not doing Santa

[dzheremi]

aren't parents bringing their kids to sit on Santa's lap to ask him what they want for Christmas?

and kids ask how does Santa get down the chimney?
or what happens if we don't have a chimney?

and they leave cookies out for Santa?

and kids write letters to Santa which parents pretend to send?

no, they don't tell how Santa began because that would go against all the pretends that go on every Christmas

Again, there's nothing that says you have to do any of the commercial stuff that goes along with the modern western Christmas extravaganza. Though again, many aspects of it -- like the milk and cookies left out for 'Santa' -- are essentially secularized retreads of aspects of the life of St. Nicholas of Myra and the veneration of him as a historic Christian saint of great renown.

I'm not saying there are no problems or potential problems with the way that essentially atheistic westerners 'do' Christmas. My only point is that's them choosing to do that. You can celebrate Christmas, including Santa (St. Nicholas), in a way that is entirely consistent with the traditional Christian way of celebrating it, but you have to first know what that consists of, and then decide to tell your children the truth about where all the modern 'Santa' stuff comes from, and where that all became detached from the reality of the actual person and life of St. Nicholas, and actively celebrate St. Nicholas instead. It wouldn't even mean you would have to stop giving presents (where do you think that part of western Christmas ultimately comes from?), but it would mean that your children would grow up understanding a bit more about their faith, which I imagine is probably at least part of the impetus behind western Christians questioning how they themselves celebrate Christmas in the first place (i.e., that it detracts from the entire point of Christmas by making it about going to the mall and buying stuff, rather than actually celebrating anything Christian on what is traditionally a Christian liturgical season).

 

[Carl Emerson]

This is for children, in similar fashion to Jesus saying,
Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise
Naughty or nice is taught by whom? Your parents.

It isn't about being saved. It's about young children and knowing naughty or nice from their parents. At what age do children become accountable in their own right? By that time they know Santa is not real. It was all in fun, with a moral lesson to be nice as their parents taught them. The first commandment with promise (reward).

It is about being saved.

The kids grow to adults still believing that all that matters is being as good as you can.

The world is full of grown up kids who trust in their own righteousness.

They have believed a false gospel.

Thank you Santa.

 

[Blade]

always have to be careful here.. for ME if I had ever told my kids about "Santa" coming giving your toys and goodies only if your good.. just stop at "Santa". Its a lie. I've never known a good way to tell a lie. Its not for fun or a joke its a lie. We have 4 Christian radio stations (that come in 100%) 3 play worldly Santa Christmas music on a day when the savior of the world was born. Not singing to the savior but about Santa and all the other things that have nothing what so ever to do with Jesus Christ.

Yeah so we never told our kids Santa was coming.. well hes not real and seems man has given him powers like a god. So we give all praise and glory to the king of kings lord of lord.. please no offense.. this is just me sharing.

 

[Robban]

Why the eye roll?

 

[bèlla]

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

~bella

 

[bèlla]

Why the eye roll?

Remember Yehoshua’s commission and Moshe’s words. Yahweh confirms them:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

HaShem is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Adonai is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

~bella

 

[ralliann]

It is about being saved.

The kids grow to adults still believing that all that matters is being as good as you can.

Until we grow into adults we are kids.

The world is full of grown up kids who trust in their own righteousness.

They have believed a false gospel.

This can be true of anyone. Santa or no Santa.

Thank you Santa.

Ah, well I don't think it is anything to divide over.

 

[zippy2006]

To me, it feels like a lie.

Of course it's a lie.

 

[Carl Emerson]

anyway - just blowing Santa's cover - the whole concept is the big guy in the sky who showers gifts on 'good' people.

No need for Jesus - just be a good person and everything will turn out...

NOT

 

[mama2one]

Of course it's a lie.

I actually didn't say what you quoted/attributed to me
in post #35

what you quoted was from the article in the first post
I edited first post to make it more clear

what I said was in post #2

 

[mama2one]

.

 

[coffee4u]

https://motherwiselife.org/santa-ruined-christmas/


from above article:

"There is some debate over whether or not the Santa story is a lie. To me, it is. To me, it feels like a lie. It feels dishonest. There are plenty of fantastic parents who choose to do Santa, and they do not feel like they are lying. That is a good choice for their family.

My choice for my family is not inherently judgmental of your choice. I can feel that something is wrong for my family, without also feeling that it is wrong for your family. You know yourself and your children. The issue is worth exploring, though. If we tell our children not to lie to us, if we expect and desire honesty from everyone in our lives, why is it acceptable for us to lie to our children?"

What I find strange is that so many people like yourself are either strongly against or strongly for the entire Santa thing. I am wondering if this is an American thing to take such strongly opposing views?

What I mean by this is people who 'do Santa' do him to the max. They take their kids to see him, get pictures, talk about him a lot. They put out cookies and things out and really hype Santa up as being real.
Or like you they nix Santa completely.

"someone asked my teen recently "what's your BIG ASK for Christmas?"
I quickly said "our child has never asked for anything for Christmas."

I attribute this to the fact we never "did Santa"

So firstly your child is a teenager so they wouldn't be believing in Santa even if you had 'done Santa' since children begin to question things like Santa in the age range of 6-8. No teenager believes in Santa.

Second they are a teenager and as such I would encourage you to let them speak for themselves. No need to jump in quickly, they are not 5. If you remain quiet and watch you may learn something interesting about their own thoughts. They are in the age range where they are becoming adults. My eldest is now an adult and my youngest is not that far behind, end of this year in fact. Let them speak for themselves. This is the age where whatever they believe has to become their own belief. This is just my 2 cents as a mother to start hanging back just a little.

Where is the middle ground and why do not some of you take it? By this I mean, did your children enjoy other characters? Like I don't know, Elmo? Bob the Builder?
Our kids knew Santa wasn't real, but they still enjoyed Santa like they did any other character. It just doesn't seem like such a big deal to me yet I don't see people (or maybe as I said it's Americans) taking this middle track.
Americans seem very 'high pitch' over the whole Santa thing. We're a lot more chill in general I guess. But this is just a thought to you to ask why can't Santa be treated like any other story book character and why don't more Americans take this line?

 

[d taylor]

And Children know well the difference between a lie, and make believe. I remember my older siblings telling me the Easter bunny was not real. To me the disappointment was more along the lines of ,,,enjoying having everyone in on a game of Let's pretend, and no longer playing pretend. But children naturally know what pretending is...it is play to them.

Well now-a-days it is not only the santa lie but now the elf lie.

 

[Torah Keeper]

Santa has been made into a false god.

He is immortal (unless you are Tim Allen).

He is all-knowing (He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake...).

He is practically omnipresent (able to go to every house on Earth in one night).

People offer him food and drink (an offering of cookies and milk to the false god).

I even heard a song where a woman said "Santa can you hear me?" As if she was praying to Santa.

And it seems to me that 99% of Christmas movies, music, merchandise, decorations, and traditions are about Santa and/or they do not mention Christ at all.

No Santa for my family.

 

[Tinker Grey]

When I was a believer my wife and I agreed to raise our children without Santa. We always made it clear it was make believe AND that it was not their job to inform their friends. The friends would get it eventually.

I don't think we missed out on anything. I believe all 3 of my children, all adults, would agree. We bought presents for each other. We were grateful to each other for our fellow family member's thoughtfulness.

There was plenty of joy in all of that. There was plenty of awe and wonder in driving around looking at Christmas lights (including Santa and reindeer).

I don't believe that pretending Santa would have enhanced all those treasured memories.

 

[Joy]

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