'Christmas' Branded Offensive by College For Being 'Christian-Centric'

Staff at a British university have been asked not to use the word "Christmas" to discuss the upcoming holidays, because it is too "Christian-centric," with the "winter closure period" suggested as a replacement.

The advice was sent out to employees of the University of Brighton, on England's south coast, according to U.K. newspaper The Sun.

According to the paper "Christmas" was included on a nine-page document of "offensive" terms that should be avoided, which was sent out to academics at the university. Also on the list was "millennial snowflakes."

Speaking to Newsweek, a Brighton University spokesperson confirmed the advice had been sent out, but insisted no words have been banned.

They said: "Words are not 'banned' at Brighton, and neither is Christmas—as is clear from the decorations and Christmas trees in our buildings and across our campuses.

"This guidance was produced by staff and students and is part of our shared commitment to making Brighton a place where everyone feels respected and valued. The guidance is exactly that."

However, the decision still angered some commentators in the U.K.

Addressing The Sun, Toby Young, a conservative writer who founded the Free Speech Union, said: "University authorities are now getting into the thought control business."

Adam Brooks, a commentator who has appeared on the right-leaning GB News network, tweeted: "Utterly ridiculous, utterly insulting and a sign of the times.

"People being offended by everything and a society that's changing for the tiny vocal minority."

Conservative commentator Samantha Smith wrote: "Brighton Uni has banned staff from using the word 'Christmas' for fear of offending non-Christian students.

"This is the 'progressive' agenda. They won't stop until they have destroyed every part of our culture, traditions and beliefs."

Paul Embery, a trade unionist who has emerged as a prominent critic of "woke culture" in the U.K., added: "University of Brighton advises staff to avoid using the word 'Christmas' for fear of offending non-Christian students. And still they say the culture war is a 'myth.'"

In 2021 the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, retracted an internal memo suggesting staff say "holiday period" rather than "Christmas period," following backlash.

The memo had been criticized by conservatives and the Vatican, according to the Associated Press.

Helena Dalli, the European Commissioner for Equality, said the memo was produced to "illustrate the diversity of European culture and showcase the inclusive nature of the European commission towards all walks of life and beliefs of European citizens."

However, she said it hadn't met the commission's standards, and consequently the guidelines "need more work."

According to a recent poll 49 percent of Britons aren't planning to watch the King Charles III's first Christmas Day speech, with eight percent of that figure saying they watched the annual addresses delivered by his mother.

Another 38 percent of those polled said they planned to tune in, with the remainder saying they didn't know.

This will be Charles' first Christmas as king, following Queen Elizabeth II's death in September after the longest reign in British history.

Update 12/14/22, 2:45 a.m. ET: This article was updated with a statement from a Brighton University spokesperson.