to resent indoctrination through the medium of candy canes?

[MillionToOneChances]

The children came out of the infants school today gleefully waving candy canes. It transpired they'd been handed out by the local vicar and, as I was solemnly informed, the red stripe is the blood of Jesus, the white stripe is the soul of Jesus and the green stripe represents the Christmas tree. I was torn between eye-rolling and surreptitious belly laughs. The children took it as the gospel truth. AIBU to think they're pushing the indoctrination a bit hard, with a side order of bribery?

As one of my clients said when I related this at collection, "it's meant to be a non-denominational school... and don't forget [6 year old son], we're JEWISH!"

[Fairenuff]

Perhaps you should tell your son to decline the gift and return it as you don't agree with the message that it came with?

[NorwaySpruce]

That is actually very funny. I wonder how the vicar kept a straight face, managing to combine Christmas trees with the blood of Christ is no mean feat .

I think small children go through a phase where they are unusually susceptible to religious stuff.

My six year old managed to alarm his father the other night by loudly demanding 'Daddy - do you have GOD IN YOUR HEART?!' at bedtime.

Apparently, people who know God's love shouldn't get grumpy when small children take ages to find their pyjamas.

[ReallyBadParty]

YANBU

This is the modus operandi of the evangelists: children at dcs' school go to Scripture Union as sweets are handed out.

And I knew that the new "club" dd had been to with a friend was one of these trying to lure in new converts when she arrived home with a selection box! Good warning sign...

I think trying to impart religious symbolism to candy canes is a new low though

[slightlyworriednc]

That's hilarious! I'm Catholic, so the body and blood of Christ features pretty highly...but I've never found it in a candy cane to my knowledge!
And as for the Christmas tree stripe...words fail me!

[WaitingForMe]

I'd have replied "that's a nice story darling, what else happened at school today?"

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

That's hilarious, and I am employed to talk to children about Christianity/Christmas/God.

[Fairenuff]

They usually say that it represents the shepherd's crook.

[ClangerOnaComeDown]

Tell them they got it wrong. It's really a barberpole.

The red is blood, the white bandages and the green...urm...symbolises gangrene

[Arlagirl]

What utter utter bollocks.

[fredfredgeorgejnr]

How do you know the green wasn't made out of pine flavouring, and the red wasn't made out of the blood of some Mexican immigrant? And do you think perhaps the children misheard "the soul" for "asshole", and at least it wasn't a different person killed to make the white?

If 6 year olds are believing everything they're told, they need more education, if it's religion, science, spelling or anything.

[SuedeEffectPochette]

A couple of years ago I went along to DDs school to help out for Christmas decorations. I sat open mouthed as the teacher explained that we were making Cristingles (oranges/dolly mixtures etc) because "we are all Christians". At this point I glanced over quizzically to the couple of Muslim mums in hijabs. To their credit, they didn't make a point and just let it go and it was glossed over- but really - we were plainly not "all Christians"!!

[MillionToOneChances]

Faire not my kids, I'm a childminder. It was when my son arrived and the symbolism was explained again to him that I nearly lost myself to the giggles. I think the shepherd's hook had also been mentioned. No shortage of symbolism in that little cane!

norway I love your son using God to plead for patience from daddy!

slightly it was the Christmas tree stripe that nearly broke me

[MillionToOneChances]

Suede 'because we are all christians'

[JennyBlueWren]

I'm guessing he couldn't find candy canes which were just red and white so made up something for green. And I thought the white was 'cos Mary was a virgin and red was the blood she shed.

As a child I only went to chapel because we got (pink wafer) biscuits and sugary squash afterwards -and all our friends went. Parents were atheistic/agnostic but happy for us to explore religion.

[MillionToOneChances]

I am an atheist child of agnostic parents and I've encouraged my children to go to church (with other people!) and make up their own minds. This bribery seems excessive though, and insensitive to those of other religions such as my Jewish client!

[YeGodsAndLittleFishes]

I think you should take some candy cane with you to the next Eucharist the vicar presides over and tell him you're OK thanks, you carry Jesus' body and blood with you now for every eventuality, and it even comes with a side order of greens.

[PrettyPictures92]

I'm a bit confused at why it's insensitive to talk about God to a Jewish person? They do believe in God after all, and they're religious. But maybe I'm just being completely thick and missing the point tonight :s

But I love that! I'd laugh if my dd came home and told me that and she goes to a RC school!

[BackOnlyBriefly]

If we'd never heard of Christianity what would be the reaction if a child said "I got some sweets in school and teacher says they have human blood in them"

[Bilberry]

Non-denominational is not the same as secular.

[missingmumxox]

My Husband is a atheist, 2 years ago when our boys where 7, both talked about god all the time, I said its a phase... then one day Dh cracked, and said you know god doesn't exist? to which Dt2 said..."well if god doesn't exsist, then Jesus, was not born as he was the son of god? so then there is no Christmas? so how can there be a Father Christmas Daddy?

I mouthed get out of that one Daddy...I was soo proud of Dt2, even though he is possibly wrong, but his logic was floorless :)

[ShadowKat]

And there I was thinking that Christmas trees were entirely secular...

[Bilberry]

Christmas trees aren't Christian (although they have been adopted) but nor are they truly secular. Lots of Christmas traditions are like this. I think attitude to the tradition is more important than their origins though and op just shows how a 'message' can be added to anything.

I think cyber Monday is secular but I am sure someone will say it is an ancient pagan rite as well!

[nocoolnamesleft]

Missingmumxox

With logic and rhetoric skills like that, your dt2 will go far!

[BackOnlyBriefly]

Well Christmas trees were not secular to start with and they were not introduced by atheists. I expect they come from the druids who used to hang little things on evergreen trees - human organs mostly.

All the Christmas things were pagan to start with since it was a pagan festival. Holly, Yule log etc. The feasting may have had pagan roots, but a midwinter celebration is common to most cultures.

So pagan first and then accepted by Christians when god's birthday was changed to 25th December. Now they are used by just about everyone as a decoration. No conflict there for a non-religious person since we don't have to worry about upsetting god. I do wonder sometimes why it doesn't make believers uncomfortable

[CheerfulYank]

Some believers it does. :) Not me. Although I don't hang organs on my tree. :o Maybe I should start...when making the cinnamon ornaments with the DC this year I can use the leftover bits and make a little pancreas here, a kidney there...

A bit off topic but does anyone watch Supernatural and if so did you see the Christmas episode with the pagan gods? Terrifying and hilarious in equal measure.