30 years…and counting of ‘They’re trying to cancel Christmas’

It was Politico that noticed an annual celebration that has taken its place on the calendar right around Christmas, for the past 30 years.

It’s called ‘They’re Trying To Cancel Christmas!’

Historians, according to Politico, “have traced ‘They’re Trying To Cancel Christmas!’ back to the winter of 1997 in Birmingham, England, when local authorities attempted to get people into a revamped city center to buy things and celebrate various end-of-year religious holidays such as Hanukkah, Diwali, Festivus and, oh yeah, Christmas by using the slogan ‘Winterval’.”

Leadership of the ‘They’re Trying to Cancel Christmas!’ celebration varies by year. In times past, across the Atlantic, Donald Trump led the crowd. This year, it’s, as Politico said, “the Italian branch of ‘They’re Trying To Cancel Christmas!’ (Stanno cancellando il Natale!) [that] has really outdone itself”.

The Italians, it appears, are making merry by decrying an internal European Commission document on inclusive communication as part of the cancel culture movement.

The document tells staff that “not everyone celebrates the Christian holidays, and not all Christians celebrate them on the same dates…(don’t use the phrase) Christian names” etc etc.

The far right Brothers of Italy (led by a sister) have denounced the Commission for wanting to “suppress the culture of a people”. Party leader Giorgia Meloni said that “our history and our identity can’t be cancelled, they must be respected.”

It’s entirely possible that by Epiphany, January 6, Eric Zemmour, the more-cerebral-Trump-of France, will be, as Politico suggests “likely figurehead of the local branch of They’re Trying To Cancel Christmas! (Ils essaient d’annuler Noël!)”.

Plus ca change.