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?

British culture: simultaneously stolen and imposed around the world.

Jealous?
I am British and thats laughable

Can you break that down for us?

I mean sure, Christianity is a Middle Eastern religion that was brought to our shores by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago, and Christianity underpins much of our institutions, culture etc - but please, share your thoughts.

Actually, the Romans didn’t bring Christianity to Britain, they were pagan. They converted to Christianity in the 3/4th century AD. The Vikings were pagan too, as were the Celts and Britons.

Perhaps surprisingly, @Swiftasthewind is British, but hates everything about her life here and is looking to leave ASAP.

Off you go, Swift - I really think you'll be much happier elsewhere. At least initially.

Indeed, imagine thinking anyone is jealous of Britain! It’s the worst country in the world, I curse God every single day for making me born under a butcher’s apron.

😂😂 What a delight you are! Full of the Christmas spirit ✨

I am vegetarian does that count?

I guess you haven't travelled much or watched the news but this does say more about you than about the country.

Off you pop, then. Luckily, Britain isn’t a country you’re obliged to remain in.

One less miserable fucker will be no loss that’s for sure!

Wait. Are we supposed to be taking @Swiftasthewind seriously? C’mon. Really?

What makes pagen, pagen? I thought pagen was about worshipping nature and that overspilled into nature God's.

I always thought Roman/Greek/viking God's were separate and didn't come under the 'pagen umbrella'.

What about non-abrahamic modern day religions? Would Hinduism be pagen? Sikh? Buddism? Ba'hi?

Pagan is used for the pre-Christian, non-Abrahamic no as well as for more new age spirituality. Many pagan religions are polytheistic, and often worship of nature, or gods within nature, is part of that.
It’s often considered a bit derogatory in religious circles, so doesn’t usually get applied to established, complex religions.

You state you are an atheist. You therefore do not have the right to define what a Christian is.
Denying this is a Christian country is also spurious. 1300 years of Christian tradition can’t be wiped out just because church attendance has declined over the last fifty.

The Christians had a pretty good go at wiping out / appropriating thousands of years of Pagan tradition so I think this is what's called "a taste of their own medicine".

I’m an atheist now, but was a Christian once. Don’t make assumptions. Its perfectly possible to understand fundamental Christian principles such as love, compassion, kindness to your neighbour and being welcoming to all without believing in God.

The majority of the uk population aren’t Christians. Surely everyone can celebrate the event anyway they want - for us it’s time off work, family time, presents, parties and lots to eat and drink.

Possibly but where do those Christian values actually come from? Even if you say you don’t believe in God, you still hold many of those same values, because they’ve been deeply woven into the fabric of our collective consciousness over thousands of years. Through centuries of religious and cultural evolution, whether from Christianity, Paganism, or older nature-based belief systems. Ideas about morality, sanctity, and the divine have shaped how we perceive the world and ourselves. These patterns of thought have been passed down not just through teaching and culture, but potentially through our very biology.

What makes pagen, pagen?

The spelling ?

(Sorry, couldn't resist it, I'll see myself out).

You state you are an atheist. You therefore do not have the right to define what a Christian is.

OK, I'll bite.

Who does then ?

Only just though and only recently - the 2021 census records 46.2% of the UK identifies as Christian which is the first time the figure has fallen below 50%. It is still the highest % figure for a religion in the UK.

If the feelings of other religions are respected and protected so must those of Christians be. Anyone can 'celebrate' Christmas any way they want but the 'reason for the season' is "Christmas". I mean, celebrate Diwali but don't do it by calling it "October Light Festival" respect the correct name whatever the event.

What about if we call it winter solstice or Yule?

The event of Christmas is still being called Christmas

Indeed. Didn't we clear this all up days ago? No one is banning Christmas.

Nah, apparently Christmas Eve and Day are now called December days.