What Does Your School Call It? Halloween Party Vs. Fall Festival?

Seems like the volunteer that backed out knew what she was doing - not celebrating a "holiday" she doesn't believe in. Kudos to her. That certainly doesn't mean to ban or change it for the rest! I am personally sick and tired of the censorship that has swept this country. If you don't like something - don't do it! That's the beauty of living in a FREE society. To think the rest of the country should CONFORM to suit the needs of a few, well - let's ask Germany how that fared for them in the '40's....

I completely agree with Riley J. Halloween is nothing but a day for the kids to dress up and have fun and get some candy. Why take this day away from them when we already take so much away from their childhood. I would not change the name just because one volunteer backed out.

You know I think EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is getting a little too PC these days.
After all, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck--guess what? It's a DUCK!

Well, one can have a Fall Festival but that is not the same as Halloween. And if a Fall Festival includes Thanksgiving then I'm adamantly against it.

Actually, I think we're going too far in the direction of political correctness when we change the names of things. We're losing our heritage. And, while we're calling for diversity we're creating a homogeneous society where everyone and everything is made the same by changing their names.

I believe that each of us has the right to celebrate or not any holiday; even to create new holidays. So, no, I don't think it's a reasonable request if you're substituting it for another holiday.

My granddaughter's school no long has a Halloween parade in which the kids bring their costumes to school, put them during the last part of the day and walk around the school (outside if it's not raining) while the parents and friends watch and applaud. This was a school tradition, done for years. We can't do it now because Halloween is no longer politically correct.

If Halloween is not acceptable, then don't celebrate Halloween. But don't try to placate by substituting another holiday. Have a new holiday, OK, but not instead of an old holiday.

I TOTALLY disagree with you, sorry. I would fight it tooth and nail if they made that change at my school. HATE the politically "correct" movement and personally do all I can to buck it. It is taking the fun out of everything IMO. And I especially HATE that we as a society cater to the very small percentage of us that have an "issue" with something to the detriment of the rest of us. I could go on and on with examples both political(especially political) and cultural but I don't want to ruin my Sunday morning thinking about this.

Our school calls it Halloween... Why should the school change the name .. if a volunteer is backing away because it's called Halloween, then so be it... TRULY. it's so petty.. call it what you want in your own mind.. Some don't necessarily celebrate Thanksgiving because "some" feel it's a disservice to the American Indian... YET.. in my opinion, you can celebrate as there is always a reason to be thankful... in other words.. the name isn't so important as the meaning.. Also, people should get over it. have a little fun.. kids love dress up... if anything, the volunteer might see it as something fun for their kid. it's not as though the school will have them practicing black magic or anything. also, if the volunteer did some research on the topic, they'd see that Halloween traditionally is a means of celebrating the dead.. surely, the volunteer knows some dead people........

Wow...I'm shocked at the multiple vehement responses here! I think the point in calling it a fall festival is to be more PC, and yes, it does sadden me sometimes too to know that we've come so far in at trying to accomodate everyone's issues that we seem to have lost everything...however...I stand strong in the fact that this issue is really about kids. Kids should not be punished for the choices their parents make. There are many groups/churches/religions out there that frown upon Halloween and I would hate to see this woman's child removed from the party b/c it has a Halloween theme. Additionally, there are so many families (in all schools and districts) that don't have a lot of money and their children may not be getting Halloween costumes. So, to change it to a Fall Festival and not allow costumes, to me, would be the right thing to do. There is not one child in that class, or any class, who should be excluded. Period. Yes, this is different than even my generation would have done things. And yes, I enjoyed and have fond memories of dressing up at school for the Halloween party, but if we want to teach our children acceptance and diversity, this is a change that needs to be made.

I think you should address the teacher and/or principal about it and tell them that you had a mother back out of volunteering b/c she wasn't comfortable with the theme. There are so many venues for kids to be able to wear costumes and do "Halloween" things, why should it be so wrong to celebrate the season during school time.

Finally, I think the point could be brought up that "Christmas" parties are probably not Christmas themed any more either. THey are probably winter themed, and again, I think this is the right move. In school it should be about celebrating seasons not trying to focus on one belief over the other. I do think Halloween can be discussed as a tradition that many people celebrate, nothing wrong with that, but other discussions should be had about other traditions and beliefs.

My kids have gone to three different schools. At two of the schools they had a halloween party, the party was either on halloween or on friday if it fell on a weekend. The kids dressed up in their costumes, had a parade through the building, and had themed crafts and treats. At the other school it was called a fall party and was on a friday half way between halloween and thanksgiving. The kids did fall themed crafts and had fall themed treats but nothing that directly related to thanksgiving or halloween. I can tell you my kids have enjoyed the halloween parties much more. I think there is a small minority that do not celebrate halloween and if it is offensive to them then they should not participate but why should all the kids be denied the opportunity due to a few not participating. If your school elects to change halloween to fall party then I think you would also need to change the Christmas party to a winter party to not offend anyone.

Our school calls it a Fall Festival, but it wouldn't bother me if it was called a Halloween party/festival. What's the big deal with Halloween? It's a fun time to dress up and eat candy. When did that become politically incorrect?

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not change "Halloween"......this non sense has got to stop!!! We are losing ourselves, our country with all these adult temper tantrums.....she is only one person out of how many that are supportive of Halloween.

