Alternativity is an organisation which began in the churches and whose main aim was to recapture some of the values of the first Christmas. A quick glance at last year’s BBC blog shows that there is a yearning for something different and a growing dis-ease with what’s on offer. Many comment on the greed, on the pressures to conform, on the lack of sincerity, the drunkenness, the squabbling over food but the only solution they offer is to opt out.

• "It's all about greed and false sincerity"
• "Just another day, no job, no prospects, no hope"
• "A lot of the joy has gone, now it's a relentless marketing exercise"

 

The story at the heart of this celebration offers some markers for a Christmas with integrity.

• it was a simple occasion
• many of the characters were poor( Mary, Joseph, the shepherds) - the powerful didn’t come out of it too well.
• the message of peace was loud and clear

We offer alternatives which we hope are fun, offer hope and echo some of these values. We have found that when people get together and decide to do it differently, they have the courage to stand against the expectations, they find ways of doing it more simply and more meaningfully.  Little rituals take on great significance.