Christmas grinch Madonna, no holiday for her kids

Oct 22, 2008, 9:30 GMT

It\'s OVER: A file picture dated 01 September 2008 shows British director Guy Ritchie and his wife, US singer Madonna arriving at the World Premiere of his new film \'RocknRolla\' at the Odeon West End in London, Britain. Madonna and Guy Ritchie are to divorce, according to media reports 15 October 2008. EPA/DANIEL DEME

Madonna wants to cancel Guy Ritchie's plans to give their children a traditional Christmas.

The US singer is trying to block the British director's planned festive celebration - which was previously banned in their household because of Madonna's Kabbalah religion, an offshoot of Judaism, which doesn't recognise the Christian holiday.

Madonna, 50, wants to keep the children they raise together - Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight, and David Banda, three - with her on Christmas Day (25 December) following the pair's divorce, which is expected to be finalised by the end of the year.

A source told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "Guy has taken a lot from Kabbalah and any talk of him being against it now is rubbish. But he's also very much a British traditionalist and he would love to pass on some of the flavour of a traditional Christmas to his kids.

"He thinks the kids are missing out and he's determined that things change. He won't go overboard because that would just confuse them.

"What he wants more than anything though is to actually be with the kids at that time of year and he just hopes Madonna can compromise."

Meanwhile, Madonna is allegedly planning to secretly meet US baseball star Alex 'A-Rod' Rodriguez in Miami next month.

A source told Life and Style magazine: "Madonna's team has begun scouting homes for rent. She and Alex are definitely aiming to get together before Christmas."

A-Rod, 33, has also reportedly been spotted in New York at the same time as Madonna and has reportedly bought an apartment close to her penthouse.

Lawyers are presently discussing the terms for Madonna and Guy's divorce and custody arrangements for the children after their split was announced last week.