A new study by the University of Copenhagen shows that 80 percent of the multicultural schools in Denmark celebrate Christmas by attending a festive-themed service in a church, reports Kristeligt Dagblad.
A survey among parents with Muslim backgrounds suggests most are positive about their children’s participation in Christian Christmas traditions.
Resistant non-believers
In fact, the most resistance against religious rituals was noted among Danish families of non-believers, said Brian Arly Jacobsen, an associate professor at the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies at the university.
“Muslim parents don’t have a problem when it comes to their children attending a Christmas church service,” Jacobsen told Kristeligt Dagblad.
“They generally regard religion positively.”
Part of general education
Steffen Hessellund, the headteacher at Sønderbroskolen in Aalborg, argues that attending a Christmas church service is “an experience, whether you are Muslim or Christian”.
“As I see it, it is part of the general education that children learn about different religions,” Hessellund commented.
In Denmark, there are 82 multicultural schools that consider integration between religions and culture as an important value and celebrate both Christian and Muslim traditions.
