until the cows come home. Just let normal people try to claim back some semblance of normality in what has been an utterly appalling year.

Life like this is stressful and there's only so much the human can take. Being afraid of everyone, masks, keeping away from people, fear, no touching anyone, no meeting anyone, no pubs, no craic, no joy, hand gel, queues, security guards policing your every move, isolation, loneliness, misery, sadness, loss, abnormality, none of life's little graces that make life good. If you want to continue like that - off with ya! But most of us do not.

I've felt constantly on edge all year and I just want to feel normal. That's all.

I can't help but feel that those of you wanting this misery to continue are actually introverts who are quite enjoying it.

Nobody wants that but nobody wants more illness and death either. It’s only hit home to me how bad this virus is. I know father of school aged kids who died and a friend has been really ill in hospital. Thanks to all the new drugs theyre using, she left two weeks later after going through a hellish time.

Well lockdown isn't going to prevent that. Jesus, it's a virus. It spreads easily. You can not expect humans to isolate themselves interminably. It's just not feasible.

@Shuddawuddacudda

I can't help but feel that those of you wanting this misery to continue are actually introverts who are quite enjoying it.

Or people who don't want the misery and isolation forever....which is what bereavement can do.

We'll have vaccines over the next few months. So close to the end. Why drag the misery out (bereavement, trauma, etc)?

@RUNFAST11

People are missing the point of my post. Health is the main priority. Whether it is Christmas, Eid, Diwali, Easter or other religious/cultural festivals. The message should be the same. What was said on Eid/Diwali should be said for every event.

It is laughable that there is even consideration of having few days off during Christmas that will mean a worse effect in the long run and the country being in lockdown more longer. I am sure we all agree there is something bigger than celebrating Eid, Christmas, Diwali etc.. and that is the quicker we can leave lockdown and reduce cases/death count. Nearly 600 deaths yesterday and 500 plus today. If they go ahead with the 4-5 day plan during Christmas spikes will be bigger and we will have a longer route out of lockdown.

For a lot of people, no, health is not the only or even main priority in the way you are suggesting.

It's clear at this point that the situation is likely to be continuous lockdowns every few months until there is a workable vaccine that is widely available, or some real management advances. People are looking at another year, and they aren't willing to simply not do they things they live for for that amount of time. And that's a valid feeling - invoking "health" doesn't mean you win every disagreement for some unspecified amount of time.

@Shuddawuddacudda

Well lockdown isn't going to prevent that. Jesus, it's a virus. It spreads easily. You can not expect humans to isolate themselves interminably. It's just not feasible.

Who's asking for that? The rule breaking drags it out yes (because stricter lockdown sooner would've meant less or no isolation by now), but we have an end in sight. Vaccines are coming. Not immediately for everybody but it's happening.

The more time that goes on, the more we learn and the better the survival rate. My friend is well aware that if she’d caught Covid back in April, she most likely wouldn’t have survived. She has school aged kids too. thankfully, we have made progress and hopefully continue to do so.