Just saw a "Santa Calls" banner on the site and thought I'd ask: How many of you tell your children about Santa Claus? And how many of you don't? Would love to hear from both sides as to why or why not.
Thanks!
Thanks!
FAO: Parents Re: Santa Claus
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seashale76
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I'm not currently a parent, although I do hope for the opportunity one day. I won't be doing the Santa Claus thing with my potential progeny. However, I currently do celebrate St. Nicholas day. The lives of the saints are a whole lot more interesting than something invented by Coca-Cola as an advertizing gimmick (to me anyway).
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I have four children, of whom the youngest two still believe in Santa Claus.
When they were very young, we read stories involving him, and they believed in him, in the same way that they believed in fairies...
We do not, however, lie to them - so when they have reached an age where they have asked whether Santa is real (9 or 10), we have told them the story of Saint Nicholas, and how this has led to the legend of Santa Claus - and then involved them in the fun of 'playing Santa' for their younger siblings.
Some Christians don't like the concept of Santa - partly because they think that a loss of faith in him will lead to a questioning of their faith in God. This didn't happen with our elder two... but possibly may be a factor for some.
However, I hope that our children can see the difference between our faith in God, which is a living reality affecting every part of our lives, and a story of a once yearly visit by a fat man in red (or green - as they are aware of the Coca cola factor!)...
Obviously, though, different Christians have different views on this one. And as long as our children know what we a re really celebrating at Christmas, I don't think that it matters over much...
When they were very young, we read stories involving him, and they believed in him, in the same way that they believed in fairies...
We do not, however, lie to them - so when they have reached an age where they have asked whether Santa is real (9 or 10), we have told them the story of Saint Nicholas, and how this has led to the legend of Santa Claus - and then involved them in the fun of 'playing Santa' for their younger siblings.
Some Christians don't like the concept of Santa - partly because they think that a loss of faith in him will lead to a questioning of their faith in God. This didn't happen with our elder two... but possibly may be a factor for some.
However, I hope that our children can see the difference between our faith in God, which is a living reality affecting every part of our lives, and a story of a once yearly visit by a fat man in red (or green - as they are aware of the Coca cola factor!)...
Obviously, though, different Christians have different views on this one. And as long as our children know what we a re really celebrating at Christmas, I don't think that it matters over much...
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TexasSky
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I've always been fascinated by the stance that children will not trust parents over this.
I grew up in a household that taught us faith in God, and celebrated "magical" things like bunnies that left chocolate eggs and fat men that rode magical sleighs behind smelly raindeer.
I never considered my parents to be liars.
I never confused elves, bunnies, etc., with the reality and truth of Christ.
As I got older, and I read about St. Nicholas, I understood that Santa Claus was founded on some pretty strong Christian view points. Mainly, share love, and help your fellow man.
When my children were young, we allowed them the magic of Christmas. They still get a gift from Santa, even though they are grown.
They are, though, Christians, and they know that the Santa's through the ages have been very human servants of God, and that God is God.
I asked them once if they ever felt like someone had lied to them. They said no. They don't want to give up that magical time of their childhood.
Maybe it is because we didn't really specify, early on, who Santa was. We simply told them that Santa wouldn't leave gifts if they didn't get to bed, and the next morning gifts from Santa were there. They eventually figured out who Santa was, and they were fine with it.
I grew up in a household that taught us faith in God, and celebrated "magical" things like bunnies that left chocolate eggs and fat men that rode magical sleighs behind smelly raindeer.
I never considered my parents to be liars.
I never confused elves, bunnies, etc., with the reality and truth of Christ.
As I got older, and I read about St. Nicholas, I understood that Santa Claus was founded on some pretty strong Christian view points. Mainly, share love, and help your fellow man.
When my children were young, we allowed them the magic of Christmas. They still get a gift from Santa, even though they are grown.
They are, though, Christians, and they know that the Santa's through the ages have been very human servants of God, and that God is God.
I asked them once if they ever felt like someone had lied to them. They said no. They don't want to give up that magical time of their childhood.
Maybe it is because we didn't really specify, early on, who Santa was. We simply told them that Santa wouldn't leave gifts if they didn't get to bed, and the next morning gifts from Santa were there. They eventually figured out who Santa was, and they were fine with it.
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Tawny
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My daughter (8) still believes in Santa Claus, she also believes in the tooth fairy. I will not lie to here when she asks if he is real and will follow the example set above and explain about St Nicholas etc.
I think children have had so much of their innocence taken away in this day and age that this little bit of innocence is good.
I believed in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and Jack Frost and never once had them in the same league as my faith in God.
I think children have had so much of their innocence taken away in this day and age that this little bit of innocence is good.
I believed in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and Jack Frost and never once had them in the same league as my faith in God.
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EmbracingHim
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Can'tthinkofausername...
So...you are saying there is nooooo Santa?
I did not grow up in a house where Santa was taught. I would sit down and explain the story to my children, but the fat jolly man would not be suited for or in my house! (no celebration over red fat men with his red noses and tiny elves).
So...you are saying there is nooooo Santa?
