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?

No, you need to put a big X through the Christ part

Nope. Punishable by the Judas cradle.

If they are being inclusive then all correct names festivities and events should be included and celebrated equally including Cristian beliefs including Christmas and Easter. This is a British school and they should at least know what the religious beliefs of there own country are and understand it even if they don’t believe or have a different religion at home. part of the curriculum includes religious education which includes learning about each religion visiting different places of worship if there is opportunity. Are they not including Christianity in this? I would ask them for some information about what is and isn’t going to be included in future. And if your disappointed by this you should tell them, Email the council too and inform them your not happy with the changes. The fact that everyone accepts this will mean it’s just allowed.

If some of this is true and other words are being used instead of Christmas for fear of giving offence-and I add the rider that it might not be-but, if it is, I refer to the old adage that was oft used in business and is a simple retort for those who join anything-country, workplace, knitting circle- and want things changed...FIOFO.

Who do you suspect is wanting things changed?

As I said and I think I said it clearly-anyone who joins anything: country, workplace, knitting circle and wants the others to change for their convenience. I think it is pretty reasonable to say FIOFO. Do you not?

If true, this is annoying and wrong. Only you can decide whether to protest and explain why Christian festivals are as important as those of other faiths (to the school head, academy ceo, local authority etc etc). If you are a practising Christian, it won't make any difference to your DC though.

I'm not a Christian (or anything at all) but I wonder if you'd refer to "sky fairies" or similar expressions if you were responding to a Muslim, Hindu or Sikh? Maybe you would, but just curious to know.

Is this irony?

Apart from the fact that you are showing racism by talking about "joining" this country (British born & bred here, with generational proof going back centuries and NOT a Christian), children don't "Join" school by choice, education is mandatory and not everyone has the time or ability to home school. I don't HAVE to join a knitting circle, but we do have to school our kids.

I don't believe any of the worshipped god or goddess figures are remotely real or alive. If folk choose to buy into that, crack on.

Yes I think so

it’s ok seemingly to be mocking of Christianity but I think you have to be careful about what will fill the vacuum.

be aware at the way other countries persecute minority faiths especially as our demographics seem to be rapidly changing

My, adult, daughter’s school doesn’t call the holiday in late December
‘Christmas’. Not referred to as that at all, or on lists, documents, by staff etc. Same for the 2 week holiday in Spring, no reference to Easter at all.

So before some go all gammon about it- it’s a Jewish school. She gets Christmas cards from her children and they all refer to it as Christmas (and Easter)

Not sure if the school the original poster actually exists - possibly a misunderstanding, something taken out of context etc?

I was born in the UK, as were my parents, and my parents' parents, and so on...

I don't care if they call it a Christmas fair or a winter fair or Winterval or Coldmas or whatever. I think the less influence organised religion has on everyday life the better. Where am I fucking off to?

Has the word been banned or have they just not used it in their posts? Explicit banning would be worth raising; just not using it probably wouldn’t.

Is this addressed to the OP? She's joined the school and this is how they do things so shut up and accept it? Sounds alright.

So no new thinking, innovation or progress? No wonder British industry is in the shitter.

Who's it going to hurt?

Christians, that's who.

Renaming a Christmas fair is hurting Christians? How?

Is anyone stopping them holding markets?
Maybe they just dont want to bothered with ripping people off charging ridiculous prices and calling it a Christmas, or Eid, or Diwali Market 😅

Well, they are just reverting back to their pagan roots.

Can't believe you actually have to ask that question?! Our major Christian festival is allowed to be renamed without a complaint, but any other faith can keep there name for a major festival. It's completely wrong.

What is Christian about a market?

Christmas is not being banned.