Big retail companies have come under fire for beginning their sales on Christmas day.
Amazon, already heavily criticised for avoiding UK tax, announced that its sale would begin on Christmas day.
Other retailers such as John Lewis, Currys and PC World also began their online sales early – on Christmas Eve or Christmas day.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey reacted by saying: “Christmas Day is a time to be together with the family, to focus on the children and to have a great time together.
“This day is precious. We are now in danger of the gadgets taking over our lives and we are not in control of them”.
The Bishop of Norwich, Graham James, also commented: “Christmas Day is an oasis of peace in an often frenzied world.
“It’s a pity we don’t seem able to sustain a 24-hour period free of our acquisitiveness. We do need a Sabbath [rest] from shopping if only once a year”.
And Andrea Williams of Christian Concern explained: “When the angel announced the birth of Jesus, he said that a Saviour would be born. A Saviour is needed because we can’t save ourselves. No matter how much we buy, we need the love, forgiveness and healing that Christ brings.
“We all miss out if we forget the true meaning of Christmas. And we will forget it if there is no space to remember.
“Big businesses have a responsibility to leave that space open for families to spend time with one another and for people to consider what money can’t buy – the gift of relationship with the God who made us.
“In tough economic times it’s time to return to the Biblical principle of a Sabbath rest. In the long term, productivity is much higher when we are given a chance to rest”.
Earlier in the year, Sunday trading laws were relaxed by the Government over the summer in an effort to encourage retail sales during the Olympic Games.
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