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Original poster

DD wants the day off tomorrow as its Halloween.

62 replies

Stranrah · 30/10/2022 22:15

She is 14 and pagan. She has an altar in her room, is often in there doing spells and re arranging her altar.

She says legally she is allowed a day off to observe her religious holiday. She says lots of Muslims stayed off on Eid and it was recorded as an authorised absence.

She wants to spend the day arranging her room for a new start, do a cleansing ritual and also a small bonfire ritual before she goes out with her friends after school.

I don't know. It is a special day to her and Pagans and I don't want to disrespect her beliefs but I feel like a bit of a tit ringing and saying that to school.

Should I allow it or send her in? She's been off for 10 days and only brought this up last week so I couldn't even check with school prior.

OP posts:
ladywithnomanors · 30/10/2022 22:16

🙄

MolliciousIntent · 30/10/2022 22:16

Is paganism a legally recognized religion?!

Y7drama · 30/10/2022 22:17

Of course she can’t have the day off

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Philosophy & religion
ladywithnomanors · 30/10/2022 22:18

I have to work on Christmas Day. Tough shit. We can’t always have time off for holidays that are important to us.

Original poster
Stranrah · 30/10/2022 22:18

I'm not sure what the eye rolls are for, paganism is just as valid as any other religion. It predates Christianity greatly!

OP posts:
Pixiedust1234 · 30/10/2022 22:18

All depends if one of her spells could turn you into a frog.

Iamthewombat · 30/10/2022 22:19

Good one, OP!

Do call the school and tell us what they say!!

YoBeaches · 30/10/2022 22:19

Will she be doing school work on Christmas Day then? No presents or Christmas dinner?

Sounds like a total scive - or there's other reasons she doesn't want to go to school. I

anonymous2022a · 30/10/2022 22:21

Has she celebrated other festivals? Samhain is significant but there are others. I presume she will celebrate Yule but if you set a precedent here you run the risk of her missing quite a bit of school. She can do all of the things she wishes to do and still go to school!

Original poster
Stranrah · 30/10/2022 22:21

ladywithnomanors · 30/10/2022 22:18

I have to work on Christmas Day. Tough shit. We can’t always have time off for holidays that are important to us.

But this is school, not work. They have Christmas day off every year. And you can have an authorisation for religious holidays legally.

OP posts:
SuspiciouslyGrouchy · 30/10/2022 22:22

Nope, she can do all of that stuff after school if it’s important to her.

Onthecuspofabreakthrough · 30/10/2022 22:22

I would have thought it would be from sundown on Monday, so if needing to be off wouldn't it be Tuesday? Plenty of time for her to go in and speak to the school about it.
I do think a committed pagan should have necessary festivals off school. If she was working, she'd probably be able to ask for them off but it would be unpaid if she couldn't use annual leave. If she's never wanted to before, that would give me pause.
Paganism is a valid belief system but it is of course very very small compared to most world religions so it's not surprising if most people don't know much about it.

Original poster
Stranrah · 30/10/2022 22:22

Pixiedust1234 · 30/10/2022 22:18

All depends if one of her spells could turn you into a frog.

I'm not sure but Catholics turn water into wine so anything is possible I guess?

OP posts:
slightlybonkersmum · 30/10/2022 22:22

Are you serious? Or taking the pi??
To even entertain this shows you are just as bonkers as your child

DameMargaretofChalfont · 30/10/2022 22:22

Well, I don't see a problem ...

.... as long as she gets ZERO Christmas presents and nothing at Easter!!!

Come on OP - get a grip!!!

Hbh17 · 30/10/2022 22:22

What rubbish - she goes to school. Halloween is properly All Hallows Eve as the day before All Saints Day - important dates in the Christian calendar.

Intru · 30/10/2022 22:23

Stranrah · 30/10/2022 22:18

I'm not sure what the eye rolls are for, paganism is just as valid as any other religion. It predates Christianity greatly!

Because you don’t get a day off school because you are going through a phase of pretending to be a witch.

Stop encouraging her.

Dartmoorcheffy · 30/10/2022 22:24

Hahahaha

BIWI · 30/10/2022 22:24

This is total bollocks.

However. I will entertain you.

Hallowe'en isn't a religious holiday. We don't get a recognised bank holiday. Therefore your very precious daughter has to suck it up and go to school.

yerdaindicatesonbends · 30/10/2022 22:25

Hbh17 · 30/10/2022 22:22

What rubbish - she goes to school. Halloween is properly All Hallows Eve as the day before All Saints Day - important dates in the Christian calendar.

I think you’ll find it’s actually samhain which predates Christianity.

Intru · 30/10/2022 22:25

Stranrah · 30/10/2022 22:21

But this is school, not work. They have Christmas day off every year. And you can have an authorisation for religious holidays legally.

Show quote history

It’s not a religious holiday.

Ihatethenewlook · 30/10/2022 22:25

Oh don’t be so ridiculous 🙄

2pinkginsplease · 30/10/2022 22:25

I’d be telling my child to get her backside in gear and get to school.

Runnerduck34 · 30/10/2022 22:28

Well this made me and DH chuckle.
Honestly you can't not agree with her logic. Not sure school recognises paganism though!
Down to you if you let her have a day off school but If you do I'd say she was sick not off for religious reasons!
Tbf DDs boyfriends mum is a pagan snd does take stuff like this seriously too- Celebrates winter solstice rather than Xmas day.

Elphame · 30/10/2022 22:29

Much as many here will hate it, paganism is recognised and protected under the Equality act.

It is as valid as Christianity.

Samhain is older than the Christianity which appropriated it as All Hallows as they did with a lot of the old pagan festivals.