Christmas, being politically correct and where are we going?

[Mouse House Mama]

A couple of Sundays ago I could have gone over to Wolf Trap, a National Park property, to watch the United States Marine Band play Christmas music. The concert, as always, ends with a candlelight processional to Silent Night. Then I could have driven down to the Ellipse, another National Park property right behind the White House (listening to WASH FM playing full-time Christmas music) to see the National Christmas Tree, which the President lit just a few days prior while wishing everyone "Merry Christmas."

This weekend we'll be heading down to the National Cathedral for a Christmas program. Although it's an Episcopal Cathedral, it's been the site of many Presidential funeral services, most recently Ford and Reagan. It's where the President and Vice President went for a National Prayer Service right after their inauguration in January.

I think Christmas will survive whatever silliness heppens in the schools.

I agree that Christmas will survive but it is not silliness in the schools. It is simply not right. If the situation were reversed and the kids only learned about the presents at Hannukah or whatever holiday you can bet there would be outrage.

 

[Acklander]

Nope.

And that's why all this "PC Crap" as you call it, started. You didn't think how others who didn't believe felt about it. Now you know.

 

[Metro West]

And that's why all this "PC Crap" as you call it, started. You didn't think how others who didn't believe felt about it. Now you know.

 

[allison443]

Its true in our school. I recently I asked all 3 of my kids why people celebrate Christmas and they didn't know. I had to tell them it was to celebrate Jesus birth. I told them about the Nativity story and all the things I did when I was young and what our Catholic family does now to celebrate it. They really had no idea. There is an obvious exclusion of Christmas.

Wow, I am pretty shocked that in a family that celebrates Christmas and is Catholic, your kids did not know Christmas was to celebrate Jesus' birth? They did not know the Nativity story? Not to pry, but do you go to church? How could they not know the meaning of Christmas before being school aged? Do you have a nativity set or creche in your home? If not, get one-the kids will enjoy it. How about an Advent wreath?
Do your kids attend CCD or religious education? They would certainly learn all about Christmas there.

My kids attended Catholic school BUT that is certainly not where they first learned the true story of Christmas! They knew that from preschool age with picture books of the nativity, a child's unbreakable nativity set, etc.

Edited to add, I saw in a later post you said you celebrate the secular Christmas only, with Santa. I was confused because you referred to your Catholic family. I guess you mean your family growing up, or other relatives? Anyway, it's probably best that you teach your own kids about it rather than rely on the school to teach it. Haven't your kids seen nativity scenes on peoples lawns, etc. or heard religious Christmas carols, and they still never knew the meaning of this till now? Even my Catholic school kids know about menorahs, hannukkah, and kwanzaa although they didn't necessarily learn about them in school.

 

[wendy46001]

I grew up in the 70's and 80's before all this PC crap started and this type of discussion was never an issue. We had Christmas parties, Christmas plays, Christmas carols, Christmas trees and Christmas cookies...not "holiday" stuff and we never felt guilty or bowed to political issues. We were kids and didn't care about anything except presents and what we were getting that year.

Those were the days!

There is a good chance that back in the day (ok not that long ago)
the % of people celebrating Christmas in the area was a lot higher
Therefore it wasn’t an issue

Our society is getting more diverse
this is a good thing

 

[luvmy3]

What that wouldn't be ok either. Winter concerts and party cause just as much outrage.

I honestly don't think most be on this thread give a crap about fairness.

I admit there are those who have issue with not being able to celebrate Christmas, only winter. I don't have any issue with that, my only problem is that we parents are told NO CHRISTMAS anything for school parties, events by the school and the school turns around and gives lessons (however brief) on the other religious holidays of the season. I really am a firm believer if you are going to cover one, then cover all, if not that don't cover any.

sbell, there is nothing hard to grasp about that concept at all, and I agree that there are far more important things for schools to teach, but if in school during December the lessons are going to focus on the various religious holidays (as they have done for years) then you either include all that being celebrated that time of year or none. And what makes it worse is the fact that we aren't talking about lengthy classes on the subject of Hannukkah, or tests on Kwanzaa we are talking about simple fun lessons to educated the kids on the diversity and the importance of these religious holidays that some of their friends celebrate. There is no way that can really be done in fairness, without including Christmas.

What is hard to grasp about that concept is the fact that it would require that the schools only taught nothing else but these religions all year long, without breaks. Schools have very little time with which to teach our children TONS of material. They must decide which material will be covered (and to what depth). These decisions are sure to leave some parents unhappy. My answer to those parents is to make sure that they are teaching whatever topics the schools miss.

This is especially true about Xmas. After all, why would I leave the teaching of such an important topic to some teacher who herself has no religious training and likely no religious education?

