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 all seem convinced I’m here to create ‘outrage and division"

The thing is OP, if you take the 'outrage and division' out of the story there's not much to be interested in your tittle tattle based post.

@Fayethefair you said you were happy to name the school in your opening point. ' I’m happy to let mumsnet know the name of the school if they don’t feel this post is genuine'

Name it.

Oh, shall we ban the words from all other religions then? Because THEY are non inclusive too?!

Any parent is allowed to withdraw their child from any (or part) of RE lessons.

You’d also be surprised at the significant number of parents that refused for their children to attend a trip to a mosque for religious reasons.

Where does this shite come from?
Some of it is because peeps misunderstand, don't listen, are a bit dim or 'It's on fb so it's gotta be true innit'.

U ok hun?

Don't be a silly sausage.

Yes. I would like to know the name of this school that insults and berates Christianity.... By pretending Christmas doesn't exist!

Not really actually. I'I'm pissed off with this kind of shit happening. Thanks for asking though.

But decorating a tree and ‘Father Christmas’ have nothing to do with the birth of Christ. They are social conventions rather than religious activities. Christmas itself is a Christian takeover of pagan midwinter Yule. Much like Easter stems from Passover. Those who genuinely believe in the Christian birth of Jesus story will not be offended by a tree having snowflakes rather than an effigy of an imaginary figure.

It's evident even in this thread some posters are falling over themselves to be outraged based on nothing more than a few lines about a Christmas party being renamed.

Gosh, we haven't even got through Poppy rage yet and they're already onto THEY'RE BANNING CHRISTMAS.

No-one is banning Christmas, OP.

Ask the head of school in writing and then come back here with their response.
Sometimes people post these things to increase division among the different religions.
Not saying you did but a bit of proof would make things clearer.

If your church is more concerned about not offending jumble sale customers by dumbing down its deeply Christian theological mission it may as well shut up shop. The idea of a thriving church is to serve its community and explain why God’s hope and love is at the heart of that service.

I have the same message for school leaders and governors who go down this cultural whitewashing in the name of ‘inclusion’ and ‘not offending’. There is nothing offensive about children learning the nativity story in a country that it is culturally and institutionally Christian (even if not religiously). To say they’ll ban or diminish it for spurious mob-pleasing reasons makes them look thick, bigoted and scared. Not somewhere I’d want to send my children to be educated quite frankly.

No, you don't get to say that. If we're going to ban CHRISTMAS, (because it's not 'inclusive') then why not ban all the words from other religions too.

You have clearly got no answer to that, judging by your ridiculous response to me. Once again, Christians take a battering, but no other religion does. Go figure........

Jehovahs Witnesses are Christians … so by agreeing to their demands, Schools are supporting Christianity, not “banning” it.

I know 100% exactly what your Facebook feed looks like

Nobody does any of that mate

🙄

It's utterly stupid. I've seen my local schools changing their Christmas Fayres to be Winter Fayres and it's unfair and offensive. The bowing to the minorities in this country has reached ridiculous proportions. Christianity is the official religion and it should be respected and acknowledged as such.

Shouldn’t you be in church?

Makes sense. Only 34% of Birmingham residents are Christians. If the council wants buy in for the celebration from its citizens a secular term is a sensible choice. It's not about avoiding offence as much as making things relevent to the people who's city it is.

I'm pagan and christmas was created to cover over pagan traditions along with easter and all the rest of it.
I like christmas trees and the decor, lights etc. Really can't be flag waving for the 'winter festival' bit though. Not offended whatsoever, you have your beliefs I have mine.

Alright Nigel calm down

I’m pretty sure Christmas isn’t banned …

… hurry up, Mass will be about to start at Church, and you don’t want to be late - I can see how important your Christian religion is to you.