Thomas the Tank Engine Cartoon Replaces ‘Christmas’ With ‘Holiday’
- Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:13pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Thomas the Tank Engine has been a beloved character for decades. But now, the fictional steam locomotive is finding himself at the center of the ongoing debate surrounding political correctness and faith in the public square.
With Christmas only months away, it seems it’s never too early to debate the presence of religious references in children’s cartoons.
To sum up this Christmas controversy in simple terms: critics are accusing the team behind Thomas the Tank Engine of falling prey to political correctness by purposefully removing references to Christmas in the company’s latest DVD, “Little Engines, Big Days Out” (the episode is called “Keeping Up With James”).
Christmas, a holiday that is celebrated around the world — one that is obviously very much rooted in and centered upon the birth of Jesus Christ — has been written out of Thomas’ latest adventure.
Apparently, the latest installment features a story about “winter holidays.” In it, Christmas trees have been axed down, but rather than calling them by their obvious name, the makers chose to refer to them as decorated trees. And, as the Daily Mail highlights, presents that are wrapped with brilliant paper are delivered to a “holiday party.“ The word ”Christmas,” critics say, is avoided throughout the video.
See, all of the trains in the episode are anxious to become the special “presents train” that gets to deliver all of the gifts to the “holiday party.“ The presents train is apparently ”the jolliest train of the year.“ There are even images of children singing carols and decorating a ”special” (i.e. Christmas) tree. They’re putting “colorful decorations” (i.e. Christmas ornaments) on it. I think you get the idea.
Below, watch a clip from the episode and see some of these references for yourself:
Now, here’s the ultimate irony. Thomas was created by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry (yes, reverend). Awdry was an English clergyman who created Thomas and his friends to entertain his son when he was ill. Random House has more background information on how the popular character came to be:
The Reverend Wilbert Awdry, who passed away in 1997, was a retired Anglican clergyman. His father, Vere was also a clergyman and had the same passionate interest in railways. As a little boy in his father’s vicarage in Box, Wiltshire, Wilbert would be in bed at night and listen to the trains of the Great Western Railway running along the main line from Paddington to Bristol within 200 yards of the house. He would imagine all the engines talking to one another and invented characters for them all.
Critics, of course, are less than pleased with the omission. England’s former Government Minister Ann Widdecombe (who converted to Roman Catholicism) had the following to say in response to the omission:
“The shops will be stocking Christmas gifts, the television will be advertising presents and people will be talking about it, so the idea that children won’t hear about it is ludicrous.
It is another example of the politically correct brigade trying to airbrush Christmas out of our lives because they fear they might upset non-Christians, which is nonsense.”
According to The Scotsman, John Midgley, the co-founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said, ”This is another example of the attempt to write Christmas out of something which is so popular with families.” He continued, “It’s our experience that people from other religions do not want to eradicate Christmas from holidays or write it out of our everyday language.”
The U.K.’s Christian institute published comments from the Rev. Mark Johnstone, who works for the Church of Scotland. “There is a great Christian tradition in Scotland and Christmas is important as it celebrates the birth of Christ,” Johnstone said.
Hit entertainment, though, the company that now owns Thomas the Tank Engine and that created the DVD, claims that the film was made “some time ago:”
“It was not a seasonal release specifically aimed at a Christmas audience, but we do put out seasonal releases that have Christmas in the title. Last year we had Christmas Express and next year we are planning another Christmas title.”
Regardless of whether the company has, indeed, made other Christmas films, the references to the holiday in the episode (which was created years ago but just now seems to be making headlines) certainly create confusion. Furthermore, they cause one to wonder why a story would be centered upon all of the elements that comprise Christmas without actually using the proper words to describe these tenets.
(H/T: Beliefnet)
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Comments (136)
elosogrande
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:57pmThomas has the right to do whatever he wants, regqrding Christmas and Christ.
Parents have the right to write him off as well.
Do yourself and your kids a favor. Set aside the time they would be watching Thomas and as a substitute, read to them or play with them for an hour. It will be fun for all of you, and I’ll guarantee you that your children will remember those hours spent with you, long after Thomas (and you) are gone.
Report Post »themdg
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 2:56pmI agree… Thomas and Company can do whatever they want. I do think this is a shame, and wish they would reconsider, but I to keep that company private we have to let them do it.
