After a tough November in lockdown, many of us are now getting excited about Christmas.
Boris Johnson talked about what the festive period will look like this year when he addressed the Commons this afternoon (November 23).
The Prime Minister said “Christmas cannot be normal” but didn't give specific details yet on what rules and restrictions will be in force during the festive period.
During this afternoon's debate, questions were raised around carol concerts.
Conservative Sir Edward Leigh asked for reassurance that the festive event would still go ahead, saying “we don’t want it to be a silent night”.
He asked: “Under any tier or indeed under any future lockdown we will never return to the abolition of healthy outdoor sports or going to religious services. There’s never been a shred of evidence that they cause any problem.
"By the way this is the first time in 800 years that people have been prevented from going to church in this country since the country was put under an interdict by a medieval pope, so we do want reassurance on that.
“Could he give us some more reassurance about Christmas carols, we don’t want it to be just a holy night, we don’t want it to be a silent night either.”
Matt Hancock, the secretary of State for Health and Social Care, answered this.
Mr Hancock said: “I very much hope that we won’t have another national lockdown at all, it’s one of the reasons that we’ve toughened up the Tier 3.”
Boris Johnson said that, by maintaining pressure on the virus, it will be possible to enable people to see more of their family and friends over Christmas but didn't go into detail.
The PM told the Commons that he couldn't say Christmas would be normal this year, but that in a time of adversity time with loved ones is even more precious.
"We all want some kind of Christmas - we need it," he said. "We certainly feel we deserve it."
However, the PM said he didn't want the UK to have to go back into lockdown in January and that they were working with the devolved nations to come with up a plan, adding: "The virus doesn't know it is Christmas and families will need to make a careful judgement."