And yes this is a hot button issue for me. There is no way I would be able to pray at work but my Muslim co-worker had to have special times allotted & a special private place for him to pray. This is the UNITED States - but we have lost the United.

Updated

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not change "Halloween"......this non sense has got to stop!!! We are losing ourselves, our country with all these adult temper tantrums.....she is only one person out of how many that are supportive of Halloween.

And yes this is a hot button issue for me. There is no way I would be able to pray at work but my Muslim co-worker had to have special times allotted & a special private place for him to pray. This is the UNITED States - but we have lost the United.

I would be so upset if my kids Halloween party was changed. Next thing you know there will be a parent that fights the valentine party. Please stop! I continue to wear my Santa hat to the "winter party".... I am so bad!

The entire event/theme was eliminated from our public school 2 yrs ago. The kids really really miss the parade. Cuz to them, that is all it is - A chance to play dress-up. But I am a big fan of Halloween. I make a big deal out of it, have family over, decorate, etc. and so I hope it makes up for the loss of Halloween from school.

My Catholic school always holds a Fall Festival in mid October. The kids are still allowed tom dress up for Halloween at the end of the month.

I find changing Halloween to Fall Festival as offensive as I did when they tried to change Christmas trees to Holiday trees or whatever nonsense. Why try to force this sort of political correctness on people?

I agree with many other voters. A fall festival has corn mazes, hay rides and candy apples. Halloween has ghosts, witches and trick or treating. It's two separate things. The favorite part for the kids is the dressing up and being scary and that's Halloween. Our school uses the term Halloween.

It's Fall Festival... for me, not a hot buttom but I get why you would change the name. People will get mad about the change- but in the end, those that want a halloween party get a party and those that do not want halloween, get a fall festival. I love this time of year- we can't not celebrate! ha!

halloween isn't a religious holiday, it's a cultural one. the religious holiday is samhain. autumn is a season, halloween is a holiday, a festival, a fun day. what is your school celebrating?
khairete
S.

I think that most people won't care about the name change and will treat the party the same. However, most people will continue to treat it like Halloween and if you change it to Fall Festival for the person that backed out, you are going to have to work on making sure that there are no witches, ghosts, skeleton crafts, etc. Is it worth all that work for one volunteer? And based on the responses that you have gotten here, it looks like you could upset more people than you save.

I think if we have to call the Christmas program a Winter program then we should have to have a fall festival and drop the halloween theme. Halloween is all hallows eve. november first is all saints day. why would you be allowed to celebrate the holiday which celebrates paganism? when you can't sing silent night holy night in a school? Just my opinion but I think if one is ruled out then all of them should be. I remember as a child celebrating in a public school, halloween, christmas, easter all with parties. one by one they were dropped out. first the easter party which was moved to valentines day. then the christmas party which was switched to a winter festival day. now halloween is the only one left. I do think it should be switched to celebrate fall and not witches, ghosts, devils etc..... as this is a party which some children are excluded from due to religious views.

Your request as you put it is not reasonable. It does not matter what the party is called. Its still a Halloween party regardless. It always has been and always will be, your just nit picking. As for your volunteer backing out did you even bother to ask why they backed out? Did you even possibly consider that it could be the economy and that their situation has changed since they agreed to be a volunteer and they just can not afford to help. You need to take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror I think you might find one selfish person looking back at you.

just wanted to chime in that I personally like Halloween parties, and if others choose not to celebrate that that is their choice.

But depending on what the non-volunteers trouble is you could set limits for costumes, and do book characters or somethign like that.

Fall Festival, some religious people are offended by the term Halloween and to be politically correct it should not be used. I think it's my favorite holiday, the crafts, the colors, the fun activities, I love it myself.

I am hosting an event this weekend & I chose to call it a Fall Festival.

I didnt do it to be PC, I did it so EVERYONE would know what is is. We are in East Plano where the culture is very diverse. It has nothing to do with religion, simply an understanding of what the event is.

Wish me luck this weekend
http://www.storeassured.com/events.htm

We as Americans are asked to be tolerant of others and their culture. I agree completely with that and try to practice it all the time. However, in my opinion, Political Correctness takes this much further. The 'Politically Correct" crowd wants us to change our culture so as to not offend anyone, who "might be" offended!! That in my opinion is ridiculous!! Why aren't they being asked to be tolerant of American culture?!?! Why is it that Americans are being asked to give up our culture, but not others?1?! In America, Christmas is Christmas and Halloween is Halloween!! I have no problem with someone who doesn't believe in such things and wants to keep their child away from these things. They can be the parent and keep the child home that day or request the school provide their child something else to do during that time. But do not make us change our culture simply because you don't believe in it. Be tolerant of us and our culture as you would have us do for you and yours.

our school calls it the Bootacular...same thing. I think it is the schools choice if they are funding it.

Will there be ghosts at the Fall festival?

The thing that gets me is that I grew up with things being called 'Halloween party', Christmas break, etc... nowadays everyone is trying to be politically correct and not hurt people's feelings. It is very frustrating for me as a parent that our society has come to this. Call it what you want - there will always be someone who will not want to be involved regardless of what you call it. If you are unsure, I would talk w/ the school and see what they want you to call it. My sons school calls it a Fall Party but they wear their Halloween costumes!!!