Bright Horizons Childcare on Bank Street was to have a Halloween dress up day on Friday, but after a complaint to its head office the event was changed.

In an email to parents, the reason given for the change was because “Halloween is not culturally celebrated in all families”.

“We also feel as to avoid any confusion with Halloween we will have our ‘dress up’ day the following Friday the 7th of November,” the email read.

“I apologise for any confusion that this may have caused and encourage you to dress your children in costumes that are not of any Halloween nature.”

A parent, Tasha, who has a son who attends the centre, said she was concerned the cancellation of something for cultural reasons could force hate on to certain community groups.

“The centre itself is wonderful, but it was a direction from head office where my issue lies,” Tasha said.

“Australia is multicultural and I would never tell people what they can and cannot believe or celebrate.

“I don’t care what people believe in, we all have a freedom of choice but in this case it has been wiped out from under us.

“What’s next, is it going to be Easter that gets axed because one person doesn’t believe in it, or Christmas?

“To take the right away from four-year-olds to get dressed up in an outfit is pretty absurd.”

After contacting head office about the issue, Tasha said another statement was sent to parents changing the date back to October 31 for a “dress up day with no theme”.

Yackandandah man Mario Prestani’s grandson attends the centre and he said he couldn’t see why the event should be cancelled.

“Why should one dominate against the rest?” he said. “I don’t think it’s right at all — if you don’t like it, don’t be in it.”

Bright Horizon’s head office declined to comment on the matter.

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