Catholic Church chiefs have urged shopping centres across the north and north-east to “remember the true meaning of Christmas” and display Nativity Scenes.
Just four centres in all of Scotland have gone ahead with festive depictions of the birth of Jesus and none in Aberdeen, Moray or Inverness.
Managers of the Thistle mall in Stirling were “Grinches” last week after it emerged they had removed their festive scene for the first time – though they later performed a u-turn following criticism of the decision.
Other shopping centres have said they do not display the scenes as they have a secular policy of not promoting any religion.
Independent Aberdeen councillor Jennifer Stewart was behind a drive to have the local authority install their own scene in St Nicholas kirkyard 11 years ago.
She said: “I totally support the church in this.
“Shopping centres have a responsibility to show what Christmas is about as they would with other religious festivals.
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“When I first put my motion to the council 11 years ago it was a bit of a battle to get it through but now I think everyone has really embraced it.
“I think it would be refreshing to see more reminders of the true meaning of Christmas.”
A spokesman for the Church said: “It is dispiriting to witness the effects of an increasingly secular and hostile society on religious belief and practice and so initiatives that aim to promote the true meaning of Christmas, particularly to children and young people, are most welcome.
“Christians make up over half (54 per cent) of the population in Scotland.
“Their challenge this Advent is to bear witness to the wonder of the birth of Christ and help others understand that they are called to celebrate the religious reality of Christmas too.”
He added: “Religious figures and nativity scenes in shopping centres are a gentle reminder of the true meaning of Christmas and often serve as a place of refuge for busy shoppers at this time of year.
“They allow people to reflect on the hope of the birth of Christ on earth; a gift that can never be lost, sold, forgotten or returned in the new year.”
A spokesman for Aberdeen’s Trinity Centre declined to comment.
Craig Stevenson, the manager of Aberdeen’s Bon Accord centre, said he would be very happy to accommodate a Nativity Scene- but had not been approached with the idea.
Mr Stevenson, who described himself as a church-going Christian, said: “If we had the chance to display a Nativity scene we would be very happy to – I would have no problem at all with that.
“We have the policy of being welcoming to most religious festivals as long as they don’t set out to offend people.
“While we have the likes of a Santa’s grotto I would be more than happy to speak to anyone about a Nativity scene.
“If any church groups or others would like to get in touch with me my phone is always available.”
The Roman Catholic Bishop of Aberdeen Hugh Gilbert urged shoppers to consider the Nativity Scene in St Nicholas Kirkyard as they did festive shopping.
He said: “It is also said that St. Francis—who was radically devoted to the virtue of evangelical poverty—was inspired to recreate the original nativity scene to overcome the rampant greed and materialism prevalent at that time in Italy.
“Maybe we can reflect during this season, on the surroundings depicted in the crib at St Nicholas’s, as we go about our business and festivities in Union Street.”
