Happy Holidays, Holiday tree no problem but come on...

[Crankyshank]

Out of curiosity, what did they use to substitute the Navidad in Feliz Navidad?

Even if they take out "I want to wish you a Merry Christmas" in English part, the song still repeats "Merry Christmas" over and over again.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

This is true, if you understand Spanish............but a good question, nonetheless. Is it ok to say it in Spanish, but not in English at this particular Holiday Program.....

 

[JennyMominRI]

This is true, if you understand Spanish............but a good question, nonetheless. Is it ok to say it in Spanish, but not in English at this particular Holiday Program.....

It should be added that that HAS to be this schools policy. At many other schools in this country kids sing religiously based Christmas songs. I'll have to look at my kids list of songs for this year..Last year I know they sang Oh Come all ye Faithful,for one.
DD was also taught Amazing Grace on the Flute,which is very much a Christian song.
My DS was also taught about the birth of Jesus in his 6th grade social studies class

 

[Mackey Mouse]

This is so interesting to me. I am not sure how I would react if my children were in school right now. My three daughters are now grown ups and so I have very little firsthand knowledge of what is transpiring in the local school systems during the Christmas season.

I will tell you, I do live in liberal MA, but here on Cape Cod, people in stores are saying Merry Christmas, at least in my area they are.

 

[JennyMominRI]

This is so interesting to me. I am not sure how I would react if my children were in school right now. My three daughters are now grown ups and so I have very little firsthand knowledge of what is transpiring in the local school systems during the Christmas season.

I will tell you, I do live in liberal MA, but here on Cape Cod, people in stores are saying Merry Christmas, at least in my area they are.

That's what I've been hearing here in RI
<waving> Hello neighbor..Maybe Old man winter will be nicer to you this year

 

[Crankyshank]

I asked a bunch of family friends that are teachers in different schools, or principals, or parents of school age children. Every single one I asked (and it has to be close to 20 people I asked) said kids are allowed to sing Christmas songs and they also learn about ancient traditions, Hanukkah, and Kwanza.

Silent Night, Come All Ye Faithful, Away in the Manger, and Hark the Herald Angel Sing are some songs that were mentioned as being part of the holiday program.
These are people in MA, RI, and CT. Which are all fairly liberal.

Honestly the exclusion of Christmas is really something I've only heard about on the DIS, from my MIL in Florida, and talk radio. I find it interesting that the majority of places where people feel as though they are being forced to go underground with Christmas live in red states that traditionally are more Christian conservative. I wonder why that is.

 

[castleview]

This is so interesting to me. I am not sure how I would react if my children were in school right now. My three daughters are now grown ups and so I have very little firsthand knowledge of what is transpiring in the local school systems during the Christmas season.

I will tell you, I do live in liberal MA, but here on Cape Cod, people in stores are saying Merry Christmas, at least in my area they are.

Yup. Same in Connecticut. Who said we elitists discourage religion?

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I call them Christmas trees because they are celebrated with Christmas,
not any holiday.
The was a story last week in the news about how a man was outraged because the tree he donated from his home to the town was being called a holiday tree. He said had he known that, he would have given them the tree at Easter time!

 

[frndshpcptn]

Do we know what songs were sung during the program? I'm trying to think of 10 or so "non-Christmas" holiday songs and am having trouble:

- Frosty the Snowman
- Winter Wonderland
-Jingle Bells

None specifically mention Christmas - but in my head are Christmas songs...

 

[cardaway]

I asked a bunch of family friends that are teachers in different schools, or principals, or parents of school age children. Every single one I asked (and it has to be close to 20 people I asked) said kids are allowed to sing Christmas songs and they also learn about ancient traditions, Hanukkah, and Kwanza.

Silent Night, Come All Ye Faithful, Away in the Manger, and Hark the Herald Angel Sing are some songs that were mentioned as being part of the holiday program.
These are people in MA, RI, and CT. Which are all fairly liberal.

Honestly the exclusion of Christmas is really something I've only heard about on the DIS, from my MIL in Florida, and talk radio. I find it interesting that the majority of places where people feel as though they are being forced to go underground with Christmas live in red states that traditionally are more Christian conservative. I wonder why that is.

The same thing is true here on the liberal West Coast as well.

It's the media folks who actually distort the facts that make this a big deal. Not a problem at most schools, but they'll focus on one and make it sound like all. They'll focus on the diverse songs and talk like there was not an equal amout of Christmas songs. But of course we're talking about folks who may really be wanting an all Christmas program, or some kind of 1 to 10 ratio.

 

[Skylarr29]

Feliz Navidad MEANS MERRY CHRISTMAS IN SPANISH!!! You don't need any other words but those and it is a CHristmas song!!!!!!

And if you dont speak spanish you are supposed to know that how??????? Especially as a child

 

[2funny2c]

The same thing is true here on the liberal West Coast as well.