I did not grow up in a house where Santa was taught. I would sit down and explain the story to my children, but the fat jolly man would not be suited for or in my house! (no celebration over red fat men with his red noses and tiny elves).
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My children are older now.
I did not use Santa to bribe them to behave.
I taught them that Santa is pretend like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.
I told them that some parents teach their children that Santa is real and they (my children) must not tell those kids differently!
It is none of our business.
The reason I chose to do this is because I felt greatly betrayed by the adults in my life when I learned Santa was not real.
I also felt betrayed when I found out George Washington didn't chop down a cherry tree, and Lincoln didn't walk all that way to return a single coin. I didn't want my children feeling betrayed by me, and so that's what we did.
My sister loves to pretend about everything. Her 10 year old son still believes in the tooth fairy.
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indagroove
Senior Member
I am pretty sure our three little ones 8,9&9 are just humoring us now
We'll say, I don't know if we can afford that gift. And they say, well Santa can, with a smirk. It's at this stage they ask, is Santa real or what? We then talk about the spirit of St. Nick in his gift giving.
We'll say, I don't know if we can afford that gift. And they say, well Santa can, with a smirk. It's at this stage they ask, is Santa real or what? We then talk about the spirit of St. Nick in his gift giving.
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I grew up believing in Santa,easter bunny and the tooth fairy. However, some of my riends when they found out that Santa, easter bunny and the tooth fairy wasn't true: they felt that their parents lied about Jesus too.
For this reason I beleve that parents should tell theh truth about Santa and the others so that the kids will believe them when they mention the important stuff.
For this reason I beleve that parents should tell theh truth about Santa and the others so that the kids will believe them when they mention the important stuff.
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Ack, I would not teach my children about Santa Claus.
The history of St. Nicholas is much more interesting anyway.
I would explain to them the cultural importance of Christmas, not the commercial importance.
The history of St. Nicholas is much more interesting anyway.
I would explain to them the cultural importance of Christmas, not the commercial importance.
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5ncountin
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We do not teach our children about Santa Claus because to us a lie is a lie regardless of the fact that is done for fun as in the case of Santa Claus ,the Easter Bunny , The Tooth fairy ect... I dont want my children to grow up horrified that we were lying to them and wonder if all of the stories we told them about Yahuah and His people and Yehushuah were true or just another lie like Santa.
Of course now all of our children try to tell the whole world why we dont believe in Santa but that is not as priceless as the time when my shrimpy five yr old (she looks more like shes 3) told a well meaning adult who asked what she was for Halloween " We dont celebrate Halloween because it is Wicked and Evil ! " Boy did I get out of there fast !
Of course now all of our children try to tell the whole world why we dont believe in Santa but that is not as priceless as the time when my shrimpy five yr old (she looks more like shes 3) told a well meaning adult who asked what she was for Halloween " We dont celebrate Halloween because it is Wicked and Evil ! " Boy did I get out of there fast !
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Virgil the Roman
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do ya mind if I re-post this in my home sub-form of One Bread One Body?
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I wholeheartedly agree with this poster. I grew up believing in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy. And when I found out none of it was true, I felt betrayed by my parents for not telling me the truth. I found it difficult to believe them or trust them thereafter. I saw this phrase "A half-truth is a whole lie" on a church marquee once, and I think it applies to the issue of Santa. That is my opinion at least.
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Aibrean
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From my blog post...if I had kids:
Will my kids believe in Santa? I posted this on the HOW design forum because people were wondering what to do about the whole Santa deal.
This is my take:
Saint Nicholas was real. He was never officially canonized but he lived between 270 and 343 in Turkey and was a Bishop (hence the red robe) and had a reputation for secretly giving gifts. I will tell my kids that as history is always beneficial and good, but as for the modern day killing of "all things holy" I will never tell my kids that Santa comes and gives them presents. Why? Because I don't think it's necessary to lie to children in order for them to be good. It starts a negative trend where they think it's ok to lie because "mommy and daddy did it". I don't think it's ok to let kids believe that a human can be immortal outside of Christianity. I hate how we've secularized Nicholas and I'm sure he would hate what people have done to the name of Christmas.
I never believed in Santa because I was never told he existed. When my aunts and uncles told their kids to be good for Santa I laughed because I knew the truth! I never had to suffer any heartache for finding out there was no such thing.
Will my kids believe in Santa? I posted this on the HOW design forum because people were wondering what to do about the whole Santa deal.
This is my take:
Saint Nicholas was real. He was never officially canonized but he lived between 270 and 343 in Turkey and was a Bishop (hence the red robe) and had a reputation for secretly giving gifts. I will tell my kids that as history is always beneficial and good, but as for the modern day killing of "all things holy" I will never tell my kids that Santa comes and gives them presents. Why? Because I don't think it's necessary to lie to children in order for them to be good. It starts a negative trend where they think it's ok to lie because "mommy and daddy did it". I don't think it's ok to let kids believe that a human can be immortal outside of Christianity. I hate how we've secularized Nicholas and I'm sure he would hate what people have done to the name of Christmas.
I never believed in Santa because I was never told he existed. When my aunts and uncles told their kids to be good for Santa I laughed because I knew the truth! I never had to suffer any heartache for finding out there was no such thing.
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