The campaign group, Christmas Starts with Christ, recently announced the results of a survey which revealed that a third of British children aged between 10 and 13 do not know that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus. It also revealed that among the adult population one half feel that the birth of Jesus is irrelevant to their festive celebrations. How sad.

To many, Christmas is therefore simply a time of excess, excess food, excess alcohol and excess spending. Still, as long as that is combined with an excess of happiness, peace and goodwill then I suppose nobody can complain too much.

Well, not until the credit card bills start to arrive in the New Year! Merry Christmas!