In the spirit of inclusivity, Aberdeen school describes cards made at Christmas as Winter cards

[cakeorwine]

Children at this school have been making cards in the run up to Christmas for ages.

Many children still make Christmas cards during this activity and they are free to call them Christmas cards

However, the school announced they would be adopting the phrase "winter cards" to show "value and respect" to different cultures.
The email sent to families said: “To reflect this inclusivity in our communications, we refer to seasonal cards as “winter cards” rather than “Christmas cards”.
“This terminology helps ensure that our language is welcoming and inclusive of all members of our school community.
It added that families were still free to use the phrase Christmas cards if they preferred.

You can imagine the online reaction. The Deputy Headteacher received a threatening phone call

"Unfortunately, following the communications, our deputy head teacher received an abusive and threatening telephone call.

"This was followed by disappointing comments on social media suggesting that Christmas was somehow being removed from our school.
"I want to reassure you that is simply not the case"

We had Winterval in Birmingham. Haven't people learnt? I can imagine it's been done with the best intentions but I bet they didn't consult with the parents before doing this. It has come at the worst possible time for relations with other communities and it's spreading like wildfire online.

I'm an atheist I have no problem with schools making Christmas cards. Just don't try and force a religion on my son.

I am sure most people, regardless of faith or lack of faith, have no problem with Christmas Cards.

Winter cards is a stupid idea

I imagine they thought they would sell more winter cards rather than Christmas cards.

Because it's also traditional.

I think schools need to leave it alone because in all my life of living in a very diverse part of London, I've never known anyone to be offended by Christmas.

This sort of shit actually causes division.

I find this bonkers. I live near a big mosque. They send Christmas cards to the surrounding streets!

It does sound like the school was trying to be inclusive, the email shared on X says parents can call them Christmas cards if they wish.

It’s been widely shared by the likes of Tommy Robinson and been blown up completely out of proportion.

P&J article covering this:

archive.ph/LgCre

it's a bit like 'fast for Ramadan to show solidarity with your Moslem colleagues' suggestions. One colleague I asked said he had no objections to people eating around him when he was fasting, it strengthened his faith.

The irony is that a lot (many) people celebrate Christmas without one iota of religion attached, born Christian or not.

Now what will we call Diwali, Ramadan, Passover, etc. so as not to offend anyone?

I don't celebrate Christmas, but I think it's a wonderful time of the year and calling it something else is ridiculous, and a slippery slope.

Because they want to.

Christmas is religious AND people who are not religious celebrate it.

Winter cards are fine, but people can celebrate Christmas and can call them Christmas cards if they want.

It makes me wonder if someone dreams all these ideas up with the specific idea of goading Tommy Robinson types and inciting hatred.

In the grand scheme of things, does it matter what you call a greeting card sent over the festive season? No, it does not.

Huge fuss over absolutely nothing.

Are they changing the names of none Christian festivals/occasions?

But it is hardly holding yourself out as inclusive, as they claim, to exclude the main culture in the classroom. Inclusive doesn’t mean denying diversity.

Absolutely ridiculous, the world’s gone mad.

Surely the school is just recognising that along with the Christmas cards, some children will make Hanukkah, Chinese NY or Divali cards, depending on the timing. Winter hosts several festivals. Something for everyone to celebrate.

I’m a card carrying Christian who’ll be in church a lot in December. It’s fine to notice that other people have celebrations too.

I was coming on to say exactly this. I work in a very multi cultural environment too with children and parents of non christian backgrounds have been nothing but supportive and respectful. We don't use religious iconography and only celebrate Christmas in its cultural/ secular form. Which in fairness is what most people do these days anyway. Santa , reindeer, penguins, lights, snow, robins, tree etc. These changes are much more than virtual signalling, they are a one way ticket to a racist culture. When people are upset they find someone to blame and will blame the wrong people. The easier option surely is to not upset people. No one should feel their culture is being erased and they are not wrong in reacting furiously.

My friends, of assorted religions & none, have no problem in sending everyone cards (or online messages) for Eid, Diwali etc. This attitude of ‘everybody else is allowed to celebrate their culture except for you’, which is the message sent, regardless of intent, is fuelling division & hatred. Multiculturalism should mean we appreciate & share cultures, celebrations, food, songs, not that one culture has to pretend it doesn’t exist. That school that penalised children for sharing their culture (iirc Spice Girl & farmer) will have set race relations back decades.

Perhaps you should not force your lack of religious belief on your son and allow him to research and form his own opinion? People should absolutely FIGHT to overcome this ridiculous "inclusitivity" march or else your very culture will be destroyed. Is that what you want? If so, you live in the wrong country!

What will they be calling other religions festivals?

Um, what about Diwali cards and Hanukah cards and - depending whenabouts in the year they they fall - Eid-ul-Fitr cards and Eid-ul-Adha cards? Any self-respecting multi-cultural, diversity-aware, and inclusive Primary School would be encouraging children to be making the relevant card for each specific festival.

Which means that Christmas cards are made for Christmas.
I've got a feeling this is another wind-up, like the tabloid scare-story about the (mythical) school which banned children from singing the traditional words of the nursery rhyme & decreed "Baa, Baa Green Sheep" instead.
Geddaway!

Well, I wanted to choose a "react" but find only highly positive ones available - assuming a great deal! I disagree that you should celebrate Christmas leaving out the religious aspect of the holiday. It is celebrated as THE BIRTH OF CHRIST all around the world. That is what it is and if you choose to ignore that to appease your audience then call your celebration something else!

After reading the message from the school I must say I might reconsider my choice if I had a child attending there.

It doesn't matter. It is not important. What children call a card they make is up tp them, which seems to be what the guidance is saying - how is this in any way a big deal?

Probably all invented by some hard core wokey white middle class type..I experienced them whilst doing some supply teaching for a very left wing council...I was reprimanded for using the black coffee term...its coffee without milk...and also told off about lack of awareness of the sikh religion when we didnt have any sikh students and wasnt an area being taught...interesting all those types later got sacked for racism and fraud...i wasnt surprised !! And to add, my black and asian friends hate all this inclusive nonsense and find it actually divisive.

Most Aberdonians will be completely indifferent to this and over some dik tat that's came from a primary School.
My own I couldn't careless about it.

Christmas is not cancelled or replaced

Unfortunately, following the communications, our deputy head teacher received an abusive and threatening telephone call.

This is what you really should be concerned about

I remember reading about the idea of Wintersville by Birmingham city council in our local newspaper. Everyone was up in arms about it and rightly so! Even the Muslim population of Birmingham said it was a ridiculous idea to rename it. The council soon backed down. It seems it’s the woke brigade who are most offended🙄

Exactly!