The First Noel

August 21, 2009 at 1:18 pm

While Britain basked in a mini-heatwave with temperatures of more than 90° F, council workers in Milnrow, Greater Manchester could be spotted driving around the town with a cherry-picker putting up Christmas decorations…on a Wednesday in August. A whole 127 days before the big day.

Why four months early? So that they can also be used in celebrations for a number of non-Christian faiths.

Rochdale Borough Council said that the lights will be used in celebrations for several faiths – starting with the Muslim festival of Eid on September 20 and carrying on through the Hindu festival of Diwali in October and the Jewish holiday of Hannukah in December.

It’s a whole exciting new concept in religious illuminations timeshare.

The theory is slightly dented by the fact that most of the town’s decorations are traditional Christmas symbols, including an Advent wreath, a giant Noel sign and a Father Christmas which hardly seem appropriate for other festivals.

Doubtless some PC box-ticker thinks that he’s on a winner here by being “inclusive”. Wouldn’t it be amusing if a local Muslim cried waaaaaacism and started to sue the Council for hurt feelings and insulting his religion?