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?

You are, of course correct. I should have made the distinction clear.

I would love to join the outrage at the banning of Christmas. Unfortunately, even though I ask every year, nobody has ever been able to show me any evidence that it’s ever happened. Since 1647, that is.

When did they make a law that you had to have facts to be outraged ?

I'm outraged, I tell you.

It is an Englishpersons right - nay, expected duty - to froth at total bollocks.

I can't think of anything less British that requiring facts. For anything, really.

No, the problem is that your point was wrong.

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.

Your major Christian festival (considered by most to be Easter, by the way) has not been renamed. A primary school event several weeks before the day has been renamed.

And judging by the whingeing on this thread, even that hasn't happened 'without a complaint.' (I won't bother getting into the there their issue).

😂

Ah. Well, I’m only first generation British-the first member of my family to have a British passport. Maybe that explains it…Facts Are Foreign.

Do you not feel it is a shame these dc cannot attend because of what it was called.

what is the objection from parents

Yes nothing else to do😀

Sinterklaas starts next Saturday, get your shoe ready and remember to watch the daily Sinterklaas news until presemt eve.

I’m guessing the school are not going to use the word Christmas in any of their event publications, but I’m sure they wont be banning the use of the word by the children. It would be pretty impossible to enforce in a primary school with lots of excited children! But I wouldn’t like the celebrations for Diwali, unless it was a big majority Muslim school. Totally irrelevant event for none-Muslims, so I struggle to see the point of holding in-school celebrations imo.

But I wouldn’t like the celebrations for Diwali, unless it was a big majority Muslim school.

Maybe you should steer clear of religious discussions. They aren't for everyone you know.

Uh Oh

Maybe double check that

Diwali is irrelevant to Muslims too, being a Hindu festival.
When I taught a bit of RE one year we tended to have food to mark the celebrations of all their religions. Nice to join in. Why would you not want to mark important events in children’s lives because they are a minority? Or even take the opportunity to do it if nobody of that religion went to your school?

We had a Poppy Day event near to us today. It was lovely, and very well attended by both young and old. I keep seeing people comment that Poppy Day remembrance events are declining in numbers, but haven’t seen evidence of that yet.

Remember it's so unEnglish to expect people to actually know stuff before debating. Did Magna Carta die in vain ?

I wouldn’t like the celebrations for Diwali, unless it was a big majority Muslim school. Totally irrelevant event for none-Muslims,

Winner!!!!

Sorry. Meant Hindu celebration 🙈. I guess I just don’t think celebrations of other minority religions are necessary in schools. I’m assuming other schools with majority religions don’t celebrate other religions either? If religion is important to you, I think just send your child to a school which focuses on that religion. I don’t think you should choose a school and then be offended if the school doesn’t actively celebrate your religion.

Not sure I'd like that prize myself though

🤣🤣 Where did I say I support the banning of the word christmas? No-one is banning the word christmas. If they did (which they won't), I wouldn't be supporting it. Oh, and no-one is erasing our culture either. Calm down!

I’m not sure you did.

However, other celebrations have been included as part of RE for decades. I’m 60 and they were taught when I was at school. I’ve worked in schools for 25 years and it’s still the same. That’s in Catholic and CofE schools.

My Eurostar ticket is already booked. As I cross the border I will dutifully trade in “We can’t have Christmas” outrage and collect my “We can’t have Zwarte Piet” outrage.

😂

Sympathy for an individual given by an individual is not the same as an institutional position. If an institution takes a position that something is not to happen, a phrase is not to be used, a part of culture is not to be included, then they need to be clear on what they are doing and why. If there is a rule that no one can ever be made aware that their reality is different to that of their classmates, then they need to follow that through and mean it. Don't just change things because adults are making noise about it.

Some people like the sales because their children enjoy them, had the chance to buy gifts unobserved by their parents, got the experience of shopping in a sympathetic environment. I could see the point that if you were on your own and had no support it was nice to get an actual surprise for an event. Now they are after school they are just tat sales. All other benefits have disappeared.

Utter nonsense. I don't believe this at all

Great post. I nearly responded.

I don't think renaming two events as a Winter or Festive Fair/Fayre and Party equates to banning the use of the word Christmas! I expect it will still be widely used throughout the school.