To judge parents who do not even tell their children Easter is a religious festival

[Tuliptana]

I'm shocked that 12 out of 20 children in my childs class had no religious knowledge of the meaning of Good Friday or Easter Sunday for Christians.
All aged 9yrs old.

Seeing as you are in Ireland OP, you’ll know that the vast, vast majority of schools are Catholic by default and many parents have no viable choice but to send their children to Catholic schools. So that remark is a little disingenuous. However if these children are in a Catholic school then by 9 they’ll absolutely know the story of Easter. They learn about it through the Growing in Faith curriculum from Junior Infants onwards. That age group are also Communion age or past it so they’ll have spent a lot of time on religion either this year or last year. I’m a practicing Catholic myself and will attend the various masses and ceremonies over Easter but I don’t believe that it should be forced on anyone regardless of what school they attend. Just my thoughts.

Yes, I am surprised.

Not going to answer the question then?

OP is clearly talking bs. A Catholic school in Ireland and 9 year olds have no idea of Easter? Nevermind the curriculum and RE, no mass, no Ash Wednesday,no assemblies , no nothing at all? Come on , now!

Talking of facts are people told that at Eid al Adhar in Muslim countries, people cut animals' throats in the street ?
And some say Christianity is brutal !!

Maybe it would be better stated as: it is a shame more children do not know why Christians celebrate Easter. I’m sure you do not mean that we all celebrate the Christian festival of Easter.

Many of us enjoy this time of year as a spring festival as pre-Christians did all over Europe. I think the etymology of Easter is from an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring (may have that a bit muddled).

We make our own and don't put the crosses on. Hot Not Cross buns.

What question ?

Primary schools study all religion as part of the curriculum. I’m Catholic, DD went to Catholic school, they learned about all the major world religions, and their festivals.

The question of mine that you replied to.

It's actually just another pagan festival, taken over by early Christians. Oestre was the Teutonic goddess of spring, fertility and rebirth. The egg was one of her symbols and the bunny is actually a Mad March Hare.

So don't worry about it!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWoff0yEs_f/?igsh=ZDhna3hhamdndDl6

This is where it leads

I thought you were complaining that I didn't answer it ?
You've lost me !

Jesus very definitely wasn't pro judging.

What an odd question.... I don't really think we should be "judging" other parents for anything. Unless they are putting their child in harms way. Or allowing behaviour that puts others in harms way.

Christianity is part of the cultural heritage of people in the West, whether or not people are Christian. It would be nice to have heard about it as part of a general education.

Imo it is also very important to learn about the other major religions in Primary school too because we are such a multicultural society and it helps foster mutual understanding.

(edited for typo)

DH was raised by Irish catholic parents. Me by very half arsed C of E parents. He had no idea about the term Maundy Thursday until this morning. He was taught by nuns fgs.
My kids generally know the key facts mainly though school.

It os, or at least should be covered. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.

I also live in Ireland - hard to find a school here that isnt religious.

I agree that children at 9 should be aware of the Christian beliefs around Easter. Ignorance, especially in our children is not something we should be proud of.

However, I also believe they should know about the pagan aspects too and how it was co-opted by the Christians.

And they should know it is a celebration of new life/spring time - and that some people believe it's a solely Christian festival and others believe it is a merging of ancient traditions and some people think it is just a reason to rest, have chocolate and be with family etc. nobody is more right than anyone else.

General knowledge about religions, culture, customs and history is a good thing for children to have.

Why? As a country we remain blissfully untroubled by any level of God bothering, which, when you consider the wickedness that religious beliefs seem to inspire, is an excellent state of affairs.

We observe the original pagan festivals - even the date of Easter is calculated by the old lunar calendar.

Plenty of chocolate and bunnies (well hares but Lindt don't do them!)

The children had to learn the distressing Christian version at school. No way to shield them from it around here unfortunately.

If kids in a Catholic school don’t know this then that is a failing of the school!

I’m in my mid forties. I grew up in Ireland where religion ruled. It was in every single part of life. I’m very proud that Ireland is changing and starting to shake off Catholic oppression. And no I’m not anti Catholic I’m anti any sort of organised relation. Religion has no place in schools.

Ah but it isn't called Maundy Thursday in Ireland. We call it Holy Thursday, even us atheists 😉