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From: "liverpud" <>
Subject: [B&D] Multi cultural celebration time: 20-31 December inc
Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:49:15 -0500
References: <4EECA507.4020502@gmail.com> <4EECF195.1060102@yahoo.co.uk><001501ccbd6f$24ddffd0$6e99ff70$@newbery@btinternet.com>


We agree. Just watched a piece on BBC News about Dubai and their lovely
shopping malls also celebrating Christmas and the season. In the schools
here, children celebrate many other holidays too, which is wonderful. The
idea is to bring people together. That is what it is all about.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays to all.
Peace to the World.

(;-))

Edna - crisp and sunny Ottawa


----- Original Message -----
From: "Elizabeth Newbery" <>
To: <>; <>
Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2011 5:23 AM
Subject: Re: [B&D] Multi cultural celebration time: 20-31 December inc


Don't worry about fairy tales or what beliefs you have - just enjoy the
pleasure of a holiday in the cold days of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
When living in the Middle East Christmas was always enjoyed by everyone
whatever their religion. At least, there, we don't have to keep being
politically correct by saying "Seasons Greetings", I was always greeted by
my Muslim friends with the words "happy Christmas" just as I would greet
them at Eid with "Eid Mubarak" and Ramadan with "Ramadan Mubarak" and we
took pleasure in celebrating each and every celebration - just as Charani is
suggesting we can do on the list. Strangely enough the Coptic Christians
who don't celebrate Christmas until 6th January, were more than happy to
enjoy the Western celebration on 25th December.

There was no problem in the large shopping malls of Dubai and Abu Dhabi
where carols boom out, little Muslim children are often taken to the church
by their Filipino or Indian Christian maids to see the cribs, Santa is
always on hand at schools and the Christmas Fayres in the church grounds
were visited by Arabs in their robes.

Regardless of one's religious beliefs, let us have something to enjoy and if
'you' don't want to celebrate then it is a time of giving and there are many
people who would benefit from our giving whether that is financial or time
to visit a lonely person or do a job for someone who is incapacitated...or
even help someone with their family history!

Whatever your choice - I wish everyone a happy Christmas from me.

Liz
www.btinternet.com/~e.newbery
OPC Street, Somerset



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