It's hard because Christmas is a cultural holiday these days, not a Christian one specifically - you can have a tree, a Yule log, a big dinner and gifts without Jesus being involved at all. It is just another holiday and excuse for excess in the UK. It's getting so I don't want to be involved with it!

From my understanding - please correct me if this is wrong - but aren't Muslims supposed to honour the traditions and culture of the country they're in? Not doing something against their faith, but still being a part of the country and not alienating themselves? (So worshipping a false idol may be cultural but out, but having a family dinner on a certain day is tradition so that's OK, such as the American Thanksgiving.) In my mind, Christmas is just a nice time to have paid time off work and see the family, it has no religious significance to the masses these days. We've already said this year we're not doing a big celebration, just looking forward to seeing family.

Fine, so you're respecting an "inferior" holiday - but you're also respecting Australian culture, which surely is important?

Please correct me if this is wrong, but the "fitting in" thing was explained to me by a Muslim a few years back, but I know she wasn't that strict.