Infections are likely to rise as a result, with all the problems and difficulties that can bring.
At the same time, way beyond Boris Johnson’s dreams of herd immunity, there is perhaps an understanding that Christmas genuinely is a time like no other.
In 2020 Christmas mostly refers to a time for profits to be made, but down the centuries ordinary people have had a rather different perspective.
There was a festival at the end of December long before the Christian church muscled in.
It is a time of year with little daylight, poor weather and often restricted opportunities for many kinds of work as a result.
The leadership should have small celebrations at home, writes
Frances Davies. And
Keith Flett sheds light on the last time MPs sat on Christmas Day A figure of prime minister Boris Johnson wearing a Christmas jumper at Madame Tussauds, in London. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA A figure of prime minister Boris Johnson wearing a Christmas jumper at Madame Tussauds, in London. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA
Letters
Sun 13 Dec 2020 12.53 EST
Last modified on Sun 13 Dec 2020 13.19 EST
As scientists and government advisers urge families to rethink their Christmas plans (Scientists warn against Christmas gatherings in UK despite relaxed rules, 11 December), is it too much to ask that Boris Johnson and his cabinet do something novel for Christmas, and actually lead by example? In this scenario, Johnson promises he will have a small celebration at home, no travelling/overnighting/large numbers. He orders his cabinet to do likewise, and threatens anyone who “does a Cummings” with instant dismi