AIBU to give a v. small Christmas gift to DD's Muslim teacher?

[bowerbird]

Just that really. Have usually given a very small gift (a little bauble for the tree, or some homemade ginger biscuits) with a card made by DD to the teacher at Christmas break. DD's teacher this year is fantastic and an observant Muslim.

Would like to give her something, if only to mark the holidays and say thank you, have a nice break etc., but don't wish to offend. Any advice, particularly from Muslim MNers?

[LadyClariceCannockMonty]

Could you write her card/present the gift in an end-of-term way ie 'Thanks for everything this term and have a lovely break from school', rather than it seeming like a Christmas present?

I'm not sure how you'd convey that, admittedly.

As a bit of an aside, I think it's lovely if schools celebrate, or just make pupils aware of, major festivals and holidays in non-Christian religions (as dinky mentions upthread), especially in schools where other religious backgrounds are represented. I didn't have a clue about Hannukah or Eid or Holi or anything when I was a kid but I'm sure I would have loved to learn about them (and to get the associated presents )

[giveitago]

I'm from a multi religious family but I'm not particularly religious (my side is cofe and hindu and my h is a devout catholic).

Quite a clash.

Having said that the majority of my friends are from other religions.If I were a teacher I'd be happy to receive anything from the parents by way of thanks for hard word done with kids. But I'm not a teacher.

I think we overthink things too much. If something is given with genuine gratitude to a teacher (in this case) by way of thanks for a good job done at a time when it's normal (like UK is a country with a christian tradition) to give a gift then the issue is with the receiver. These days it's possible to give accompanying cards that are not not overly religious (aka rubs someone's nose in someone elses religion/culture). Can't say I've ever felt it (someone once gave me some candles - they turned out to be relgious candles but I didn't mind at all) but then again I'm not from a culture that says that my way is the right and the other way takes away from my culture.

Dunno. I guess at the end of the day would a) not want to give a dear teacher a present because you're giving it at the time of year that they do not recognise b) leave a dear teacher out because of fear of offence.

[littleducks]

We are muslim and dont celebrate xmas.

I wouldn't mind receiving a gift. I might feel uneasy/uncomfortable as I wouldn't reciprocate (at xmas time) and would worry that it would appear rude.

I would prefer a less religious card, like snowmen or robins rather than a nativity scene but at the end of the day wouldnt be offended.

[giveitago]

I don't celebrate eid, non christmas catholic festivals or any jewish festivals at all but I certainly recognise them as they are in calendar and I wouldn't be offened to be included in someone elses celebration of them.

I just don't feel discomfort.

[grovel]

Perhaps we should remember that Muslims believe in Jesus and in the Virgin birth. They may not have chosen to have a festival to celebrate his birth but it is still good news in their religion too.

"Muslims respect and revere Jesus .They consider him one of the greatest of God?s messengers to mankind. The Quran confirms his virgin birth, and a chapter of the Quran is entitled ?Maryam? (Mary). The Quran describes the birth of Jesus as follows:

(Remember) when the angels said, ?O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him (God), whose name is the Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, revered in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (to God). He will speak to the people from his cradle and as a man, and he is of the righteous.? She said, ?My Lord, how can I have a child when no mortal has touched me?? He said, ?So (it will be). God creates what He wills. If He decrees a thing, He says to it only, ?Be!? and it is.? (Quran, 3:45-47)"

[GaramMasalaGirl]

mmm halal turkey...with date chutney...(starts drooling again)

[Bonbonchance]

I work with lots of Muslim children and lots of them celebrate Christmas with tree, presents etc as well as Eid. Have worked with someone who was Muslim and her family always celebrated Christmas as a cultural thing as well as doing Ramadan, Eid etc as their religion. She got lots of Christmas presents from children & gave cards, little gifts etc to her class, it wouldn't have occurred to her to be offended I don't think!

Go for it, I'm sure your child's teacher would appreciate the sentiment as a thank you and have good holidays type thing.

[mato3]

goralka i didnt say christmas made me uneasy i said receiving gifts or cards would make me feel uneasy. The op asked muslims view on it and i gave my view on how i feel. I also wouldnt mind if u said that you were uneasy about being given eid presents as its your choice and how you feel. Personally i would feel like a hypocrite in taking part in christmas or giftgiving/receiving or any other religious festival because i have chosen another faith and i cant just pick and choose the best of all faiths. It just wouldnt be right to me.

I dont mean any offence to you or others by this, its just how i feel.

[Bakingnovice]

I always give the Muslim teachers a pressie and card. In fact at our school all the Muslim mums help organise the Xmas fair. They get more excited about the nativity/Xmas choir/ Santa than anyone else. And they also have wonderful recipes for spicing up Xmas dinner. A few years ago the Head tried to call the Xmas fair 'happy holidays fair'. It was the Muslim parents who set up the campaign to restore the word Christmas and impressed on everyone that no one need be offended in their name.

[WorraLorraTurkey]

If anyone is offended at being given a thoughtful gift, chosen, bought and wrapped with good intention, they are very easily offended and quite frankly up their own arses imo.

I would give the teacher a gift and if they're offended there's nothing you can do about it OP.

Though I suspect MN contains more PO's than real life does...or let's hope so anyway

[FannyBazaar]

I am neither Muslim or Christian and find my Muslim friends are just as likely to give Christmas presents as anyone else I know. We give presents to the teachers at Christmas and don't bother asking the teacher's religion first but do chose something I think would be fairly acceptable to anyone.

The children all seem to exchange cards at Christmas regardless of religion.

[WorraLorraTurkey]

That's it Fanny I've never asked anyone's religion when giving a Christmas gift or card.

It's none of my business anyway and I'm not particularly interested in any religion.

[narmada]

I have no problem accepting and giving xhristmas presents despite the fact I am an atheist. Obviously I am therefore very broad minded and multiculti . Christmas is different things to different people. To me it is an annual cultural and family event.

I would give the presents.

[peppapigpants]

About half of my class are Muslim, 2/3 of the rest Hindu or Sikh. There are fewer Christians than any other faith. We are doing a nativity play and the children talk about Christmas and what they are planning at home. They also talked about prayer mats when we studied patterns in RE and about how they celebrated Divali. We made divas and every child, regardless of faith, took one home. I will write a card for every child in my class. They all know who Santa is but most are quite clueless about Jesus .

[Bakingnovice]

The only thing I would add is that the gift should be appropriate. No alcohol or alcoholic chocolates or sweets containing gelatine if the teacher is Muslim.

[bowerbird]

Crescent thank you for saying that - really made my day!

Baking, I know obviously about no alcohol - but gelatine? Is gelatine a pork derivative perhaps? I didn't know that. Thank you for pointing that out.

Many thanks to all who have kindly posted here.