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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:
yerdaindicatesonbends · 30/10/2022 22:30

Intru · 30/10/2022 22:25

It’s not a religious holiday.

Show quote history

It is though?

Genuinely wondering if people would have such strong opinions if OP’s DD wanted to observe a Christian holiday in a traditional manner?

TomTraubertsBlues · 30/10/2022 22:30

Did she do this for equinox as well?

She can go to school and do her ceremonies afterwards.

ForTheLoveOfSleep · 30/10/2022 22:32

You might want to tell her Halloween is nothing to do with paganism. Sahmain does start tomorrow at sunset though which is pagan and is way after school finishes.

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Philosophy & religion
KateMcCallister · 30/10/2022 22:32

Paganism is a recognised religion. I'm assuming they have her registered as Pagan when you fill all those forms in when they start school so they'll know she's Pagan? I fail to see why she's only just mentioned such an important event though...

Maybe because she fancies an extra day off?

ncafhy · 30/10/2022 22:32

😂😂

Intru · 30/10/2022 22:45

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.

So what, though? Does the equality act say that you get days off school if you decide for yourself that your religion should have a holiday?

Justcallmebebes · 30/10/2022 22:54

I know a few Catholics but none of them can turn water into wine, mores the pity 😢

RelativePitch · 30/10/2022 22:57

Stranrah · 30/10/2022 22:22

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

Show quote history

Catholics actually turn wine into blood and bread into flesh 😁

Reigateforever · 30/10/2022 22:58

Cheaper time for you with no Advent calendar nor Christmas present shopping not forgetting Easter and no chocolate eggs.

Have you asked her how she feels about this? Should you warn all family relations on her behalf?

Original poster
Stranrah · 30/10/2022 22:59

Reigateforever · 30/10/2022 22:58

Cheaper time for you with no Advent calendar nor Christmas present shopping not forgetting Easter and no chocolate eggs.

Have you asked her how she feels about this? Should you warn all family relations on her behalf?

We don't celebrate Christmas or Easter.

Why do you assume we do?

OP posts:
Reigateforever · 30/10/2022 23:03

Stranrah I am sorry if I have upset you.

Intru · 30/10/2022 23:06

Stranrah · 30/10/2022 22:59

We don't celebrate Christmas or Easter.

Why do you assume we do?

Show quote history

Because they occur on the two main pagan festivals.

Oh, and your DH is not casting spells, that’s neither plausible nor a part of paganism.

Onthecuspofabreakthrough · 30/10/2022 23:10

Stranrah · 30/10/2022 22:59

We don't celebrate Christmas or Easter.

Why do you assume we do?

Show quote history

An easy assumption to make; given the vast majority of people in the U.K. celebrate at least one of those two.

CaptaNoctem · 30/10/2022 23:12

Intru · 30/10/2022 22:45

So what, though? Does the equality act say that you get days off school if you decide for yourself that your religion should have a holiday?

Show quote history

Samhain is a recognised pagan celebration so if a mainstream religion child gets their religious days off, then so should a pagan child

If the Muslim children were allowed Eid off as authorised absences the school would indeed be on thin ice refusing one to a pagan child.

Original poster
Stranrah · 30/10/2022 23:13

We don't celebrate Christmas or Easter they're Christian celebrations.if I was Jewish or Muslim would you be trying to test me on my knowledge or practices?

If a Catholic doesn't go to church every day or every Sunday are they not a real Catholic?

Where is the bar here? Who are you to tell me how to worship?

OP posts:
Intru · 30/10/2022 23:14

Stranrah · 30/10/2022 23:13

We don't celebrate Christmas or Easter they're Christian celebrations.if I was Jewish or Muslim would you be trying to test me on my knowledge or practices?

If a Catholic doesn't go to church every day or every Sunday are they not a real Catholic?

Where is the bar here? Who are you to tell me how to worship?

No-one’s telling you how to worship, but given what you’ve posted you seem to have a goth daughter, not a pagan.

Intru · 30/10/2022 23:14

CaptaNoctem · 30/10/2022 23:12

Samhain is a recognised pagan celebration so if a mainstream religion child gets their religious days off, then so should a pagan child

If the Muslim children were allowed Eid off as authorised absences the school would indeed be on thin ice refusing one to a pagan child.

Show quote history

Don’t be ridiculous.

Original poster
Stranrah · 30/10/2022 23:18

Intru · 30/10/2022 23:14

No-one’s telling you how to worship, but given what you’ve posted you seem to have a goth daughter, not a pagan.

Show quote history

Excuse me, goth? She's not goth in any way 😂 You know nothing about my daughter or her practices.

And I have no reason to try and justify or explain them to some nobody on the Internet who thinks they have some insight into her life after reading 12 sentences!

OP posts:
Original poster
Stranrah · 30/10/2022 23:18

Do you even know what a goth is?

I think you're a troll 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Stranrah · 30/10/2022 23:20

I've asked for this to be deleted and am hiding it till it is.

Am so sick of people fawning over some religions whilst acting like mine, one of the oldest in existence, is a joke.

OP posts:
Intru · 30/10/2022 23:21

Stranrah · 30/10/2022 23:20

I've asked for this to be deleted and am hiding it till it is.

Am so sick of people fawning over some religions whilst acting like mine, one of the oldest in existence, is a joke.

They are all a joke.

Intru · 30/10/2022 23:23

Stranrah · 30/10/2022 23:20

I've asked for this to be deleted and am hiding it till it is.

Am so sick of people fawning over some religions whilst acting like mine, one of the oldest in existence, is a joke.

Your story has fallen apart by the way, you’ve tripped yourself up. You made clear in your first post that you don’t share her religion, but seem to have forgotten that and now suggest that you share it.

CaptaNoctem · 30/10/2022 23:23

@Intru ·

I suggest you go and read the Equality Act before embarrassing yourself further

Intru · 30/10/2022 23:24

CaptaNoctem · 30/10/2022 23:23

@Intru ·

I suggest you go and read the Equality Act before embarrassing yourself further

Go on then, quote the bit that says that a pagan gets to have halloween off school.

I know that nothing in it suggests that, but if you feel that I’m wrong please do spell it out.

FatEaredFuck · 30/10/2022 23:28

I'd let her have the day off.

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