Secret Cheer

Part Two

[click here for part one]

The disobedient were everywhere. Their disobedience took myriad forms. Many were arrested or injured, or worse, during the riots and mass protests that followed the order to cancel Christmas.

In the weeks that followed defiant people all over the country pursued resistance in a variety of ways: Liberate Christmas street parties were held in the middle of July. A mini-heatwave did little to deter folk from revelling in irreverence.

During such street parties, as well as all-night Mental Elf raves held throughout August, people voiced collective dissent. They proudly donned Santa hats and novelty reindeer antlers. Roadside buffets were decorated with fairy lights and tinsel. Mid-summer mince pie sales came close to eclipsing those of the previous Christmas, as people upheld their right to celebrate whatever and however they wished.

Many initially non-violent methods of resistance ended, indeed, in violence. Summertime street parties were said to have been covers for all manner of illicit meetings. Clashes between the police and supposedly peaceful Liberate Christmas adherents only increased calls for Christmas to be suspended.

Change rolled on regardless. Once the nights drew up to the mid-afternoon headlines were dominated by concerns for other matters, massive employment and terrorist scares besides anything else. It seemed Christmas might well be forgotten about whatever action the government was prepared to take.

Constant wind and rain replaced those short-lived summer scenes. One after another, wild storms battered communities across the country. Emergency services were stretched to breaking point.

Politicians put pressure on business leaders to rein in completely their usual drives for profit. On this Parliament was unified.

A dozen or more national icons put out an open letter, which stated it was in the interests of the country to prioritise sensible planning. They told people to turn away from the wild consumerism associated with Christmas. Retailers from chain department stores to independent corner shops stepped into line and, going into November, it seemed that there would be no festive season after all.

And then that much-talked about time of year was here. It was, for many, a time of secret cheer. While millions live-tweeted boasts of going to work or running errands without any change in routine, there were those who kept quiet and, round the family dinner table, or while visiting the food bank, made a quiet greeting or toasted with a cup of tea (whatever the actual contents of the mug). There was a holiday spirit all the same.

to be continued