Croatia to cancel Christmas (updated)
Christmas parties in Croatia have been banned because of the global financial crisis.
The government has told state-run firms and organisations they are not allowed to go out celebrating the holiday.
It is reported that the move has been brought in to prevent the country suffering a deeper financial crisis.
Croatia relies on the tourist industry and it is feared visitor numbers will drop next year, there won't be many people going there on a Christmas break anyway.
And before anyone thinks they can get around it by celebrating New Year instead, They have got that covered ... January 1st celebrations are also forbidden.
The public sector has also been told not to buy Christmas and New Year's gifts.
UPDATE
The Croatian governments public relations office has issued a statement making clear the policy on Christmas parties and bonuses only applies to companies owned by the state and will not mean children will be deprived on Christmas day.
While we think that was made clear in the article here is the statement.
The government's conclusion of November 14 ordered all state budget beneficiaries and companies owned or mostly owned by the state to save money, prohibiting the purchase of gifts and organisation of Christmas and New Year's receptions in state administration bodies and said companies, a statement said, adding that funds envisaged for those purposes could not be reallocated for other purposes.
The statement said that the decision did not limit or prohibit or had anything to do with the distribution of gifts for children, the payment of Christmas bonuses or other seasonal gifts envisaged by collective agreements.
In conclusion, the statement said that individuals on Internet portals and message boards depicted the government's clear and unambiguous decision falsely and tendentiously, and that this was carried by some media.
