More than three million school diaries with no reference to Christmas or Easter have been issued by the EU Commission.
But the diaries make reference to Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Chinese festivities, as well as Europe Day.
More than 330,000 of the diaries have been delivered to UK schools.
Majority
The move has angered many church leaders and politicians, who had already complained about the Commission’s Christmas card for 2010.
The card bore no reference to Christ’s birth but instead bore the words “Season’s Greetings.”
The approach is seen as further marginalisation of Christianity, which is the majority religion in Europe.
Propaganda
And the Commission has been accused of being more concerned about sending propaganda gifts to children than the true spirit of Christmas.
“It comes as no surprise that the Commission is turning into a bunch of Euro Scrooges”, said Martin Callanan, leader of the European Conservatives.
“Why is the Commission spending money sending calendars to millions of schoolchildren in the first place?” he said.
Blunder
The diary has been described as a ‘blunder’ by a Commission spokesman.
He indicated that, in the interests of political correctness, future editions would contain no references to any religious festivals.
The only text for Christmas Day in this year’s diary runs “A true friend is someone who shares your concerns and doubles your joy.”
Astonishing
A spokesperson for the Catholic Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, said the omission was “just astonishing.”
“Christmas and Easter are important feasts for hundreds of millions of Christians and Europeans”, said Johanna Touzel.
“If the Commission does not mark Christmas as a feast in its diaries then it should be working as normal on December 25,” she said.