It's the media folks who actually distort the facts that make this a big deal. Not a problem at most schools, but they'll focus on one and make it sound like all. They'll focus on the diverse songs and talk like there was not an equal amout of Christmas songs. But of course we're talking about folks who may really be wanting an all Christmas program, or some kind of 1 to 10 ratio.

Lets just see...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Holiday_Problems.html

In tony Medina, east of Lake Washington, a Christmas-style tree bearing mittens labeled with gift ideas was up for about a week at Medina Elementary School before it was removed, office manager Chris Metzger said.

The idea was for pupils to take a mitten, get the listed gift, wrap it and bring it to school to be given to someone at Lake Hills Elementary School in a less well-off section of neighboring Bellevue.

Some parents had put up the spiral, lighted tree with a star at the top, but it was removed Monday after another parent complained that it had religious connotations, Metzger said. The mittens were transferred to a counter in the office so the gift program could continue.

"We covered the star and called it a giving tree. We hoped it would suffice, but it didn't," Metzger said. "Now we just have a giving counter."

That pesky media.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002668964_danny07.html

Anyway, the message didn't seem all that Christmasy. So I went to Westlake Center. There, the sight of a 35-foot Christmas tree filled me with joy. But when I looked closer I saw it was actually the "17th Annual Westlake Holiday Tree."

Its all just the media.

 

[JennyMominRI]

And if you dont speak spanish you are supposed to know that how??????? Especially as a child

Because it's repeated over and over again in English in the very next verse?

 

[JennyMominRI]

Lets just see...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Holiday_Problems.html


Some parents had put up the spiral, lighted tree with a star at the top, but it was removed Monday after another parent complained that it had religious connotations, Metzger said. The mittens were transferred to a counter in the office so the gift program could continue.

"We covered the star and called it a giving tree. We hoped it would suffice, but it didn't," Metzger said. "Now we just have a giving counter."

That pesky media.

Its all just the media.

I don't think it's ALL media..Certainly it does happen..That's the schools choice..They didn't have to remove the star..One non-Christian parent complained? Maybe all the Christians should start to complain about the removal of the star.
I think it's pretty stupid..It's a Christmas tree. Put your star on the top.
Personally I don't have a star on mine because I have a secular tree,but I could care less what the school puts on their tree

 

[2funny2c]

I don't think it's ALL media..Certainly it does happen..That's the schools choice..They didn't have to remove the star..One non-Christian parent complained? Maybe all the Christians should start to complain about the removal of the star.
I think it's pretty stupid..It's a Christmas tree. Put your star on the top.
Personally I don't have a star on mine because I have a secular tree,but I could care less what the school puts on their tree

Its happening all around the country and it gets worse each year. Its not a few isolated incidents that the media jumps in and overhypes. Most of these incidents never go beyond the local area to national news. Trying to portary this as a media issue is not supported by the widespread nature of the celebrating of PC Christmas.

 

[Honeibee]

Well, personally..and this is just me.....if somebody says "Happy Hanukkah" to me, I just say it right back to them. If they wish me a "Feliz Navidad!" I just wish the same for them. If they say to me have a wonderful Kwanza, I say to them I hope they have the same. Whatever you wish, whatever you believe in, if it works for you, I'm happy for you. And I hope you enjoy it.

As a side note, my MIL, who is Catholic, said to me last year "Do you HAVE to take care of those horses on Christmas eve? Can't somebody else do it? What a shame you have to be in the barn on Christmas."

I couldn't help myself.

I had to point out to her....

"Ummm, well, you know that manager was in a STABLE, so what better place to be on Christmas Eve??"

 

[reeddi]

I will have to get the words for the one song (their version of Feliz Navidad)from my daughter to show what it said. A lot of the songs were ones I had not heard before.

 

[reeddi]

Didn't quote Honibee right.
As a side note, my MIL, who is Catholic, said to me last year "Do you HAVE to take care of those horses on Christmas eve? Can't somebody else do it? What a shame you have to be in the barn on Christmas."

I couldn't help myself.

I had to point out to her....

"Ummm, well, you know that manager was in a STABLE, so what better place to be on Christmas Eve??"


Ok THAT is just too funny.

I will again say I no issue with PC but equality of focus in the schools would be nice.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL.

 

[BelleMcNally]

Its happening all around the country and it gets worse each year. Its not a few isolated incidents that the media jumps in and overhypes. Most of these incidents never go beyond the local area to national news. Trying to portary this as a media issue is not supported by the widespread nature of the celebrating of PC Christmas.

I guess I just don't understand why it's a big deal if people insist that, in public spheres, things either be all-inclusive or secular. It doesn't impede the spiritual nature of my holiday the slightest.

 

[JennyMominRI]

Its happening all around the country and it gets worse each year. Its not a few isolated incidents that the media jumps in and overhypes. Most of these incidents never go beyond the local area to national news. Trying to portary this as a media issue is not supported by the widespread nature of the celebrating of PC Christmas.

If it was such a commonplace event it probably wouldn't make the news.