Losing Ringo as the narrator was the worst thing that happened to Thomas and Co. I’m sure this PC move stems from that decision, somehow.
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 3:51pmMaybe “Thomas” realized Jesus was not born on December 25th and Christmas is nothing but a made up excuse to practice Pagan Festivals…….It is amazing so many get mad because people/companies choose not to tell their lie of “Christmas”…..
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:52pmAnd to think, my youngest grandson got a tabletop train, Thomas, last year for “holiday”. Since we celebrate Christmas in our family, there will be no more Thomas. And when he comes back to FL to give rides, we won’t participate in that again either.
Report Post »1me2ao
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:53pmthat is absurd and a majority of us do not use the tv as a babysitter so your comment is way off. the issue is another company bowing down to the few that dont care about anything other than destroying christmas.
i am still wondering why the rest of christians dont get up in arms and protest this as the other side does.. i have thought seriously of protesting christmas and driving the unemployment rate up too 30 percent..
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:24pmIf Jesus was not born on December 25th and history truthfully tells us every event/activity of Christmas is Pagan tradition why would anyone who believes in Jesus, as I do, be upset? Seriously, I do not understand that.
If you want to partake in Pagan festivities, that is your choice, just be truthful about it and understand you are practicing a pagan festival.
The Bible clearly tells us the time of Jesus’s birth and it was not Dec 25th. The Bible tells us not to mix Pagan worship with God worship. So why do we “Christians” do that? Something to ponder…..
Report Post »WeeDontNeedNoSteeeenkinBadges
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 5:55pmSince “Christmas” really has nothing to do with “Christ” but everything to do with paganism (just check ANY encyclopedia for it’s history and customs), this is actually a GOOD THING. Too bad it takes communists’ POLITICAL CORRECTNESS to expose Christmas for the pagan “winter festival” it is.
Shame on America’s Christians.
Report Post »LitlBits2010
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 10:42pmRead them an age-appropriate story of the Birth of Christ – or buy an age-appropriate video of the same – available online…LOOK FOR IT! Far better use of your time – and the kids’! AND discussion afterward will help them remember the FACTS!
STOP buying Thomas products – and let storeowners and the manufacturers know WHY! YOU, parents, have the power to stop this insanity! USE IT! I know I will NOT buy ANY Thomas gifts for my grandsons this year!
Report Post »PauletteW
Posted on October 8, 2011 at 1:39amGood idea. But they are still pathetic.
Report Post »lynda1276
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:56pmBoth my boys grew up with this… i do not have grandchildren yet but this will be placed on my “do not buy” list.
Report Post »travlman77
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 2:15pmGood point!
Report Post »I don’t buy “holiday” gifts, so they won’t see any purchases of their products from me.
turkey13
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 3:26pmI have 3 smaller grandsons and have decided with my wife not to buy any more Thomas books or toys. Surely there are other books and toys for the small fry. This kinda like avoiding the nutty actors like woopy, baldwin and now the Dolphin Story (M. Freemam).
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:54pmJust a guess that PBS losing theblaze viewers won’t create even a ripple of change in their numbers…
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 2:20pmYeah. When you’re propped up by the government due to lack of viewership, not much can help your numbers.
Report Post »lorgrom
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 3:54pmPBS stands for Progressive Brainwashing Station
Report Post »Warphead
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:51pmWell Thomas the Tank can take that little nugget of anti-God atheism and shove it right up his caboose. I would imagine his future TV and movie prospects are going to be de-railed after this. Yeah, I would say Thomas’s ratings are about to tank. I would bet their are a lot of parents that are really steamed about this turn of events too. It looks like the Thomas the tank will go down in history as the little engine that couldn’t. It seems the whole Thomas the Tank thing is coming off the tracks.
Report Post »JMorcan
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 4:08pmYou need to get out more. There’s nothing “anti-God” about this. Jews don’t celebrate Xmas.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:51pmDerail this train!!!
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:50pmHey what does this button do? Oh, wait it changes the channel , now I don’t have to watch it.
Report Post »cece959
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:43pmIt’s a British cartoon. Britain is overrun with Muslims. What did anyone expect?
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:43pm.
