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November 13, 2007

Happy holidays, all!

30_08_1999_0557It is reported that Ed Balls' depart for education (the schools-'n-families one) is offering 'cultural flexitime', in which non-Christians may swap Christmas and Easter Monday for their own festivals :  working at home (ha!) on Christmas Day in return for Eid, Diwali, Hanukkah,  Midsummer solstice, the birth of Guru Nanak. 

Before you start muttering about multiculturalism, the Mail says it includes such observances as St David's Day for Welsh workers and St George's day for English patriots.  Which may, in the end,  save working days: I know a girl who fondly remembers working at the Thai Embassy in London and getting all the Thai holidays as well as all the British ones.  This at least is an honest swap.  And nice for Conservative- supporters to be able  to boycott May Day in favour of - suppose - Lady Thatcher's birthday.... 

Posted by Libby Purves on November 13, 2007 at 09:43 PM in Bank Holiday | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Libby Purves

  • Libby Purves is a Times columnist, novelist and Radio 4 broadcaster. Her interest in the glories, inspirations and eccentricities of world religions and cultural traditions was fuelled by an upbringing in Bangkok, Israel, Africa, France and a series of convent schools.

    Bess Twiston Davies works for the Times Register section and is a regular contributor to the Faith page and Times Online. She studied Hispanic studies and English at Sheffield University and has a journalism diploma from The Robert Schuman Institute, Angers, France.


    Contact Libby or Bess at: faithcentral@timesonline.co.uk

    You might also enjoy Articles of Faith, Ruth Gledhill's wonderful blog about religious affairs.

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