The top 10 Canadian battles in the 2010 ‘War on Christmas’

A review of news items where the spirit of the holiday that falls on Dec. 25 was challenged, or someone rallied to bring it back:

• Bells were forbidden from ringing as part of the Salvation Army's annual Christmas Kettle fundraising campaign at two Toronto malls, after noise complaints, but landlord Cadillac Fairview backed down after a backlash clanged throughout the media. (CBC, Dec. 2)

• Kenny Rogers brought his "Christmas and Hits" tour to the National Arts Centre, where he "lampooned the substitution of the politically correct Happy Holidays for the traditional Merry Christmas, drawing hoots of agreement from his mostly middle-aged audience." (Ottawa Citizen, Dec. 7)

• Ryerson University in Toronto published a guide to the holiday season that mentioned how winter is "filled with cultural festivals and celebrations," from Las Posadas, to Lohri, to Pongal, but failed to specify the one that comes the day before "post-Christmas sales." (Toronto Sun, Dec. 8)

• Santa Claus is tucked out of sight in the Mapleview mall in Burlington, Ont., following renovations geared toward a more "elegant and sophisticated" clientele, which relegates St. Nick to a storefront on the second floor rather than the traditional centre court. (Hamilton Spectator, Dec. 10)

• A Grade 11 student in Surrey, B.C. wrote a letter to the local paper revealing that North Delta Secondary School put up displays for Eid and Diwali, but not Christmas: "I would appreciate if we did not discriminate against anyone's traditions or beliefs, including mine." (Surrey Now, Dec. 17)

• Tenants in a low-income apartment complex near Ottawa are ordered to remove Christmas wreaths from their unit doors because they are considered fire hazards after five incidents last year of people lighting their holiday decorations on fire. (CTV, Dec. 17)

• A father in River Heights, Man., raised a ruckus over the decision by J.B. Mitchell School to refuse to allow images of Santa Claus on wrapping paper for containers in which change is collected to raise money for gift hampers, the latest in a series of anti-Christmas actions. (Winnipeg Sun, Dec. 20)

• Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff was pilloried by columnist Ezra Levant for issuing a holiday card featuring a Jewish menorah in honour of a holiday that ended this year on Dec. 9, along with some symbols of winter, but not one reference to Christmas per se. (Sun Media, Dec. 20)

• Deputy Fisheries Minister Claire Dansereau sent out a memo to explain Christmas to department employees, including a suggestion to go online to learn more: "Christians and non-Christians gather around delicious holiday dishes and share gifts and cards." (Postmedia News, Dec. 22)

• Canada Post threatened to temporarily suspend delivery to Montreal homes with Christmas garlands adorning their handrails, claiming that they are hazardous to mail carriers: "If they aren't happy," said one offender, "they can keep my mail until Jan. 2." (Sun Media, Dec. 23)

Merry Christmas from the Daily Brew!

By Marc Weisblott