MPs across Westminster’s major political parties have urged people to “remember to keep Christ in their Christmas”.
The statement, which also encourages people to show love to family and friends at this time of year, has been backed by politicians from the Conservatives, Labour, the SNP and the DUP.
A total of eleven MPs have given their support to the Early Day Motion (EDM), entitled The Real Meaning of Christmas.
Celebrate Christ
It reads: “That this House recognises the real meaning of Christmas being the celebration of the birth of Christ;
“urges people to remember to keep Christ in their Christmas and to use the time to show love to family, friends, neighbours and community alike;
“and takes the opportunity to wish everyone in this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland a very Happy Christmas and a blessed New Year.”
The EDM was initiated by Jim Shannon, the DUP MP for Strangford.
‘Saccharine sentiment’
In 2014, a survey of 2,000 families found many children did not know that Christmas marks the birth of Jesus.
According to the research, a third of children aged between ten and 13 were ignorant about Christmas, while only ten per cent of adults could correctly state four facts about Jesus’ birth.
In the same year, The Christian Institute revealed that barely half of local councils send cards or other greetings which specifically mention Christmas.
Colin Hart, the Institute’s Director, praised those public officials who shunned the “saccharine sentiment of ‘Happy Holidays’ for Christmas cards that celebrate the coming of Jesus”.