Unholy row as nativity scene ban divides France

[hrmjustin]

Anne Penketh
It has been called the nativity war. A French court’s ban on a nativity scene in a town hall in order to preserve France’s secular traditions has triggered a fierce backlash.

“Why not ban Christmas and the public holidays that go with it?” thundered Le Parisien on Sunday. Its headline read: “Spare us a nativity war.” According to the newspaper, 86% of more than 12,000 readers surveyed were in favour of keeping nativity scenes in public places.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/07/nativity-scene-ban-france-court-la-roche-sur-yon

[rug]

1. War is Noel.

[okasha]

2. Nativity scenes are militant.

[kentauros]

3. "Nativity war"?

Wouldn't that be a civil war?

nativity (n.) c.1200, from Old French nativité "birth" (12c.), from Late Latin nativitatem (nominative nativitas) "birth," from Latin nativus "born, native" (see native (adj.)). Late Old English had nativiteð, from earlier Old French nativited.