Swedish school gives in to Muslim demands – Christian parts excluded from Lucia procession

Do you expect Santas, caroler and gingerbread men in the Lucia parade? Not at St Mary’s School (Mariehemsskolan) in Umeå. There it has been decided that the 40 or so children aged 7 to 10 who will take part in the Lucia procession will do without the traditional elements of a Lucia celebration. The reason for this is Muslim children who dropped out of last year’s celebration because their parents were uncomfortable with the connection between the celebration and Christmas.

The Lucia procession at Mariehems School will not include any religious elements. Instead, the Lucia celebration will be “gender neutral” and “inclusive” – but will not include the traditional elements of a Lucia celebration.

We are a non-denominational school and therefore decided to remove the Christmas elements, Jörgen Persson tells SVT.

Last year there were even more participants, but SVT reports that several students with “religious beliefs” other than Christianity cancelled during rehearsals.

Some parents did not agree with the children’s participation because Lucia is associated with Christmas. So this year we have made it clear that the event is not associated with any particular religious faith, says choir director Jörgen Persson.

Giving in to Muslim demands

In the post showing one of the rehearsals for this year’s watered-down “Lucia Festival”, a little girl is seen wearing the Muslim veil hijab.

We welcome the light in the darkness. We long for the light. We now have several Muslim children here in the choir who are also allowed to participate in the choir. Because both at school festivals and in the Lucia choir, they were not allowed to participate in performances. But now they are allowed to participate.

The children will also not sing the traditional Lucia songs. The choir director says that many children have been excluded over the years because Swedish schools focused so much on the Lucia festival and it was “so incredibly traditionally Christian”.

https://nya.samnytt.se/skola-vek-sig-for-muslimers-krav-kristna-inslag-forbjuds-i-luciatag/