Hard on the heels of the Netmums survey about nativities, which showed that schools are increasingly abandoning trad nativity plays at Christmas, comes feedback from a survey carried out at Brent Cross shopping centre. Here are some interesting, very modern views, from the children who took part:
52% think Christmas Day is the birthday of Father Christmas
35% think Jesus was born at the South Pole
30% think the Jewish festival of Chanukah is a Japanese cartoon
25% think that the wise men used Google Maps to find the stable
10% think that Jesus Christ is a Chelsea FC footballer
10% think that Rudolph was present at the birth
Prospect magazine has also been involved in a seasonal survey, commissioning YouGov to find out about Christmas observance for three groups of people – Christians who go to church, Christians who don’t go to church, and those who profess no religion. They found that Christians who go to church send more Christmas cards, are more likely to have a Christmas tree in their home, expect to share their Christmas dinner with more people and give more to charity.
So if the statistics are accurate, the meaning of Christmas is very confusing to children, while church-attending Christians throw themselves into the celebration and sharing of Christmas more than most!
Christians in Education will be back with regular updates in the new year. Until then, have a peaceful Christmas as you celebrate the birth of Jesus with family and friends.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6