Chief Minister says no to Christmas Eve gatherings

Wednesday 23 December 2020

Christmas Eve celebrations will not be allowed despite calls from the island's Polish, Portuguese and Romanian communities, the Chief Minister has confirmed following concerns that further relaxations around gatherings would lead to a spike in cases.

In the letter, Senator John Le Fondré said he understood the “disappointment” of the communities, but that on the basis of scientific advice, he had not been able to remove the ban on household mixing for Christmas Eve.

It was announced at a press conference last Friday that islanders would only be allowed to meet with other households indoors on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with all other visits banned immediately.

However, Jersey’s Portuguese and Polish communities – as well as those from other some nationalities – place a strong emphasis on celebrations on Christmas Eve. 

Polish families call 24 December ‘Wigilia’ – a day of fasting followed by a feast in the evening, which precedes the exchange of gifts.

In Portugal, presents also tend to be exchanged on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, and the main meal eaten then too.

Following the announcement that islanders can only get together on Christmas & Boxing day, I wrote to the CM asking him to reconsider these days as so many in our community hold celebrations on Christmas eve.

He responded that new messaging is likely to be put today.

I made the

— Deputy Carina Alves - Reform Jersey (@DeputyAlves) December 21, 2020

On Monday, Deputy Carina Alves criticised the fact Christmas Eve had not been taken into consideration, stating on Twitter that she had written a letter to Senator Le Fondré to try and get him to reconsider.

Similarly, Senator Sam Mézec spoke of how he had been contacted by many who were “devastated”, telling Express that “if exemptions are to be made to accommodate families who wish to see each other for Christmas, it strikes me as an obvious blind spot to exclude the 24th of December when many thousands of islanders will actually celebrate Christmas, yet include the 26th which many do not commemorate.”

Pictured: The letter was written following calls to extend the relaxation on household gatherings to Christmas Eve.

The Chief Minister's response came in the form of a letter sent out today to the Portuguese, Polish, and Romanian Honorary Consuls, the Chair of Caritas Jersey, and Canon Dominic Golding of St. Thomas’ Church.

“Whilst a household can still celebrate Christmas Eve, we have, on the basis of STAC advice, not been able to extend the gatherings guidance to encompass Christmas Eve. I understand that this will be a disappointment because of how important Christmas Eve is to Catholic communities,” Senator Le Fondré wrote.

“I ask these communities to join us in following the new guidance and finding new ways to celebrate the festive season.”

He added: “COVID-19 means that Christmas will look different this year, for everyone. And I’d urge Islanders from all faiths and backgrounds to continue to show the resilience and flexibility that they have shown throughout the year, and find, new safer ways to celebrate Christmas this year.”

In today's press conference, he also addressed the situation saying he was sorry for not being able to accommodate the request from local communities.