Samhain Publishing

I’m not one to spout my political, religious, or personal beliefs in public, so it’s with much tiptoeing that I write this. But I recently heard a report about schools banning Christmas parties and songs in classrooms. It distressed me. And it sent me back to my grade-school days of fond memories I’d almost forgotten…

Without going into details, let me just say life in my childhood home was…challenging. Often, the classroom was my haven, most especially when the holidays approached. I recall autumn giving way to the biting winds of winter, donning my galoshes and hiking more than a block in heavy snow to catch the school bus. The bus was warm and welcoming, but it soon dropped me off at the school’s door. I can still remember the gleaming hallways, the bleachy smell of freshly mopped floors, and the scent of books and bright splashes of construction paper on the bulletin boards as I entered my cozy second-grade classroom.

Anticipation swirled in my belly. I knew it was that time. In fact, I could feel it in the air. My teacher had decorated the classroom—a tree in the corner strung with those big fat colorful lights and tinsel, holly outlining the chalkboard and carols playing softly from a phonograph in the back of the room. And most exciting of all, room mothers were arriving for our holiday party toting bags and containers full of surprises.

We were allowed—no, expected—to heave a sigh and set aside our studies. We constructed paper Santas with glued-on cotton for the beards. As snow fell outside the windows, we got out our Crayolas and colored paper candy canes, strung popcorn, and watched out of the corner of our eager eyes as the room mothers started to pass out cupcakes decorated with green icing and colorful candy, and yummy gingerbreadman-shaped cookies. We played games and won prizes, we exchanged gifts we’d each made ourselves, and I waited with held breath for my teacher to open the gift I had brought her—a 25-cent gaudy brooch shaped like a Christmas tree and decorated with colorful fake gems.

I wonder how my grade-school memories would differ if holiday parties had been banned? It saddens me, it really does, to try to imagine it in that It’s a Wonderful Life sort of way. With such warmhearted, nostalgic, school-based memories that had no religious or political foundation (at least not from my innocent perspective as a child), it depresses me to think that children in today’s world could be deprived of similar school memories.

Don’t get me wrong, I do understand and respect that there are many diverse religions and views, and that “Christmas,” a tree, Santa, gift-giving and carols are Christian-based. Therefore to avoid focusing on one religion in schools, why not just allow “winter-themed” parties and songs to be sung? The exciting build-up to winter break in schools could include such songs as Jingle Bells. ”Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.” And then there’s Let It Snow. “The weather outside is frightful, but inside it’s so delightful. Since we’ve no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!” Or how about Frosty the Snowman, or even Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, just a funny little winter song that could bring smiles to children of all ages, sizes, races and religions without the controversy?

A Winter party. In school. What’s the harm? A celebration of the literal season of snow and cold and cozy family fires. Sled riding, hot cocoa and marshmallows, fuzzy mittens, snowball fights, a steaming pot of soup on the stove, old-fashioned horse-drawn sleighs and quant little towns alight and bustling with activity.

Really, why not?

Anyway, I’ve also heard rumors of schools disallowing Halloween parties. I could go into my fond, ghostly school memories there too, but maybe I’ll save that for another day. But really, what’s next? Banning Valentine’s Day from kids’ classrooms? This would be akin to shunning love, that age-old sentimental emotion that drives us all, that our books are all based on. That transcends religion and politics and nations’ traditions.

Okay, off my soapbox. So, can you think of any other winter songs that are religion-free that could be approved for a grade-school Winter Party? And what do you think? Should schools be party poopers and ban these sorts of celebrations from classrooms altogether, even if we do lose the religion and generalize things?

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Titania Ladley is a multi-published erotic romance author. Her newest Samhain release, KABANA HEAT, is a contemporary ménage set in Hawaii. Don’t miss this HOT love story! Please visit her at http://www.titanialadley.com/ for more.