Halloween at school

[Ganainmlondon]

We are very disappointed as our child's teacher wanted to have a Halloween celebration of sorts in school as she realised the children were so disappointed that they couldn't trick or treat or have a party with their friends. Our West London school said no as they argued costumes would be a Covid health and safety risk but now they are doing an international language day instead and the kids can dress up as something to do with South America. I'm all for learning more about the world, especially languages but it doesn't mean much to the children and to have T&T at school with their friends would really be something to look forward to in these dark times. Not sure why the school feels costumes are ok for one event in the week and not another. I wish the school would think about what the children need in these times to feel happy and normal.

I think it's fair enough of the school to decide not to celebrate Halloween, even if one teacher wants to. But the making up excuses and blaming COVID is frustrating on many levels and will lead to children respecting and trusting the school less.

I was going to suggest Day of the Dead but a PP beat me too it! I’d definitely do that. Perhaps watch the Disney film Pixar in advance too maybe as that explains a lot about the meaning behind the Day of the Dead festival!

My DS’s school is holding its usual Halloween Fancy dress disco after school - but this year the DJ will set up outside under a gazebo rather than the hall and the classes will all hold individual discos in their classrooms. I’m so happy that the children get to enjoy a Halloween event with Their friends.

Sorry I meant the Disney Pixar film Coco! (Need coffee)

My kids primary wouldn;t allow any mention of Halloween.
Killjoy christian parents complained about celebrating "dark forces" and it was dropped.

It would have been better if they had explained why in a more honest fashion rather than claiming it was Covid hygiene related. It’s illogical to follow that up with encouragement of dressing up in different costumes.

I don’t agree with the schools logic but I do agree that it is right not to do Halloween during the school day.

Not all children like or want to take part in it. Ds has such a fear of all things Halloween that at this time of year normally we can’t take him anywhere unless we know there isn’t the slightest mention of it

Honestly dark forces? Evil? This is coming from someone who's partner was never able to celebrate Halloween because his parents thought it was evil, he hasn't ever forgiven them by the way for removing that part of his childhood and we are both pagan now so they are really upset 😂

Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts is hardly evil is it!
It's paying homage to the dead and the origin of trick or treating was knocking on doors and praying for deceased loved one.

Anyone who thinks it's of evil origin is misinformed and delusional in my opinion :)

I love Halloween - in my experience the people who don’t like it are total fun sponges who get all upset about ‘dark arts’ while harping on about an archaic grimoire that features child sacrifice, smiting and walking on water. Go figure

I love Halloween but it’s never been a thing at ds school and wouldnt expect it to be just because if this shitty year.
I don’t agree with the logic they can’t wear costumes to one event but not another but can’t get wound up about not alllowing Halloween celebrations - there is no reason why kids can’t make most of it at home

Personally I'd think venturing into the the 'saviour' who died on the cross for your sins watching you always to make sure you don't do anything 'bad'. Imho is way more creepy than an imaginary witch minding her own fucking business, or a hypothetical ghost popping up to wave hello one night a year. If you're Catholic you can't swing a hamster without hitting a Saint. But fuck me if you want to have sex before marriage, or covet your best mates coat when you're 10? 🤨

Whataboutnodontyouunderstand

It's how christianity has operated though- by vilifying old pagan practices in order to scare people into jumping onto their bandwagon.
They have either claimed festivals as their own or created fear surrounding them. Look what they did to poor old Cernunnos.
No surprise that the christian devil is a god of ancient pagan times.
Cernunnos was never about evil- he was a forest god, god of the hunt, god of fecundity, male fertility, sex, earth energy. He had horns and cloven feet.
The church did an effective PR job on him turning him into their bogey man

I’m not sure why wearing a costume is any different to wearing any other clothing 🤔. It all comes from home so will have the same risk factor as their uniform.

Also agree that creating opportunities for fun is important for them this year. It’s been horrible for everyone.

Sent the kids in Halloween costumes anyway !
How lovely it would be for kids to have a party at school when they can’t at home.

Let's be fair here though? A teacher possibly sporting stripey tights for the day, and having a pumpkin bucket at the front of the classroom is hardly 'supporting the dark arts'? Surely it's just acknowledging an event that every child unless they've lived their life up until that day is aware of? No teacher/parent is going to crack out a ouji board or start drawing occult pentagrams in the school yard 😒

My god, some people really are precious aren’t they? Dark forces? Jesus.

All Hallow’s Eve, a Christian festival, was about remembering those who died and the deeply departed.

All Hallow’s Eve, a Christian festival, was about remembering those who died and the deeply departed

Dearly?

Either way, that doesn't really seem to have anything to do with bats, witches, pumpkins, sweets, zombies, mummies, cobwebs and the other random stuff put out for commercialised Halloween. So I can see the point there.

I've never 'got' Halloween, it just seems like another money-making venture rather than a personal remembrance of loved ones no longer with you.

MN is not pedant central
It's North pedant

BTW I❤️Halloween 🦇 👻 and my kid's school already have the decorations up!

The day of the dead is celebrated more widely than just Mexico - here are some other countries which also celebrate the day of the dead. Equador, Venezuela, Colombia and Peru are all in South America. Or go as Pachacuti with a collection of bones.

Besides schools usually don't worry about lumping Central and South America together in my experience, much to the consternation of my children. Likewise the regular discussions about whether it should be Australisia (school) or Oceania (my dc).

How would Trick and Treat even work in school? Surely they'd all just dress in their costumes for the day, do their usual work, maybe have a little party in the classroom with music to dance to depending on their age?

As for South American day being meaningless to them, that's why they're at school. To learn about the stuff that was meaningless. I'm sure this teacher is capable of teaching it in a way that the kids have fun and enjoy it

@TW2013

Dress as a skeleton with a mask representing the Day of the Dead, very South American.

I like your thinking, but it isn't really. Mexico is a country in North America.

Clearly I should have RTFT!

Cross Post Margotshypotheticaldog with the ultimate pedant post. I had actually checked before my original suggestion because I know what people are like.

Yup, Halloween is too dark and scary. But a man being nailed to a cross, dying and coming back to life three days later is A-OK.

There are always some parents who are really anti Halloween. With most things they can be swerved, a child taken out of class for one lesson, but if it involves dressing up and a whole day of activities the school is going to get a few very angry parents. Those parents oribabmybdontbshoultbabkutbthejrvbeleifs in the playground, so when you say all parents were happy you probably weren't aware of the three percent who really weren't. I've had one parent rant at me because the class were read "Room on the Broom".

It sounds like the school are trying to achieve some middle ground, but failing a bit.