From Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans to contemporary liberals and “woke” ideologues, the West has a long tradition of trying to cancel the season
It’s the festive season, and you go on holiday. Your brain doesn’t, though. In fact, it may experience higher levels of stress and joy than usual, leading to corresponding biochemical and neurological changes. So there is good and bad. Your dopamine levels, the “feel-good” chemical in the brain, may rise. It improves your mood from decorating, buying, handing out and receiving gifts. If nothing else, you don’t have to go to work.
Well, not me because I am on contract and have to write extras as everyone else goes on leave.
Normally, you get to see more friends and relatives at this time. That could be a joyful thing, but also stressful. Increased social interactions and routine disruptions, according to researchers, make some people anxious. I know I do. Some people get the blues because holidays worsen their loneliness. If you are in North America, the cold, longer nights and their isolation can also get you down. Not me, I never feel more alone than when I am with people.
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You also tend to overeat and indulge yourself, leading to a temporary dopamine high, followed by a crash. Not a good idea, especially if you are diabetic. As you can tell, I am not a fan of the Christmas season, and practically cheered when the late great Alan Rickman, playing the evil Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, declared: “And cancel Christmas.”
In fact, I have been constantly disappointed that recurrent Western propaganda about communist China having banned Christmas turned out to be false. Please, President Xi, let it be true just for once.
What actually happens is that some governments at local and county levels have banned official celebrations of Christmas, but they don’t care if ordinary people do it on their own. After all, Christmas means spending, and retailers on the mainland need it as much as anyone. It’s estimated that each Christmas is worth US$10 billion to the mainland economy. It’s not for nothing that China is the main producer of artificial Christmas trees. I don’t expect a ban on that either.
Someone sent me what looked like a Hong Kong government press release. I wish it was true, unfortunately, you could spot the prank a mile away. It was apparently written by someone with terminal cancer. I hope he had fun, though there could be a better way to spend what little time was left to him.
Titled “Government strongly condemns activities of the so-called Santa Claus”, here’s the piece de resistance:
Dec 15, 2025
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today strongly condemns the activities of the so-called Santa Claus, a despicable foreign force whose conduct poses risks to the well-being of children and threatens the security and stability of our country.
The Government stresses that the so-called Santa Claus employs coercive tactics, frightening children with threats of withholding Christmas gifts if they are deemed “naughty.” Such a so-called “sanction” is manipulative, arbitrary, despicable and inconsistent with Hong Kong’s values of positive guidance and healthy development for our next generation.
It must be emphasised that Christmas Day is not a holiday in the Mainland of the People’s Republic of China. Attempts to impose such foreign customs and values on Hong Kong society are a deliberate act of cultural infiltration. The Government views this as a matter of national security, as external forces seek to undermine our traditions, sow division among children, and erode the unity of our community.
I met Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu once when he was still a senior policeman presiding over a press conference. I can’t remember what it was about but he didn’t strike me as someone against Santa. In fact, I bet he is a family man who actually celebrates holidays, including Christmas.
The fake press release continues with its warning to the public to stay vigilant against Santa. It said:
The Administration reiterates that discipline and upbringing of children are the responsibility of parents, guardians, and educators, not foreign figures claiming authority through myth or intimidation. The Government will not tolerate attempts by external actors to interfere with Hong Kong’s family life or to manipulate our youth through fear and false promises. Such attempts are doomed to fail.
The Government calls upon the public to remain vigilant against foreign forces seeking to exploit festive occasions for ulterior motives. Citizens are encouraged to celebrate the season in ways that promote harmony, inclusivity, and respect, consistent with the values of Hong Kong and the Mainland.
The HKSAR Government will continue to safeguard national security, protect the interests of our community, and ensure that traditions observed in Hong Kong reflect our values and aspirations.
In fact, the real (civil) war on Christmas is in the West. Among “woke” liberals and some young people in Western societies, you shouldn’t say “Merry Christmas”, but rather “Happy holidays!”, because the latter is inclusive and refers to the holidays of other peoples and cultures.
Think I am joking? This is a just-published column from USA Today: “Not everyone celebrates every holiday, but when greeting others, saying ‘Happy holidays!’ instead of, or in addition to, ‘Merry Christmas!’ acknowledges the fact that there are many holidays at the end of the year, and it’s just plain polite.”
According to a YouGov survey last year, almost one in four Americans think there is “a war on Christmas”.
In 2023, the Canadian Human Rights Commission published a report on anti-racism in the workplace. It describes Christmas and Easter holidays as a form of discrimination and religious intolerance, privileging Christianity over other faiths and perpetuating “settler colonialism”. Unlike my cancer patient, I swear I am not making this up.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has a reputation for refusing to say the word “Christmas” and disliking its celebrations. According to a report in The Telegraph, across Britain, “[the] days of festive singalongs may be over due to fears certain lines from popular tunes may upset staff in pubs”.
The war on Christmas has a long Western tradition. Oliver Cromwell tried to ban Christmas and Easter during the English Civil War, as did 17th century Puritans in Massachusetts. So it’s nothing new.
Personally, I am not against any holiday. Just don’t make me socialise and shop for gifts.
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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.
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