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?

It’s not Remembrance Day, it’s Remembrance Sunday.

You’re welcome.

I am surprised at the level of acceptance here. I view this in exactly the same way as the word "woman" is now being treated. It's not been made illegal but you get censored for using it. Like the "pregnant people" row on the BBC at the moment. We are walking into a state where only sanctioned language can be used with non acceptable phrases just wafted away and this is just another example.

What on Earth....

Nah we're not I wouldn't worry yourself

No you fucking don't.

Woman woman woman woman woman.

See, no censoring.

Christmas is one day (or 12 if you celebrate that way) over a month away, I resent that everyone’s banging on about it now and would be very happy if the Christmas word was banned right up until much much closer to the time and replaced with winter festival because that’s exactly what this is. I am Christian and celebrate Christmas and am sad about how we flog it senseless nowadays, by the time the actual day comes around my child will have written 5 Santa letters, seen 12 grottos, will have received a zillion gifts and will be a gibbering spoilt wreck.

Not to mention the Christmas markets that are now in full swing across the UK. When was the last time an Eid or Diwali market was held anywhere in the UK?

My husbands work have changed the name of the “Christmas Party” this year to “End of year Party”. No idea if there’s a hidden agenda behind it or not. He found the change a bit strange after all these years but it’s exactly the same but just the title of it has changed.

How about we all just agree on "Wintergeddon"? It starts on the last day of August.

Indeed.

It's news to me that Christians are exclusively white.

Fortunately they cannot actually selectively police people's language, however are you sure they're not just trying to stop the kids getting too hyped up too soon?

But in your OP you said you were happy to name the school.

I assume you have checked with the school that this is actually the case rather than just taking the word of a parent who may have heard it fourth hand.

Exactly. Imagine typing such an ignorant post.

Nobody is stopping anyone from organising an Eid or Diwali market though.
British Christmas markets are mostly overpriced tat anyway.

I can believe it. I have worked at places where it has happened.

Perhaps we could all pop to visit the Winter/Festive lights in the West End or plan a trip to the winter market in the centre of Cambridge.

It has everything to do with pc codswallop and the nanny state. I used to run the PTA Christmas Fayre 25 years ago. Had the Head ventired renaming it in the name of inclusivity, she'd have been told to find someone else to do the legwork and co-ordination. Someone else could have raised the £3.5k.

What I don't get is why post on mumsnet. Speak to your school and express your disappointment,anger or whatever else. As per usual minorities get the blame for stuff like this but what has my religion got to do with your school deciding that the use of the word Christmas isn't inclusive? Hsve they even consulted parents? If your aim was to whip up a frenzy amongst the racist mumsnetters then you've succeeded and I wouldn't be surprised if the daily fail pick up your post.

Most Muslims that I now at least have their own ways to enjoy Christmas. We have Christmas dinner,games and selection boxes and watch the same old crap on telly. We have a christmas fair at our school next week and shock horror I'm volunteering. It's a nice time of year. I'm not planning on attending church of course but then how many people who celebrate actually do?

As if by magic, poppy rage gives way to “they’re banning Christmas”.

What a disgrace to the time honoured Christian tradition of getting smashed and being fingered by your boss at 1am

Someone else could have raised the £3.5K

How very Christian of you.

Imagine the poor office admin staff member.

‘No, we haven’t banned the word Christmas. Bye, now.’

‘No, no one will give your child detention if she uses the word Christmas, Mrs Smith.’

I could get on board with that as long as we don't forget Halloween or Bonfire Night.

If we use the words Diwali; Hanukkah; Eid etc then we should use the word Christmas.

Christmas is a beautiful word.

I agree swapping out words to be more ‘inclusive’ is tiresome.

Inclusive is making sure that all children in the school can learn about and join in with Christmas 🎄 Getting the class to pop up and decorate a tree, give cards etc.

I don’t care if it was a Pagen celebration hundreds of bloody years ago…Christmas is Christmas now. It’s beautiful and meaningful and special and you’re quite right not to want to lose sight of that op.

If you continue to be concerned that using the word ‘Christmas’ has been banned, speak to the headteacher. Tell them that it is not inclusive to stop something. It’s more inclusive to include others in using that term.

and if that fails, post the school on X and see how that plays out for them 👍

No such thing as "Remembrance Day", it's either Remembrance Sunday (today), or Armistice Day (Tuesday),. if you're going to complain about events not being referred to "correctly", maybe you should practice what you preach.

OK, step right on up. You said you would be happy to share the name of the school. What is it?