Not to fuel your Yule-tide flames, themilum, but this Letter to the Editor published in the London Times yesterday in response to a column lamenting the loss of cultural traditions in England, including Christmas merrymaking, might be of interest.

Santa’s reindeer gets the hump
From Mr Chris Moran
December 24, 2004

Sir, As many as 80,000 Brits (as well as a huge number of others from non-Islamic nations) live in the United Arab Emirates, where the country’s indigenous people live by Sharia (Islamic law). Yet shopping centres are decorated with Christmas finery, stores pipe Christmas tunes to every corner, malls are full of children of all nationalities excitedly queueing to see Santa, and advertisements are fully geared to everything Christmas-related . . . a bit like it used to be in the UK before political correctness crept in.

Hotels hold tree-lighting ceremonies and carol services by swimming pools, and holidaymakers stand amazed when Santa rides into town on a camel, handing out gifts.

I have heard of no local being offended by any of these supposed insults and no one complains of being singled out for persecution.

Bah humbug to the ignorant council killjoys who obviously have no understanding of what it really means to have a faith; we in the UAE are having a very happy Christmas, thank you.

Faithfully,
CHRIS MORAN,
Dubai Country Club,
PO Box 5103,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
chris2fm@hotmail.com
December 22.