Religious celebrations at nursery

[Pelomum]

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?

@TonesAndShades

Absolutely not. I presume they celebrated Christmas…

Did you read the post? Other religions celebrate now, you know Easter etc so why only promote one ?

It really does not matter at nursery.

If they go and are happy there, that's job done!

Tbf op, I’m not sure there were any chocolate eggs or baby chicks at Christ’s crucifixion but they make a slightly nicer table centrepiece don’t they.

Don’t say anything, it’s a nursery school- it really doesn’t matter.

I think that it is good that all religions are talked about as it is also about history and celebrations around the world. Am sure they will do Easter Celebrations but maybe just ask them if they need the children to bring anything in for Easter Celebrations and then you will know if they will be doing something as all should be celebrating or none.

It's not Easter yet. I assume they did something for Christmas?

It's really good that they learns about different types of religions and celebrations.

At least wait until after Easter before you start thinking like this, I'd be stunned if they didn't do anything for Easter.

I can guarantee that they’ll be doing stuff for Easter as it’s one of the ‘fun ones’.

As they will be doing lots of things for Easter they will make more of an effort to make people aware that they haven’t forgot about other celebrations.

@Kanaloa

So if the importance of Christmas in Britain is now more as a cultural event rather than a religious observance (I do agree with that), how exactly is it more comparable to Ramadan than Easter?

@RaginaPhalange

Ramadan has already started, eater however has not

It has though, it started with shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Lent and Palm Sunday

I think most nurseries try and celebrate the big religious festivals for the main religions.
I still have my daughters Hanukkah candle made from loo roll and tissue paper that I display each year. She's 16 now and we're not even Jewish

[quote Headabovetheparakeet]@Kanaloa

So if the importance of Christmas in Britain is now more as a cultural event rather than a religious observance (I do agree with that), how exactly is it more comparable to Ramadan than Easter?

[/quote]
The pp was (I presume) suggesting that Eid is the ‘big celebration’ in the Muslim religion. In our culture, Christmas is the biggest celebration and will undoubtedly be observed by the nursery. So they’ve chosen to observe one big celebration from both religions.

Although given op’s comments re there not being Christmas trees in Israel 2000 years ago I’m curious what type of Easter celebrations she’s envisioning?

@Kanaloa

Yeah, I get that but you're using 'religion' for Ramadan and 'culture' for Christmas and Easter. It's understandable if you've always lived in a Christian country but the two words are not interchangeable.

Op asked about religious festivals. Ramadan and Easter are the holiest and most important festivals for those faiths.

No one is arguing with you about the cultural importance of Christmas but buying loads of shit and singing carols is not comparable to fasting and a month of prayer.

@Kanaloa

Although given op’s comments re there not being Christmas trees in Israel 2000 years ago I’m curious what type of Easter celebrations she’s envisioning?

I think this comment betrays your misunderstanding about this thread. The Op says upfront that she is a Christian. Just because you are not aware of the relevance of Christmas without trees and Easter without chocolate eggs doesn't mean there isn't any.

Its also the most important day in the Sikh calendar during this time - Vaisakhi. (13/14 April every year)
Chances are, my DDs school won't acknowledge but I'm ok with that.
I think its wonderful that your DCs school is bringing attention to Ramadan. All religious festivals should be celebrated.
Trust me Easter will be too.

Of course I’m aware of the relevance of Easter without eggs you numpty. I’m also aware (after many many years working in childcare) that religious festivals observed in most nursery schools will not be an education in the historical and religious relevance of Easter. They will be a celebration of the cultural points of that festival. I imagine the Eid celebrations involved making display board pictures, reading a story, dancing to music, and possibly trying some new foods. I’d be absolutely astounded if they involved readings from the Quran or a visit to a mosque or an academic study of the religious history of Eid.

Same with Christmas and Easter. They will not be observed in a religiously relevant way at nurseries - it will be a cultural celebration.

[quote Headabovetheparakeet]@Kanaloa

Yeah, I get that but you're using 'religion' for Ramadan and 'culture' for Christmas and Easter. It's understandable if you've always lived in a Christian country but the two words are not interchangeable.

Op asked about religious festivals. Ramadan and Easter are the holiest and most important festivals for those faiths.

No one is arguing with you about the cultural importance of Christmas but buying loads of shit and singing carols is not comparable to fasting and a month of prayer. [/quote]
But the nursery won’t be fasting and observing a month of prayer, will they? They’ll be making Eid cards and talking about ‘some families celebrate Eid.’

If they did observe a full month of fasting and Muslim prayer then that is indeed very surprising and unusual in an early years setting.

The fact is these will be celebrated in a light hearted way - it is about making kids aware that different people celebrate different things and making it fun for them to explore this.

OP is just having a wobbly because they celebrated Eid. As I said before, I wonder if she went into nursery right after the Christmas party to enquire what they had done for Hanukkah/Holi?

@Kanaloa

Of course I’m aware of the relevance of Easter without eggs you numpty. I’m also aware (after many many years working in childcare) that religious festivals observed in most nursery schools will not be an education in the historical and religious relevance of Easter. They will be a celebration of the cultural points of that festival. I imagine the Eid celebrations involved making display board pictures, reading a story, dancing to music, and possibly trying some new foods. I’d be absolutely astounded if they involved readings from the Quran or a visit to a mosque or an academic study of the religious history of Eid.

Same with Christmas and Easter. They will not be observed in a religiously relevant way at nurseries - it will be a cultural celebration.

Yeah, and that's fine but not the point we were discussing which was you taking exception to me saying that Ramadan and Easter are the most important festivals in their faiths.

But the nursery won’t be fasting and observing a month of prayer, will they? They’ll be making Eid cards and talking about ‘some families celebrate Eid.’

Why would they be making Eid cards now? Ramadan doesn't end until May.

My kids go to a catholic primary, they've come home with Ganesh, Diwali yea light holders, been to a mosque, a synagogue, learnt about Coptic Christians, Buddhism, atheists, agnostics. And so they should.

If you want to discuss it I would do it on a more general way rather than why are you doing Eid not Easter. Perhaps ask how they choose which festivals to celebrate and why.

There's over a week until Passover.

Israel didn’t exist 2000 years ago…that’s why there wasn’t a Christmas tree then.

But that’s another topic…

Your islamophobia is showing OP.

@Headabovetheparakeet

But the nursery won’t be fasting and observing a month of prayer, will they? They’ll be making Eid cards and talking about ‘some families celebrate Eid.’

Why would they be making Eid cards now? Ramadan doesn't end until May.

In preparation for Eid/talking about we have Ramadan then Eid comes etc. And I did also mention listening to stories and songs/trying new foods. Unless you think they’re fasting? Which I doubt.

Ffs. I hate this. "My religion isn't getting as much attention as that religion." All that ballcrap. Even my husband does it, saying, "Yeah but, no but..." and he's a staunch atheist like me!

There should be an awareness of different religions of course but this bullshit argument over which one gets the most time devoted to it can f*ck right off. Celebrate at home, at Church/mosque/temple/synagogue, and stop moaning. You are not special.