Bauble Becomes Symbol of Community Spirit

One Voice has renewed a campaign on how Muslims enjoy the festive season. The project ‘I’m a Muslim and I love the festive period’ was originally launched in 2015 as a community cohesion initiative by charity One Voice Blackburn.

The charity has produced a series of videos where people of all ages from a Muslim background talk about how they also enjoy and take part in the festive season.

Last year the charity, which holds the Queens Award for Volunteer Services, designed its own bauble to be placed on the Christmas trees in and around the Blackburn town centre. And in 2023 their members have purchased baubles to give to neighbours who celebrate Christmas.

Young members of One Voice Blackburn are photographed with the bauble placing it on their neighbour’s tree and proclaim ‘I’m a Muslim and I Love the Festive Period’. Some are seen wearing Christmas jumpers and dresses.

Barbara Carroll, enjoyed taking part in the campaign. “Christmas is a magical time of year but it means nothing without beautiful children to decorate a lovely Christmas tree.”

Amaya Sumra, 6, from Blackburn said, “I loved putting the bauble on the Christmas tree and it was fun having my picture taken.”

Aisha Seedat, who is a member of One Voice, came up with the novel idea. “Christmas trees and baubles are iconic images of Christmas and one so personal to those who choose to celebrate it. I wanted our community to purchase baubles for their neighbours to show the versatility of South Asian heritage Muslims living in Blackburn. I wanted to create a symbol of diversity and inclusion. To show that the south Asian and British cultures are intertwined.”

The campaign and images will be shown in the run up to Christmas and the New Year. One Voice Blackburn have also created their own season’s greeting card using the images.