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.

@WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo

Yabu. Because we don't tend to have hundreds of people gathering in temples / churches over Christmas. The risk of me having great auntie Dot round for a couple of hours on Christmas day just can't be compared to mingling with hundreds of people in one building then going on to have dozens of extended family members in my home.

And for what it's worth I've seen my DD twice since March. She's disabled and lives in residential care so we can't even bend the rules even if we wanted to. They will have to prise Christmas out of my cold, dead hands. We've done everything asked of us, to the point my DD is now angry with us as she doesn't fully understand whats going on and is refusing to speak to me on the phone. She thinks we like her brother more than her, because he still lives at home. They aren't taking away Christmas too. And if we have to shield for two weeks to get that then so be it.

Have you ever been in a church over Christmas?

Christmas Eve tends to be the busiest service of the year in our local church.

Were EID and DIWALI celebrated in countries where they are a major religion? I don't know the answer - please do tell me.

If I was to think like an idiot, I would say that the government are utter bigotted cunts for cancelling Paddy's Day while Black Lives Matter gatherings were allowed to go ahead - what's the difference between that and a parade? Is it cos we is Irish??? Cancelled the world over, including in Ireland.

Stop being disingenuous.

@BluebellsGreenbells

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

I don’t care what Boris says, I’m not risking my family this year by mixing.

You are adults and have a choice

I bet you don't live alone do you? Nice for you with your family at home to dictate what everyone else should do.

Like it or not it’s a national holiday and bank holiday. It’s the biggest celebration of the year for most people so I think YABU.

If anything the govt should have allowed meeting on Eid and Diwali for those observing those holiday. But that being done, I don’t think Christmas should be cancelled too.

@WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo

NameChange churches aren't open here and haven't been for months. They didn't open over Easter and probably won't open over Christmas. Only one exception was made when a local mother's entire family was wiped out in an accident. For that appointments could be made to attend church and light a candle for one of the local churches.

My Church (Greater Manc) was only closed in the recent lockdown and the first one. It was open from July until this lockdown and allowed to hold services for up to 140 as social distancing was guaranteed with the size (with the exception of weddings and funerals). They had daily services plus normal services on Sundays. All stewarded and risk assessed. There are thousands of places of worship up and down the country that are similar. Waiting lists for Christmas services (if they are permitted) opened up in September.

I was brought up as a Catholic Christmas Eve Midnight Mass was standing room only You had to get there by 10.30pm to even stand a chance of getting a seat in the pews.

Rules will be broken. The government have a choice a) ban Christmas, everyone celebrates anyway, lots of stories about the evil government sending in the police to break up families, those who do follow the rules feeling resentful - or b) "save" Christmas, by letting everyone meet up and do what they are going to do anyway.

Much easier to get people to follow rules in January if they haven't got in the habit of breaking rules in December.

Totally agree with this OP, and I say it as a practising Christian. It will be an absolute scandal if the government makes an exception for Christmas.

@TikTokFinger would you like to visit intensive care at the trust I work in? Plenty under 80s there: in fact the ages range from around 30+ to late 60s . Should all those have shielded?

On the several medical covid wards young people 20 plus to people over 90. It’s not just over 80s that get very sick and die. Lots of young healthy people are suffering too. It’s not just about death.

Nightingales need staff to open? Would you like to volunteer? NHS trusts are balancing staff sickness with covid/isolation with very busy wards in high risk areas. So no one to staff the hospitals properly never mind nightingales.

But sod them all as long as you get your Christmas that you can’t possibly adapt for one year.

January is going to be a disaster. So much mixing when rates are so high.

My Church (Greater Manc) was only closed in the recent lockdown and the first one. It was open from July until this lockdown and allowed to hold services for up to 140 as social distancing was guaranteed with the size (with the exception of weddings and funerals). They had daily services plus normal services on Sundays. All stewarded and risk assessed. There are thousands of places of worship up and down the country that are similar. Waiting lists for Christmas services (if they are permitted) opened up in September

I haven’t been due to shielding but same/similar area and our church publishes attendance in the weekly newsletter online and numbers have been well over 100 on both weekend services and 30-50 at weekday masses. We’ve had to restrict to 140 (I think) too and usually would have around 700 each weekend. One of LOADS of places of worship locally. Although some are smaller so could only have 70 or 40 allowing for SD.

January is a quiet month anyway as people are skint, fatter and their liver is under strain. A lot of people give up the demon drink in January so small loss to the pub trade if we're back in lockdown. Shopping in the sales is a thing alright, but that can be done online for the most part. Affecting the Christmas or holiday period is lunacy in the first place and will not be adhered to in the second place.