 

[Metro West]

There is a good chance that back in the day (ok not that long ago)
the % of people celebrating Christmas in the area was a lot higher
Therefore it wasn’t an issue

Our society is getting more diverse
this is a good thing

That's very true and you're right...it is a good thing.

I think just it's a shame the kids today can't enjoy a holiday like in the past w/o all the political views/issues the adults place on it now...but I guess I'm totally off base.

 

[DisneyBabies]

My son is in Kindergarten this year and I am a little concerned by what I have seen in his class this month . They are studying Hanukkah and Kwanza, and holiday's around the world . . . but not Christmas. They have pictures of Hanukkah and Kwanza decorations on the walls, but there isn't a Christmas tree or stocking to be seen.

Actually whats really appauling is this. I am told that I am NOT ALLOWED to bring a craft that represents anything to do with Christmas, and I'm NOT ALLOWED to bring in any coloring sheets other than snowmen and snowflakes all the while its perfectly acceptable for my children are bringing home worksheets where they colored the menorah, and crossword puzzles about the story of Hanukkah, and little handmade books about Kwanza.
So yes I do have a big problem with that. If a school is going to take daily lesson time to teach the class about the origin of the December religious holidays, NONE should be excluded, period. It really has nothing to do with fairness, its about education.

I couldn't agree more! Our school is calling it a study of holiday traditions around the world. And I think that's great. Learning how others do things that are different from how you do things is how we have decided to teach our children that our differences make us all special and give us something we can share with others.

We are having a Holiday celebration party and parents are binging in food for the children, but it is not cupcakes and punch. We are having cornbread, pizzels, and other holiday goodies that are traditional in other countries. The only thing my son recognized from the list that came home was hot chocolate . We teach our kids to take no thank you bites because you never know if you are going to like things if you don't try them, but I can almost guarantee that he will sit there not eating at this party . They don't want us to bring cupcakes because they are trying to have a holiday around the world party, but aren't cupcakes pretty traditional in the US? We're part of the world aren't we?

I think I'll take cupcakes anyway and if they get mad I'll just tell them you can't exclude our own country's tradition from a Holiday's Around the World Party .

 

[luvmy3]

Wow, I am pretty shocked that in a family that celebrates Christmas and is Catholic, your kids did not know Christmas was to celebrate Jesus' birth? They did not know the Nativity story? Not to pry, but do you go to church? How could they not know the meaning of Christmas before being school aged? Do you have a nativity set or creche in your home? If not, get one-the kids will enjoy it. How about an Advent wreath?
Do your kids attend CCD or religious education? They would certainly learn all about Christmas there.

My kids attended Catholic school BUT that is certainly not where they first learned the true story of Christmas! They knew that from preschool age with picture books of the nativity, a child's unbreakable nativity set, etc.

I was rasied Catholic but do not practice and consider myself an atheist at this point. My kids are not being raised in the Catholic faith although the majority of my family are practicing Catholics we keep religion out of our relationship and do not include ourselves in any of their religious celebrations like Midnight Mass, or the Advent Wreath.
FWIW, I have told them what Christmas really is before this but because its not what we focus on during the Holidays it just gets forgotten.

 

[allison443]

I was rasied Catholic but do not practice and consider myself an atheist at this point. My kids are not being raised in the Catholic faith although the majority of my family are practicing Catholics we keep religion out of our relationship and do not include ourselves in any of their religious celebrations like Midnight Mass, or the Advent Wreath.
FWIW, I have told them what Christmas really is before this but because its not what we focus on during the Holidays it just gets forgotten.

After I posted I saw another post of yours where you explained about only celebrating the secular Christmas, so I edited my post because I had misunderstood what you were saying. Sorry.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I really don't mind so much. I do believe that we as a society are overreacting. "Christmas" still abounds everywhere.

What I found funny--as in--way to be PC....

I was watching some commercial for some store. I do not recall the store.

Anyway, they were talking about celebrating Baby's first HOLIDAY. And of course they didn't specify which one. The problem? Baby was 6 weeks old and already had his/her first "holiday"--Thanksgiving (assuming that a commercial airing in the US was named at US citizens who pretty much). (One of the characters said the baby's age in the commercial.)

It just made me laugh as they wanted to be sure that everyone's holiday shopping needs were met by not empasizing any specific holiday. But they forgot that this would be really baby's second holiday.


I do not like when schools purposefully omit the origin of Christmas but have no problems discussing any other holy day. Unfortunately if a stink is made, it will just result getting the other discussions eliminated versus having "Christmas" included.

 

[Chelley00]

DH and I had a conversation the other night about how when he says Merry Christmas at work, there are people who tell him he should say Happy Holidays instead, yet they are more than happy to take their paid holidays for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Kwanzaa is NOT a religious holiday as far as I know. It is a cultural thing, not a religious thing. Just wanted to throw that out there!

