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?

Yeah, but to get back to the point, nobody has “banned” the word Christmas. And those of us who just like to have a happy, jolly time with an embellishes pagan tree, and some pagan mistletoe, feasting at the midwinter solstice whilst waiting for Santa and his elves - are not exactly celebrating the birth of the Messiah are we?

Honestly I think this is a neither here nor there issue, you still get the events but passify some of the parents who complained. All the fun and no one will stop you physically using the word.
For balance I'd say this... your post says I feel like everything should be represented equally. Then consider that you had a lunch to celebrate diwali but there's a Christmas/festive lunch, nativity, party, craft Fayre, carol concert and 3 weeks off school for Christmas. It's not equal which is fine in a predominantly Christian country but a little bit of compromise /shift doesn't really hurt anyone but can make it more palatable for everyone.

Have you cancelled the cheque ?

I mean, celebrate Diwali but don't do it by calling it "October Light Festival" respect the correct name whatever the event

For some reason I am reminded of people who got really upset that 568ml is called a pint.

There canceling liters now discustin 😡

There's so much mis-information on this thread.
It is likely that Christianity was brought to Britain by the Romans as it originated in the Roman Provinces. Where else do people think Christianity came from and was brought to Britain?

Britain is a Christian Country!
Christianity is still the largest religion and there are still more people who identify as Christian than as atheist or any other religion!
The state churches of Britain are Christian making Christianity the official religion of England and Scotland- the two largest countries of the Uk.

Not sure how anyone can argue that most people are not Christians- almost 50% of the country identified as Christian during the last census.

Not sure how anyone can argue that most people are not Christians- almost 50% of the country identified as Christian during the last census.

Less than 50% is not most.

Less than half is now most?

I didn't say anything like that.

I also think that even though there are many people who class themselves as atheist because they don't believe God exists, of those people the majority are Christian by culture and were brought up as Christians, maybe attending church, taking part in religious festivals like Easter and Christmas and learning those stories through family and school, would have attended church weddings and funerals, sung hymns, taken vows at Brownies and Cubs etc. Most of those people now will associate Christmas celebrations as acknowledging the Christmas story. The celebrations around Christmas may have roots in pagan festivals from centuries ago, but they have long been adopted to be Christian traditions now. If they were purely winter celebrations then all religions would be doing similar, yet they aren't. Only religions that celebrate Christmas have Christmas Trees, and Turkey dinner on the 25th Dec (unless individual families of course are choosing to partake in the British customs for fun)

Ironically, the only ones to actively and successfully ban Christmas, where white, English, male Christians.

Where did I say most?

Not sure how anyone can argue that most people are not Christians

There.

54% is not most! It's just over half. I would class something like 90-99% as most.

If we can't agree on the meaning of most (which is "the largest part") then maybe we aren't suited to the heavy stuff like Life, The Universe and Everything.

Well, that just goes to show how things change and will continue changing. They were once Pagan, then became adopted by Christians, and are gradually becoming more secular. C'est la vie!

"Most" means "greatest in amount, quantity or degree".

The two quantities we're discussing are Christians and non-Christians.

54% is greater than 46% and therefore, the greatest in amount, quantity or degree.

So yes, 54% is most.

Well, over 50% is a majority but in general everyday language if you had almost 50% of something then you wouldn't class it as most. If your child left over 46% off their meal on their plate you wouldn't say they had eaten most of their dinner or at least I wouldn't.

The point is Christians are the largest group in the UK in terms of religion and splitting hairs over language doesn't change that. Some people don't seem to want to acknowledge the fact.

I can understand not mentioning until 1 Dec!

Good googling

Sorry, was I supposed to be able to quote the Oxford English Dictionary definition of "most" off the top of my head? Obviously I googled; not sure why you think this is a gotcha 🤣

You've moved the goalposts so far that we're basically playing a different sport now 🤣

You said "Not sure how anyone can argue that most people are not Christians". It isn't splitting hairs over language to point out that most people are scientifically, mathematically, literally not Christians. It's correcting an incorrect assertion.

The point is Christians are the largest group in the UK in terms of religion and splitting hairs over language doesn't change that.

I can't believe the universe is still here after a pop will eat itself statement like that ...

I don't know anyone who doesn't call the 25th December Christmas Day

In the Netherlands, they call the 26th Dec , second Christmas day rather than Boxing Day

It isn't splitting hairs over language

"I give you the body and blood of Christ"

nothing to misunderstand about that (makes note to never visit a Catholic country again).