School celebrating multicultural day, on St. George's day.

[ClaryFray]

Hi all,

Just got a Facebook post from DS school saying that on 23rd April they will be celebrating multicultural day the children can wear colors of there flags and share facts with other children. No problems. Had a quick google as I'm a teaching assistant and my work hadn't done anything, normally we run lesson plans around three days if not actual dress up days. And I found the official date was October 15th I think. Thought it was weird, but thought no more of it.

Read out post to DP who says he won't support it until October when the day actually is because they should learn about St. George's day on that day.

A few of the comments I the schools Facebook page are the same nature ignoring a day to try not to offend. But I think DS will enjoy the dress up, I think maybe it's bad timing by the school but can see why. DP says no, DS will be going in uniform or staying off.

Who is BU?

What does your DP usually do to celebrate St George’s Day? Is it a big thing in his family?

Presume you could always dress DS up in red and white and he could tell stories of dragon-slaying anyway?

He is.

He's right really but punishing your child to make a point is not appropriate. It's horrid being the only one not dressed up and not allowed to join in the fun .

By all means he can contact the school and explain his annoyance but let your child have a day of fun and learning.

St George was a middle eastern saint who is the patron saint of rather a lot of other countries as well as England...

Quite multicultural really.

So send your child in something with the George flag.

If we are going to celebrate all cultures then we must include our own in that.

And we do celebrate at George's Day here, any excuse for a lovely afternoon tea!

Is St. George’s day normally celebrated? (I’m not English)

Tbh if you’re English then just send DS in wearing red and white as those are his flags colours and he will be celebrating St. George’s day as well as multicultural day.

It might be a chance for some people to learn about old multi-cultural St George.

Even Philomena Cunk now knows his father was from central Turkey and his mother from Palestine, and he never set foot in England.

Thanks all. That was my idea. Send him in the flag colors for the uk. Maybe with his fact being about roast dinners... that's as far as my culture goes anyway.

DP has the hump because he thinks it's a way to push St. George's day out, because the school is pretty ethically diverse. I've told him he's being stupid. But I wondered if it was more of a thing than I thought.

The school is being unreasonable
Just imagine the reaction if St Patrick's/St David's/St Andrew's Day was bumped out of the way for a Multicultural day - there would be uproar.
It is unacceptable to the English but of course we are not supposed to be proud of our nation
Given that there is no set aside day for diversity day - it would not be difficult to use another day for the worthwhile intention of celebrating diversity.

I'm confused
15th October marks.....?

St George's Day should be just that.

Gosh, is he also always complaining about those pesky Muslims forbidding Christmas and enforcing the term 'Winterval'?

I think it's a good idea, especially as I'm not aware of St George's Day as having any specific set of celebrations associated with it, other than the unfortunate recent association of the flag with racist thugs?

Send him in the flag colors for the uk.

Why the UK? St George is the patron saint of England.

Just imagine the reaction if St Patrick's/St David's/St Andrew's Day was bumped

Are those generally celebrated in English schools? weird!

Anyway, yeah just dress him as George and give him a pet dragon to take, sorted.

they should learn about St. George's day on that day.

Yeah, like about how many other countries have St George as their patron saint/celebrate the day.

Surely your husband should be supporting it by making sure your kid is there to represent St George with bells on?!

No-one will be learning about it if you all go on strike in some Britain First foot stamping manner.

Wear something Turkish!

Send him in the flag colors for the uk.

Well that’s also wrong. It should be English colours, as it’s not a UK Saints day.

St George wasn’t British or white.
Britain has always been multi-cultural due to being an island trading nation.

But it is odd to choose to do it that day

Those bloody Greek saints coming over 'ere, killing OUR dragons.

planetradio.co.uk/hallam/entertainment/seasonal-events/12-facts-probably-know-st-george-day/

I’ve just googled and found this.

St George is patron saint of 10 countries so it actually makes total sense to celebrate multiple cultures on St. George’s day.

St George is the patron saint of England.

And is about as unEnglish as you can get ...

Can someone explain simply then what the issue is? Or potentially is?

I think your dh needs to spend time getting upset about things that matter. St George’s Day is not a big event in England and never has been - seems a good way to celebrate our increasingly diverse nation if you ask me.

Just imagine the reaction if St Patrick's/St David's/St Andrew's Day was bumped out of the way for a Multicultural day - there would be uproar.

We're Irish in England and my son's schools have never once celebrated St Patrick's Day. Nor would I have expected them to.

St George's day is English. Rude to dismiss it. There was a huge celebration over St Patrick's day - which s fine and fun - but I can't imagine it being hijacked and everyone being fine with it.

We always celebrate it - always have. Also St Andrew's day as ex DP is a Scot, (and Burns night!)

If my DH shared views like that with me, I think I would be having a hard think about our future.