That's when we have our presents."Philip, 10: "My mum does the Nativity play at our church with the vicar's wife, and this year I'm an alien. My brother and sister have to wake up extra early, around 5.30am, because they fast. In the afternoon we put the television on and wait until the fasting is over, at around 4.30pm After that we all have food and drink A bit later, after Christmas, is Eid. Noah's Ark shows what happens if you don't believe other people - and also I like the animals. In the Christmas story I don't really like people dying - all the baby boys - because I feel sad a lot."Kamran, 8: "Sometimes we have presents and Christmas cards, but Christmas is like a normal day for us.

I don't like the story about Jesus as much as I like Noah's Ark. We go to my nan's on Christmas Eve, and in the morning we go to Leamington to see my auntie I like people's faces when you give them something. It's a special time because you get to know your family more. Sometimes we have music on other days, but it's more special at Christmas time because you have got to enjoy yourself."Jason, 10: "Christmas is about turning over a new leaf. We'll have all sorts of food: mutton, rice, chicken, peas, salad We'll put music on really, really loudly and start dancing. I haven't got a chimney, but I think he'll sneak in through my letterbox."David, 6: "I'm going to India.

I'm going to a temple to celebrate and I've got to go there to pray for my grandad because he died. When I come back from India I've got to go to church, and sing hosannas."Dinah, 10: "I think Christmas is about being together with your family and loving each other. Christian principles are good principles for bringing up a child, regardless of faith, and Christmas is a good time for looking at these things."What Christmas Means to MeWE ASKED children at St Matthew's, Nechells, Birmingham, what was important to them about Christmas:Coral, 5: "We're going to my nan's for dinner We'll have a huge turkey and potatoes I like Christmas because Santa brings us presents. Also, we must develop the whole child: their spirituality, care and consideration for others. There will be carols and a Nativity play in church, for all children and their parents, as well as a secular concert; and the crib scene in one school entrance will be balanced by a secular, Santa-based display in another."We will be putting the emphasis on giving to others at Christmas, rather than receiving, and because this is a deprived community, we talk about giving of ourselves," says Maggie Scott, St Matthew's head teacher - a Christian, "but not a Bible-thumping one".The school must share the Christmas story with its pupils, she believes; in many cases, if the school doesn't, no one else will: "It is part of this country's heritage and culture, and we would be depriving children if we didn't tell them about it. I'm not against Nativity plays, but there is a way in which they can be approached which will show the reality, the agony, the poverty - and not just a sentimental stable which has no smell and no cold."At St Matthew's Church of England primary school, in inner-city Birmingham (see left), this is the second year running that its pupils - 60 per cent Afro-Caribbean and mixed race, 20 per cent Asian - will experience the Christian Christmas story in full.