The first thing to make clear is that there is no prohibition. The European Commission has not prohibited the use of the word Christmas in the new internal guidelines on communication which they have as their title Union of Equality. «We do not prohibit or discourage the use of the word Christmas, it’s obvious “, they explain from Brussels to theAnsa. “Celebrating Christmas and using Christian names and symbols are part of the rich European heritage. As a Commission, we are neutral on religious issues, we have constant dialogue with all religious and non-confessional organizations ”.
So what does the Commission’s internal document say? It is a communication that explains how to carefully send greetings during the holidays, especially if those who receive these greetings are not of Christian faith. In the text there is a list of expressions to use in order not to offend the sensibilities of others. No religious reference should be included in the sentences, but it goes even further. References of “gender, ethnicity, race, religion, disability and sexual orientation” should not be used.
Among the many tips there is also that of replacing the classic “Merry Christmas” with the more generic “Happy Holidays”. It is the one that has caused scandal the most, especially the traditionalists and the conservative parties. Against the League that with Simona Baldassarre, MEP, says: «Behind a formally anti-discriminatory and neutral communication, the violence of the single thought hides, which the EU has now fully embraced. The will is always that of rewriting the idea of society, of family, of nature, of life “. Antonio Tajani from Forza Italia also presented a question on the question of “words that remember Christmas”.
«Avoid assuming that everyone is a Christian», the text says, «Not all celebrate Christian holidays, and not all Christians celebrate them on the same dates. Be sensitive to the fact that people have different religious traditions and calendars ”. There are also references not related to holidays. The request is to use “A variety of images, testimonies and stories”, which reflect diversity as widely as possible.
It is once again a choice of politically correct, which many consider to have gone beyond the limits of what is acceptable. Although it is good to remember that these are advice and not obligations, there are those who find the warnings exaggerated.
After the controversy, the EU commissioner for equality intervened Helena Dalli: ‘The guidelines initiative was intended to illustrate the diversity of European culture and to show the inclusive nature of the Commission. However, the published version of the guidelines is not functional for this purpose. It is not a mature document and does not meet our quality standards. So I withdraw it and we will work on this document again ».
Other stories of Vanity Fair that may interest you:
– Schwa: Do you know what the symbol for inclusive language is?
– An inclusive language towards colleagues? Here are 6 practical strategies to use right away
.

Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.