A primary school in Aberdeen has sparked a debate after choosing to call its traditional Christmas cards “winter cards”.
Kaimhill School said the change was intended to recognise the multicultural and multi-faith nature of its community.
However, critics have described the decision as unnecessary and “madness”, arguing that removing the word Christmas could be seen as excluding Christianity.
The controversy has also prompted a defence of the school, with one parent saying staff have been subjected to “a level of hatred that’s genuinely vile” since the issue gained attention.
The dispute began after a mother questioned an email from the school informing parents that their children would be bringing home their “winter card designs”.
She wrote: “I have friends from other schools that have received this exact email, [the] only difference is the other schools have used the term Christmas card, not winter card. Could someone explain why this is?”
Kaimhill School in Aberdeen said the wording was changed to reflect the diversity of its pupils and families
The school has replaced references to traditional Christmas cards with “winter cards”
In a message sent to all parents, Kaimhill School sought to explain the reasoning behind its choice of wording, reminding families that it is “a multicultural and multi-faith community”.
The school said: “We value and respect the diverse cultures, beliefs and traditions represented within our school. To reflect this inclusivity in our communications, we refer to seasonal cards as ‘winter cards’, rather than ‘Christmas cards’.
“This terminology helps ensure that our language is welcoming and inclusive of all members of our school community.”
The school also made clear that families could continue calling the cards Christmas cards if they preferred. It thanked parents for helping create an “inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment for everyone”.
The email was later shared widely on social media, where it received a mixed reaction from parents.
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One mother said: “I’m all for multiculturalism, but this is a bit much.”
Another parent claimed the decision was “taking all the fun out of Christmas”.
Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, criticised the move as “woke madness” and accused the school of suppressing language.
He said: “The stranglehold of political correctness is slowly but surely robbing Scotland of its Christian identity.
“Christianity has defined Scotland since Saint Columba arrived on the island of Iona from Ireland in the 6th century.
“Far from being ‘inclusive’, the school’s action is deeply exclusive of Christianity. It takes us back to the celebration of the pagan, pre-Christian winter festival of Yule, which was banned by the Scottish parliament of 1640.”
Another mother defended the school, saying the issue had been exaggerated and that “innocent teachers and staff” were receiving “disgusting phone calls and emails” as a result of the backlash.
Head teacher Susie Webster was forced to issue a second email to parents on Wednesday in the wake of the backlash, insisting that ‘Christmas continues to be an important and much loved part of school life’.
She said the school ‘believe it is possible to celebrate cherished traditions, such as Christmas, while also being mindful and inclusive of the different cultures, faiths and believes represented within our school’.
But she told parents: ‘If your child has heard conversations about this issue and is feeling worried, please reassure them that Christmas at Kaimhill School will continue just as it always has.’
Aberdeen City Council confirmed that a range of planned events, including Christmas parties and themed activities, would still be going ahead.
A spokesman said: ‘The school community enjoys celebrating a number of festivals and Christmas continues to play a large part in Kaimhill School at this time of year.’