Report Post »I’m gonna buy my 2 grandsons Shotguns for christmas, so we can use the Thomas the Train set they got last year for target practice…….Merry Christmas………
TONY BOLOGNA
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 3:04pmThat sounds like fun – Spanking the Monkey – but I sure hope that your little ones don’t get accidently shot like vp cheney likes to do……
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:43pmHmm, my previous post went into la la land. Wonder what happens to them? Lost in Cyber Space.
I am boycotting Thomas products now. Please join me and send a clear message to them. The time for PC-ness is over.
Report Post »mom4times
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 2:03pmI second that motion…..going to start emailing my friends and relatives as well…..too bad my son is only 3, i’d get rid of ALL things thomas…This world is becoming very sad
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 2:16pmIt’s a little ironic that a toy would boycott Christmas.
Thomas deserves what he gets I guess.
Silversmith
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:43pmThe Socialists are coming out of the WoodWork… identifying themselves. So, I say great… and I’ll remember.
Report Post »NewLife56
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:42pmIt would only take us one year of boycotting buying anything and giving our kids or family homemade gifts, or just a visit or a dinner and share our love with them. They want to shut down the word Christmas? By all means, we should show them, what will happen if this junk keeps going.
Myself? I have already explained to my daughter and our other grown children and family why we aren’t buying anything this year and were trying to spread the word. If all of us Christians would not buy a single thing this year, you watch and see how many of the “Take Out The Word Christmas” would not only promote it again, but would take out ad’s during the entire year saying so.
BOYCOTT…This year lets make or cook our own gifts to give away…
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:42pmMy kids are adult now. But I will see to it my Grand Kids never watch this crap….PBS Idiots.
Report Post »M13
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:39pmAnother reason to keep your children away from the television, if you didn’t have enough already.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:39pmDid you also note they are also discriminatory. There is only one female out of eight trains. Shouldn’t there be at least four females and four males. I mean if they are going to go all PC and everything; where is the equality? Also where is the black or Asian trains? Also, they have no Muslim train. I mean if you are going to cut out Christmas in their vocabulary, which is a direct assault on Christians at least you could be 100% PC.
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:41pmHey what about the smurfs they have only one too. Better call the P.C. police.
Report Post »txrailroader
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 2:00pmThey are,one of the “ guys ” is “different” in more ways than one, and he is not one of the trains.
Report Post »cranberry
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:37pmUm not in my world. This makes me talk more openly to everybody about all holidays.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:37pmWhen is the Coloseum going to be errected here in America? Consolidate the Zoo’s lions so they can start feeding us Christains to the lions?
Report Post »ChuckJ
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:36pmMy kids never liked this show. My kids do however love Mickey’s very merry Christmas Party. From the mouth of babes comes the truth.
Report Post »capitalismrocks
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:35pmThat’s pathetic given who the people are who created Thomas the Tank engine… I think everyone who’s a Christian, who lets their children watch it, they should contact them immediately and voice their distaste for them removing Christmas from the show and tell them that you’ll be looking for other shows and other characters to allow your children to watch and buy toys from.
Report Post »randy
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:58pmconsumerrelations@hitentertainment.com ;
Report Post »txrailroader
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:35pmMan this is bad my son is named after one the trains.When he was a child i watch the videos over and over with him.We still have all the toys as well.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:31pmSoon, they will be shown as celebrating Ramadan, just like our muslim-in-chief.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:36pmand Kawanza too….
Report Post »nocalifornia
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:31pmWell, my grandson won’t be getting a Thomas the train this “holiday season” but he will get a Lionel for Christmas.
Report Post »stillshocked
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:30pmYup…true to form: Indoctrinate our kids.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:24pmRenaming to: “Thomas the atheist, gay, Non-Christian, African American- tank engine” would be more appropriate not to offend anyone.
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:32pmI‘m a white christian employed male and i’m offended. ;-)
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:18pmWhen are they going to stop with this cr*p?
Report Post »Why don‘t we take it all the way and change Thomas’ name to Akbar and have him blow himself up at the end of every cartoon?
biohazard23
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:34pmOMG, they killed Kenny! Er, sorry… they killed Thomas? Akbar? Oy vey…. Enough with the PC garbage already!!!
Report Post »ColoradoMaverick
Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:17pmMy kid loved trains, but thought Thomas the train was creepy. I agree!
Report Post »