As we approach the Christmas holidays, the focus for many families throughout Northern Ireland will be on Christmas presents, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, Christmas decorations, family get-togethers and Christmas carols.

More than two dozen Conservative lords are set to be created by Christmas, after a review which will recommend persuading elderly peers to leave Parliament's second chamber.

Why is the taking of Christmas from Christmas not a big deal? An annual argument. I was reading an article on the holiday's today and the point was made that removing the word Christmas from Christmas is really not that big a deal. That Happy Holidays should suffice because it removes any semblance of religion from the equation. That it presents a much safer approach to the time of year. I do...

Although Carol Thatcher once pointedly observed that she doesn't "do" Christmas her mother Baroness Thatcher will happily not be alone on Christmas Day. Mandrake hears that Sir Mark Thatcher the son of the former Conservative prime minister will be joining her at her home in Belgravia with his wife Sarah.

Damn that left wing media Gah! They've gorn and done it again. Another year, another made up nonsense story about axing Christmas when it hasn't been axed hits the papers. This year's wheeze involves a Council having a winter festival some time around Christmas that isn't called Christmas and doesn't actually replace Christmas - and a paper screaming that Christmas has been axed. The villian

This year I found myself celebrating Christmas in Moscow with my friends and sadly not at home with family, however if you are now preparing yourself for a sob story post you need not bother Christmas this year was amazing and without a doubt one of the best experiences I have had here in Moscow. I kicked Christmas off by watching a Russian copy of the ‘Grinch who stole Christmas’ and ...

The government wants you to let your hair down and spend freely this Christmas. The recovery hinges on it. They would like you to follow their way of doing things. The following are twelve possible steps for a politically correct Christmas: 1. On the first day of Christmas

Here is a sobering thought for those of us who save our pennies in order to give our kids a good Christmas, even more sobering for those who buy Christmas on credit cards: As of last Thursday we are nearer next Christmas than we are to last Christmas. I set up this blog to comment on the last Assembly election, in fits and starts it has kept on going. Incredibly we are now nearer the next Assembly...

Conservative Surrey Heath has chosen Christmas and the season of goodwill to target savage increases in services for the elderly. Commenting Rodney Bates, Leader of The Opposition on Surrey Heath Borough Council, said; "This is meant to be the season of goodwill, when we think of others less fortunate then ourselves. However Surrey Heath Council clearly do not take the same view as these proposals...

That would seem a pretty far-fetched demand. But what else to make of the complaints from Labour councillor and Methodist Rev Paul Flowers? Bradford Council has been involved in organising and/or publicising a large number of events this year which feature Christmas, as shown by these examples: German Christmas Market Christmas Light Switch On Events Victorian Christmas Market Bradford Christmas