Ruling on Participating in Non-Muslim Celebrations

I came across this… “In an absolutely lovely display of interfaith celebration, Muslim housing groups in East London held a Christmas party for hundreds of their non-Muslim neighbours.
According to the East London Advisor, the local authority’s housing wing, Tower Hamlets Homes, asked families on housing estates in the east end to help organise parties to improve interfaith understanding.”
http://woodturtle.wordpress.com

Question:
Can we take part in non-Muslim celebration only so that they might be attracted to our celebrations too?

Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

If these celebrations are the festivals of the kuffaar and mushrikeen, it is not permissible to take part in those innovated festivals, because doing so implies helping them to commit sin and transgression. Taking part in their festivals also involves imitating the kuffaar, which is forbidden in Islam. The Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” [Abu Dawood and Ahmad]. ‘Umar (RadiyAllahu ‘anhu) used to say: “Avoid the enemies of Allaah during their festivals.” [al-Bayhaqi].

If what is referred to is accepting an invitation to a meal, for example, and there is nothing involved that is forbidden in Islam, such as mixing of men and women, or foods forbidden by Allaah such as wine and pork, or dancing and music and so on, and this participation does not imply that one loves these kuffaar, then there is nothing wrong with accepting their invitation. He should try to convey the message of Islam to them. The Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) accepted the invitation of some of the Jews.
And Allaah knows best.

Shaikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid