A museum has removed the word “Christmas” from its annual festive celebration, instead choosing to rebrand itself as a “Winter Market”.
The Bowes Museum – founded by the late ancestors of the late Queen Mother – has been criticised for its “bonkers” decision.
It has been alleged that the “woke” move has been done to pull in more punters.
BBC Antiques Road Trip expert David Harper has called for the rebrand to be reversed.
He said the museum is taking the joy out of Christmas.
“What’s next? Are we going to cancel Santa, the reindeer, children wearing Christmas hats?” Harper told the Sun.
“Essentially, all you’ll be left with is a Wednesday market. This won’t stop until we stop it.
“We need to nip this in the bud, take control and be a bit braver.”
He ran a poll on social media asking what the museum should have called the market instead.
Over 300 people voted, with ‘Humbug Market’ receiving 66 per cent of the votes.
People left comments under the poll.
One person said: “Leave it as Christmas market, they should be ashamed of even considering changing it”.
Another said: “That is dreadful the question is WHY? and if I was around that area I wouldn’t bother with a new name because I for one wouldn’t be going to it.”
The museum’s director, Hannah fox, denied claims that they had cancelled Christmas.
She said: “We have a very popular seasonal programme of events of which the market is the centrepiece.
“It’s fabulous and everyone is welcome, however they celebrate over the festive season.”
The art gallery was founded by John Bowes, who was a distant relative of the late Queen Mother, in 1892.
She was a patron until her death in 2022.
https://www.gbnews.com/news/woke-bowes-museum-removes-christmas-from-market