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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Religious celebrations at nursery

128 replies

Pelomum · 07/04/2022 15:58

I picked up my DC from nursery this week and as soon as I walked in noticed a prominent Ramadan display with pictures of a Quran, food etc. Ramadan falls around the same time as Lent/Easter and Passover but there was nothing for these religious holidays. The nursery is part of a big university as a place for staff to send their children but this particular branch has more local families attending. My husband and I were raised RC and my DC is baptised but we feel that religion is a personal preference and institutions should either celebrate ALL religions or none - should I speak to someone about it?

OP posts:
TonesAndShades · 07/04/2022 16:00

Absolutely not. I presume they celebrated Christmas…

Lovebroccoli · 07/04/2022 16:02

I don't think it actually matters very much, as a nursery age child probably won't remember what they did or didn't celebrate and it isn't likely to influence them.

FionnulaTheCooler · 07/04/2022 16:02

They will probably do Easter activities at some point. I'm assuming they acknowledged Christmas. I don't see an issue with Ramadan/Eid being acknowledged.

HelpfulAlex · 07/04/2022 16:02

They will be doing Easter next week - mine are.

Kanaloa · 07/04/2022 16:02

Every nursery I’ve worked at has celebrated the big religious events. I’d be really really surprised if your nursery does absolutely nothing for Christmas or Easter. I’ve never worked in a school without a nativity play and Father Christmas visit and Christmas party etc etc etc.

It may be that they have a Muslim child and so are trying to represent/reflect that child’s home experience, but possible have no children who celebrate Passover. I would imagine they’ll be celebrating Easter too.

dementedpixie · 07/04/2022 16:02

Its not even Easter yet so I imagine they will do something for that and for Christmas

Floofsquidge · 07/04/2022 16:03

Ramadan is happening right now, Easter is not for another two weeks so why on earth should they focus on Easter?

As an atheist I am happy that my 3 year old son is learning all about different religions and cultures at nursery and celebrating with his friends so hopefully he'll grow up in a more tolerant society.

ghostyslovesheets · 07/04/2022 16:05

Easter is not here yet - please don't be that parent

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 07/04/2022 16:05

I imagine they will draw Easter eggs,
Maybe even do an Easter egg hunt.
Just because they haven’t got a big display doesn’t mean they aren’t referencing Easter.
Yabu

YouHaveYourFathersBreasts · 07/04/2022 16:05

Easter will get a mention very soon I’d have thought. Nurseries usually celebrate all of the religious holidays. My children brought home Eid/Hanukkah/Diwali/Easter cards they’d made, sang me songs and told me stories they’d learnt etc. None of them were missed out as far as I can remember.

Who would you speak to and what would you say?

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 07/04/2022 16:06

It might depend on the demographic, such as if you're in an area with a large Muslim population like I am. I'm Jewish and our local Jewish community is very small, so our religious holidays aren't recognised by schools etc.

ofwarren · 07/04/2022 16:06

It's not Easter yet
Guaranteed they will celebrate next week

JamSandwich89 · 07/04/2022 16:06

The way I see it, learning about other religions/religious celebrations is different to celebrating them. I think it's good to learn about these things. Also, perhaps they're getting to the Easter activities next week...? I think you'd look a bit daft saying anything. Confused

Kanaloa · 07/04/2022 16:07

@YouHaveYourFathersBreasts

Easter will get a mention very soon I’d have thought. Nurseries usually celebrate all of the religious holidays. My children brought home Eid/Hanukkah/Diwali/Easter cards they’d made, sang me songs and told me stories they’d learnt etc. None of them were missed out as far as I can remember.

Who would you speak to and what would you say?

I imagine you’d march into the manager’s office and say ‘why are you celebrating Muslim holidays and not lent? Why do you have Muslim pictures up? My child is Roman Catholic. I don’t want Eid.’
Ringmaster27 · 07/04/2022 16:08

I was raised in a staunchly Catholic home, but am now as atheist as they come.
My DCs are not baptised.
In the last couple of months, they’ve been learning about Passover, Ramadan, Eid and Easter - whichever is most relevant at the time in terms of when it’s being celebrated by members of that particular community. There are pupils from various faiths across all the year groups in their school, so I think it’s brilliant that they can all share little bits of their lives with their friends and classmates and feel included and represented by the school!
I think you’re making a mountain out of a molehill.

HELLITHURT · 07/04/2022 16:09

It's the 7th April, Easter Sunday is 17th (good Friday 15th), talk about jumping the gun! Why would you start to celebrate Easter when we have over a week of lent to go...

Stop being professionally offended.

Did the celebrate Christmas? Did you complain at that religious festival being celebrated?

YouHaveYourFathersBreasts · 07/04/2022 16:10

I imagine you’d march into the manager’s office and say ‘why are you celebrating Muslim holidays and not lent? Why do you have Muslim pictures up? My child is Roman Catholic. I don’t want Eid.’

Or a daily mail sad face photo op outside the nursery? DM comment section would be jizzing their pants at the thought of “Easter being cancelled in favour of Eid”

Fellforitagain · 07/04/2022 16:12

Do what you want, why are you trying to tell others what to do?

Duracellbunnywannabe · 07/04/2022 16:12

YABU. They can’t learn about every religious festival every year. They would never do anything else. As long as they learn about festivals for a mixture of different religions it’s fine.

thebabynanny · 07/04/2022 16:14

Why are you so desperate for nursery to celebrate Easter when you don't even know the date of it Confused

Skelligsfeathers · 07/04/2022 16:18

It doesn't really matter though does it as you will already marking Lent at home, going to mass etc yes?

Kanaloa · 07/04/2022 16:18

@YouHaveYourFathersBreasts

I imagine you’d march into the manager’s office and say ‘why are you celebrating Muslim holidays and not lent? Why do you have Muslim pictures up? My child is Roman Catholic. I don’t want Eid.’

Or a daily mail sad face photo op outside the nursery? DM comment section would be jizzing their pants at the thought of “Easter being cancelled in favour of Eid”

Possibly a picture of your child reaching out sadly for an Easter egg that’s just out of their reach while a nasty nursery teacher stamps on their hand and brandishes a display board about Ramadan in their face.
Kanaloa · 07/04/2022 16:19

Can imagine the DM headlines about Easter being cancelled for Eid though. They’d absolutely shit a brick with excitement.

ScottishBeth · 07/04/2022 16:19

YABU Ramadan started a few days ago. So they put up some Ramadan stuff. East is next week and they'll do something for Easter.

codeVeronica · 07/04/2022 16:20

Were they celebrating Ramadan or just learning about it?