There are some who celebrate Christmas in the same manner. Yet, there are schools that do not even permit the non-religious symbols of that holiday.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Do you disagree that in this country it is impossible to be unaware of Xmas?

That was my point. Not what the real, extended dance remix version of the holiday is.

Not deliberately teaching about Christmas versus banning any mention of it are two entirely different animals.

 

[Planogirl]

I still don't understand the fuss. If DS' school decided to have a Hanukkah celebration I think that it would be great. I can see the argument for fairness but then why not include as much information about other cultural and religious celebrations as possible rather than just ignore the whole thing?

It's funny how things have changed. Businesses regularly have their holiday parties and give out holiday bonuses (the lucky ones that is!) while the kids just go about their days.

 

[lillygator]

I have issues with one ruining it for the bunch. Why should the class miss out on something for one child? Keep them home that day or let them do another activity. My daughter is in first and my 4 yr old is in preschool. Luckily they can still have xmas parties and they do teach the other holidays as well. Friday we are going to the preschool’s xmas concert and will decorate xmas cookies afterward. Merry Christmas!

In the dept I was in before we had over 30 people. We would have luncheons to celebrate just about anything, all of us love food…..one person is a JW….that person would never come to the celebrations but would be the first one in the kitchen afterwards – that is where we put all the leftovers. So you won’t be part of our celebration but you will eat food that was purchased FOR the celebration??

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

the only appropriate way to approach these lessons is to include all major celebrations this time of year. Of course, if Christmas is being purposely omitted - that is equally as wrong.

Teaching religion - for the most part - belongs in your home and place of worship. I can see how teaching the holiday tradition can not be separated from the religious - especially for Jewish tradition.


Not every one who celebrates "Christmas", celebrates the Christian aspects. Some celebrate the traditions that came before, some celebrate a secular holiday that celebrates family and the joy of the season, and far too many celebrate the commercialized shop 'til you drop, family isn't nearly as important as turning a profit "Christmas".

IMHO, I am not happy that this years school concert included Christian tradition and no others. In elementary, they did Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and songs from around the globe. That is how it should be. You don't have to represent all, but a sincere effort should be made to be inclusive.

As for greetings - "happy holidays" has been around for years and years. If I do not personally know what someone celebrates, I will always use that! I do so to be inclusive and also because to me it encompasses everything celebrated this time of year, including New Years. It doesn't have to be about "PC" or being worried about "offending", but simply about being considerate. I have done so way before I heard about "PC", or war on Xmas, ... It just seemed and still seems to be the right thing to do!

So, to all: a heartfelt and sincere Happy Holidays!!!!

ETA: you are always going to be able to point out examples of people taking it too far or interpreting it the wrong way - that doesn't make it the norm - let alone mean that there is a "war on Christianity" or we are heading in the wrong direction. It just means there are fools out there who don't know what they are doing or those that are taking things too far to make a point or to be troublesome. Christianity isn't under attack or going anywhere.

 

[NMAmy]

As for greetings - "happy holidays" has been around for years and years. If I do not personally know what someone celebrates, I will always use that! I do so to be inclusive and also because to me it encompasses everything celebrated this time of year, including New Years. It doesn't have to be about "PC" or being worried about "offending", but simply about being considerate. I have done so way before I heard about "PC", or war on Xmas, ... It just seemed and still seems to be the right thing to do!

So, to all: a heartfelt and sincere Happy Holidays!!!!

I agree. What bothers me is that people are quick to take offense if a random cashier in a store says Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. However, no one makes a peep if that same cashier told someone, "Have a happy holiday!" and the holiday they were referring to was New Year's or Memorial Day or the Fourth of July or Halloween.

(I used to be a cashier and by the 70th person I'd waited on, I was mixing it up to keep myself from going insane so often said, "Enjoy the holiday!" at those dates.)

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I agree. What bothers me is that people are quick to take offense if a random cashier in a store says Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. However, no one makes a peep if that same cashier told someone, "Have a happy holiday!" and the holiday they were referring to was New Year's or Memorial Day or the Fourth of July or Halloween.

(I used to be a cashier and by the 70th person I'd waited on, I was mixing it up to keep myself from going insane so often said, "Enjoy the holiday!" at those dates.)

Exactly!

unless it is said in a snarky or pointed way - why assume offense??? The first assumption should be that the person is sincerely wishing you happiness!




also, many around here assume the holiday starts with Thanksgiving and start using it going into the Thanksgiving holiday.....so it would include the entire time period starting with Thanksgiving - again, no slight but merely inclusion and consideration!