Aberdeen school’s winter card wording sparks debate over Christmas traditions
Kaimhill School in Aberdeen referred to pupils’ designs as “Winter Cards” in a message to parents, explaining that the term reflected its multi-cultural and multi-faith community. The article’s author argues that this wording unnecessarily replaces a familiar Christmas tradition and presents the school’s decision as an example of institutions treating British heritage as incompatible with inclusion.
The school said families could call the cards Christmas cards themselves. The article says a mother queried the terminology, prompting the school’s explanation that “Winter Cards” was intended to make its communications welcoming to all. It offers no figures on how many parents objected, and the text provided ends while the author is arguing that minority-faith communities are not alienated by the mention of Christmas.
- An Aberdeen school called pupils’ designs “Winter Cards”.
- The school cited its multi-faith community.
- The author argues Christmas traditions and inclusion can coexist.
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Kaimhill School in Aberdeen used the term "Winter Cards" when communicating with parents about pupils' designs, rather than the traditional "Christmas Cards". The school explained this decision in a message to families, stating that the wording was chosen to reflect its diverse, multi-cultural and multi-faith community.
The terminology prompted a query from at least one parent, which led the school to clarify its reasoning for the alternative phrasing. The school noted that families were free to call the cards Christmas cards themselves if they wished, emphasising that the intention was to make school communications welcoming to all pupils and families.
The incident has sparked a broader debate about how institutions balance British cultural traditions with inclusive practices for diverse communities. The debate touches on questions about whether terms like "Christmas" in school communications exclude families of other faiths, or whether such rebranding represents an unnecessary departure from established customs.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Schools serving multi-faith communities benefit from official language that makes all families feel equally welcomed, and 'Winter Cards' achieves this without preventing anyone from celebrating Christmas. Such inclusive terminology signals that every child belongs regardless of their faith, which is particularly meaningful for minority families who might otherwise feel their traditions are invisible in school communications.
The case against
Rebranding an established Christmas tradition unnecessarily suggests that British cultural heritage is incompatible with inclusion, when the two can coexist. Schools can certainly aim for welcoming language, but changing terminology erases tradition without evidence it was actually alienating anyone, and implicitly signals that majority cultural expressions are problematic rather than simply part of the shared context minorities are welcomed into.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK: Christmas is cancelled …by intolerant middle managers who can’t wait to be offended on someone else’s behalf”.