Aberdeen primary school calls Christmas cards 'winter cards', prompting parental backlash
Kaimhill Primary in Aberdeen told parents it would call seasonal cards "winter cards" to be inclusive, drawing criticism online. Aberdeen City Council said Christmas still plays a large part in school life.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Kaimhill Primary School in the Garthdee area of Aberdeen emailed parents and carers saying it would refer to seasonal cards as "winter cards" rather than "Christmas cards". Daily ExpressR “A Scottish school sent an email to parents and carers at Kaimhill Primary School in Aberdeen, advising them of the change.” Read at Daily Express ↗ BreitbartR “Kaimhill Primary, which is located in the Garthdee area of the Granite City” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 2The email said the wording "helps ensure that our language is welcoming and inclusive of all members of our school community", and added that families were free to call the cards Christmas cards if they wished. Daily ExpressR “Of course, families are free to refer to these cards as Christmas cards if they wish.” Read at Daily Express ↗ BreitbartR “This terminology helps ensure that our language is welcoming and inclusive of all members of our school community.” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1The school said the change was meant to maintain "value and respect" among the diverse cultures and traditions in the school. Daily ExpressR “Teachers say it will maintain "value and respect" among the diverse cultures and traditions of those within the premises.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Right · 2Parents reacted angrily; one said "This woke nonsense needs to stop" and another asked "Why are they cancelling Christmas for kids?" Daily ExpressR “Reacting to the email, one parent said: "This woke nonsense needs to stop."” Read at Daily Express ↗ BreitbartR “Another added, "This is just utter madness. Why are they cancelling Christmas for kids?"” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1Breitbart, citing The Times, reported that the school's deputy head received an abusive and threatening phone call after the email was widely shared on X. BreitbartR “The Times reports the deputy head at Kaimhill primary school in Aberdeen had received an abusive and threatening phone call” Read at Breitbart ↗ Right · 1An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said the school community celebrates a number of festivals and that Christmas "continues to play a large part" at the school, with planned activities including Christmas parties, a Christmas lunch, a Christmas fair, decorations and carol singing. Daily ExpressR “Christmas continues to play a large part in Kaimhill School at this time of year.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present the change as a 'woke' overreach and an attack on Christmas traditions, leading with parental anger. Breitbart adds a wider culture-war frame about Christianity.
- Emphasis
- Parent quotes about 'woke nonsense' and 'cancelling Christmas'; Breitbart also stresses online backlash and the Bradford 'multi-faith' tree.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Breitbart omits the Aberdeen City Council statement that Christmas remains central to school activities; the Express includes it at the end. Neither includes comment from the school beyond the email, and the Express does not mention the threatening call to the deputy head.
- Charged language
- “woke nonsense”“Fury”“Because... Diversity”“assault on Christianity”
- For example
-
“Parents were left angry and have branded the decision as "woke nonsense".” — Daily Express
“yet another assault on Christianity and its cultural vestiges” — Breitbart
What every side reports
- Kaimhill Primary School in Aberdeen emailed parents about calling Christmas cards 'winter cards'.
- The email said families could still call them Christmas cards.
- Parents quoted criticised the move as 'woke nonsense'.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether Christmas is being sidelined at the school
- Left
- Aberdeen City Council (via the Express) says Christmas continues to play a large part, with many planned festive activities.
- Right
- Parents and Breitbart frame it as cancelling Christmas and eroding traditions.
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
-
Fury as UK school ditches Christmas cards for 'winter cards' to be 'more inclusive'
Critical Leads with parental fury at the rename, but ends with the council's statement that Christmas remains prominent.
-
Christmas Cards Now 'Winter Cards' at Scottish School Because... Diversity
Dismissive Sarcastic headline and culture-war context, treating the change as part of an assault on Christianity.
- 8 Oct 12:19 First Daily ExpressR Fury as UK school ditches Christmas cards for 'winter cards' to be 'more inclusive'
- 9 Oct 10:58 +22h 39m BreitbartR Christmas Cards Now 'Winter Cards' at Scottish School Because... Diversity
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.