Our school has banned the word Christmas?

[Fayethefair]

I’ve heard from a friend on my DD’s school’s ptfa that our Cambridgeshire school has banned the word Christmas to make the school events feel more inclusive. So now it’s Festive Party, Festive Fayre etc. I’m happy to let mumsnet know the name of the school if they don’t feel this post is genuine so they can check this themselves but I won’t put names on here as this is my child’s school, I just don’t think this right and want to see what others think.

My daughter attended a Diwali lunch put on by the school recently and I genuinely thought this was lovely. I feel everything should be represented equally, I don’t understand or agree that the head should be picking and choosing what’s allowed and what isn’t. Surely this isn’t right?

Right. So surely it makes sense to have one day or one event for each religious festival or day or observance, including Christmas, so all the kids can experience learning about it, and then have big overall events, requiring lots of PA and school input and resources, be larger overall inclusive celebrations?

Or does that strip you of your right to buy shitty crafts in the school hall in the name of your faith?

The term "Christmas" has been used in the West to subsume all the various mid-winter festivals from around the world, to a large degree because Christianity tried to ban all other religions.

I am more than happy for Christians to celebrate the tenets of their faith at this time despite them banning (literally on pain of death) all other religions celebrating their own festivals. However there are certain aspects of the winter festivals that are common to many of the various religions. Having candles, fires, feasting, partying, decorations and gift giving are part of many different faiths, so why should events that are based around many different religions only ever be known under the name of one of them?

For me this time of year is as much Yule, Saturnalia, Solstice etc as it is Christmas. But these terms are all neglected with everything named "Christmas". Can you imagine the screams if they were called Solstice presents, or a Yule Tree, or a Saturnalia party. Maybe we should have Wassailing concerts? Solis Invictus dinner? Pancha Ganapati holiday? But instead those are all bundled up as "festive" or "winter" as it is; a bit non-inclusive to complain about us having that tiny concession to not being Christian at this time of year?

Did someone called Nigel say he had heard it from his friend Lee ?

It started with wiping out the Christian meaning of Halloween now they'll be paganising Christmas next making us put evergreen, fir tree, holly and mistetoe decorations in our houses and burning a yule log. Instead of praying to St Nicolas, patron saint of Coca Cola.

I'm Muslim. Haven't read the thread but this is absolutely ridiculous.

You don't need Christmas posters because kids will send/receive CHRISTMAS cards.

There will be a CHRISTMAS dinner (complete with crackers) which is the equivalent to a Diwali lunch.

All the head has asked, is that winter events like crafts and fayres are not labelled as Christmas events because making a snow globe has fuck all to do with Christmas and is doable for everyone, even Jehovah's Witnesses (who would be excluded if it was presented as a Christmas celebration).

Won't somebody think of the children? 😭

But Christmas festivities are so visible, and such a massive deal in our culture, that the school does not need to highlight Christmas. We literally all experience the 'Christmas period' where everything is Christmas themed for a good month and a half.

Diwali, and other smaller cultural celebrations, are much less visible, and not something that kids are likely to learn about unless they are introduced to them through school.

I'm sure that kids learn about Christianity in school as well though and are aware of what Christmas means to practicing Christians. A 'Festive Fayre' however does not sound like it involves much in the way of Christian/Bible related activities.

Mine gets lumped in with devil worship how bad is that?
Pagans don't believe in christanity so why the fuck do they believe in the devil which is a christian thing?

So will the school have a Christmas Lunch during the day towards the end of term? My bet is yes. So exactly the same as Diwali. I would also bet there’ll be other overtly Christmas events. What’s happened here is the Head has told the PTA to give their out of school, fund raising events a more general name. Maybe he thinks they’ll raise more money that way.

Edit: I think you are probably wrong about Christmas posters too. Your OP merely mentions PTA events, not school observance.

OP if it’s really bothering you, look around the other local school and move her.

Not that I wish to be controversial, but from a Church perspective we aren't even remotely in Advent yet. So I don't think 'Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells' ought to be complaining too much about 'banning Christmas' since from a religious viewpoint it doesn't start until Christmas Eve anyway.

Well if "they" are banning Christmas, then why the fuck are there adverts/markets/tat in shops all revolving around Christmas? Why aren't any of those things shut done/withdrawn if Christmas is "banned"? Honestly lay off the caffeine and get a grip.

Does your school open on Christmas Day? I mean, if it does, I'd expect Christmas to be named and celebrated.

Otherwise I can't get all that worked up about it.

.

Oh I think they have… I recall reading “f….ing Virgin birth “

It is advent up to Christmas though usually from Dec 1st

Am rather intrigued by this as my children are in Cambridgeshire schools!! Ours haven't removed Christmas from the various celebrations.
It is completely wrong to remove Christmas from Christmas activities and celebrations, particularly whilst using correct names for various festivals from other faiths.
In the first instance, it maybe worth checking the school/trust policies to check if any have been broken. If they have been, particularly around teaching of religion, then you need to raise this with the school.
It's also potentially worth raising a complaint anyway (stick with facts!!) about removing the correct name for one of the major Christian festivals (other being Easter) whilst retaining the name for other faiths major festivals. Also where will it end?
The head should not be bowing to a parents moan about the use of the word Christmas! This is a Christian country and we should not allow more and more of the Christian faith to be eroded.

Disingenuous much!

Love how you urge the OP to stick to facts as her whole thread is based on hearsay

The spirit of Christmas is alive and well on this thread 😆

A peculiar brand if Christianity that gets so caught up on what something is called.

Bottisham?

They have called their Christmas fair thing a festive fair. Conclusive proof of Christmas BEING BANNED!

Please. Clearly 'THEIR' inefficiency is all that stands between this once great country and ruin, and possibly sharia law.

In fact, I've heard, from a friend in the know, that THEY are about to start rounding up the council-funded employees who decorate pretty much every street and lamppost in London with (forbidden word redacted) decorations.

I've been away with the kids a bit, are we allowed to mention Christmas again yet?

No, sorry. Did your device not zap you for typing it?

Any particular reason why you felt the need to sneer at Christianity in that post?