Unlike Eid and Diwali, Christmas is more of a cultural national event celebrated by a wide variety of people including non-Christians.

Its a national holiday in this country same as in other countries Eid etc is ,

We have been speaking with the kids a while now & planning a different Christmas. We are all looking forward to it, kids are picking this week what they want for dinner.
My partner not worked since 1st lockdown so they know not to expect huge piles of presents (that's probably only thing upsetting me is I can't give them what they want this year)
I'm looking forward to not spending £££ on hosting for people who are to drunk to notice what's on their plate, or in kids case not really bothered about eating.

I'm trying to plan some weekend's & holiday late next year when a vaccine out & everything calmed down.

The figures given out of deaths from covid are false. Those already dying from cancer, lung disease , heart issues are out down as Covid. They are dying with Covid (or not ) instead of dying of Covid! Plus thousands of people have had their treatment stopped so are dying from neglect. Spending a few days together for Xmas will make no difference. Stop believing the absolute lies being spread and listen to the victims and nurses who know.the truth.

@ouchmyfeet

Totally agree with this OP, and I say it as a practising Christian. It will be an absolute scandal if the government makes an exception for Christmas.

If they make some allwances for mixing it will be around compliance issues.

We have already seen on MN boasts about posters and their communities not following any rules NOW.

The government has to walk a fine line between necessary yet draconian measures to control the virus and no compliance from rebels!

If they are too heavy handed people will not comply.
There is already evidence now they aren't (as told on Mnet.)

If they keep lockdown at Christmas they know people will ignore it.

They will choose some kind of restrictions that may help reduce the spread, but it will have an inbuilt non-compliance factor (ie some predictive measurement of what % will ignore it.)

@ouchmyfeet

Totally agree with this OP, and I say it as a practising Christian. It will be an absolute scandal if the government makes an exception for Christmas.

I am also a practising Christian and I respectfully disagree.

If the government could have made an exception for other religions they would have done. We were completely locked down at Easter, so they are obviously not prioritising Christians over other religions. Easter is more significant than Christmas, to be honest.

@hayeahnobut its not discrimination it is a publicly celebrated holiday in this country , other countries have their own publicly celebrated holidays and are more likely to ease restrictions for those than christmas say
Also easter was totally cancelled that is a christian festival

@nicky7654

The figures given out of deaths from covid are false. Those already dying from cancer, lung disease , heart issues are out down as Covid. They are dying with Covid (or not ) instead of dying of Covid! Plus thousands of people have had their treatment stopped so are dying from neglect. Spending a few days together for Xmas will make no difference. Stop believing the absolute lies being spread and listen to the victims and nurses who know.the truth.

This has been discussed and reported on many times @nicky7654.

where's your evidence to show this?

The stats show the difference between just Covid and other conditions.

Maybe this explains the north-south divide?

You’re suggesting that all the commoners up north are partying every night? We’ve been unable to meet others since 24 September and it’s hard and everyone I know is doing their best to keep going and to keep their kids going while obeying the rules. The north-south divide is explained by the north still having high rates when we came out of lockdown. Your snobby attitude and ignorance shine through @JinglingHellsBells

@Shuddawuddacudda I don’t think anyone is saying people need to spend Xmas alone. But there is a difference between alone and the next day being with 10 people and the day after with another 10. It’s not all black or white.

@nicky7654 In today's Times there was an article on just this, focusing mostly on the percentage of deaths WITH Covid but where those people also had diabetes, were obese etc.

They are recording Covid deaths as where the person died within 28 days of a positive test. yes, many will have existing conditions but the figures are there for those.

@Kaftankween

Maybe this explains the north-south divide?

You’re suggesting that all the commoners up north are partying every night? We’ve been unable to meet others since 24 September and it’s hard and everyone I know is doing their best to keep going and to keep their kids going while obeying the rules. The north-south divide is explained by the north still having high rates when we came out of lockdown. Your snobby attitude and ignorance shine through @JinglingHellsBells

Not snobby at all @Kaftankween

And how do you know I'm not in the north?

I know very well what's going on in the north and also in the south- close family in both.

@EasterIssland thats why they are looking at different measures and nothing is definate but one idea os up 2 4 household or limited number can meet but only that , not 20
People one day , 20 the next
But nothing is guaranteed it all depends on numbers going down

Most of the country celebrates Christmas, it will be difficult to monitor that.