Santa? Yes or No?

[Cass72]

I still believe in the miracle of Christmas - the love, the giving, the sharing, the peace.

In our home everyone gets a present from Santa. I still go to mass on Christmas day (I love midnight mass) and happily combine catholicism with santa. Have you ever read the story of Saint Nicholas? To me christmas is about family (and, if I'm completely honest: the food and the presents!!!!)

Whatever you decide is of course completely up to you. Don't feel pressured to conform to anyone's way of thinking - do what's right for you and your family.

[krysalyss]

We kind of do santa in that he gets a santa sack etc but we don't pretend that he is actually real. We told DS that santa is a game that we play at xmas. And we also said that people like to pretend he is real so we all join in and pretend that too. A couple of xmases ago DH played santa so he got to see someone that he knew dressed up as Santa. When he sees Santa in the shops he says "there's A santa" as if santa is an animal in a zoo. LOL! So for us it is a balance where he can have some fun but we haven't done a big elaborate fib. We play pretend games and imagine different things so we aren't against make believe at all. Its just I do try and be as honest as I can with him and it seemed crazy to start lying about something as silly as santa. He half believes it anyway because of what other kids say at kindy.

[~Kaz~]

krysalyss - I really like the approach that you've taken. I've been thinking about this lately because DS cottoned on to "the bunny rabbit" at Easter this year so he will be well and truly aware of Santa by Christmas. He has seen Santa at a mum's group Christmas party but he wouldn't remember. I figure I can't really avoid Santa since he's in care now and I want to make those holiday occasions fun for him (some of my best childhood memories are of Christmas) but I was really unsure about the "pretending/lying/omitting the truth" issue because I try really hard to always be honest with him.

BTW, my teacher read the story of Saint Nicholas to my class at the end of Year 3. I was just about to turn 9 and that's how I realised that Santa wasn't real. I still remember this massive kind of 'huh' feeling that came with the knowledge that my parents had been lying about him. It would have been better (for me) if it had been explained by them so I like the idea of making it a game early on. Kind of the best of both worlds.

[~Kim~]

We do Santa. I think it's part of a magic I can give to my kids. They are only little for such a short time. I remember finding out when I was a kid and TBH I could't wait until I was old enough to make that happen for my kids. I didn't feel ripped off or lied to....but each to their own.
We are Christian and my kids know the real meaning of Christmas.

[peanutter]

we're a no santa family. I am very black and white about truth, and I see santa, easter bunny, toothfairy etc as a lie. I don't see them as "harmful" but in my eyes, lies are lies, and I don't want to lie to J.

incidentally, we also don't have a christmas tree because it doesn't have any real value or meaning for DH and me personally - but when J is older, if he wants a tree, we will get one. we're not anti christmas trees, DH and I just don't see the need for them.

for us, and our focus is on Jesus' birth. for people that don't share those beliefs (and plenty of those that do!) we find the focus is on family and friends, and being with loved ones. I don't see the need for santa and trees and candycanes and singing snowmen ...

we however teach him about Saint Nicholas, and why he is held is esteem, and remembered by the "Santa Claus" rigmarole these days, and why that tradition has been passed on for so many generations and is important to many people.

I hear what some of you are saying about him being the embodiment of the christmas spirit and thereby not a lie, but I disagree. I'm not comfortable with it for me and my family, so we do not plan on having it.

he will get presents! But he will know they're from mummy and daddy.

we have several friends who view it the same way as us, we have more who disagree.

but it isn't something I've had any arguments about. I think there's good arguments both for and against, and it's something which is (in my opinion) easy to accept and understand the different points of view.

and I refuse to feel like the bad guy because I choose not to lie to my son by people who are pro-santa, and do not respect my decisions.

that is all

[Erin_25]

Like anything, it's up to you to choose and to parent how you feel. Do what is right for you.

I like the magic feeling behind the special times like Christmas etc, it's doesn't all revolve around one man in a red suit. We see family we don't often get to see, we eat too much of all the naughty things, we go Church to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus (this is something my DS1 who is 4 talks about all the time). We have a family holiday, we laugh, sing....it is so many things.

Everything is what you make it, you don't have to make it about one thing. I don't get the either Santa or nothing approach, that is it's either all about a man in a red suit or there is nothing at all - IYKWIM like I said it's about so many more things and we enjoy all these together and I balance it out. My family knows what Christmas means to us, we have books, go to church etc. I really don't see the big deal about it all.

My problem with it all is these days we all question so much & know much more, often the magic and innocence is lost. As hard as it is for a parent to teach there is no Santa is just as hard for anther to assure a child who has had their joy killed by another.

[~me~]

I agree it's up to you, I also think it's up to you to remind your kids if they are not going to believe in Santa to be mindful of other kids who do.

I love things like Father Christmas, fairies and all those magical parts of life, he was real once and possibly still is, It's not something I know for sure
So when the time comes for my kids to ask and I am certain they already know the answer, I will say yes he is real, he just needs help to deliver all that Christmas cheer.

[meow]

A thousand times yes!! I loved the magic of Santa when I was a child and I'm itching to share the joy as a parent

[Sopdet]

My kids will be brought up with the celebration of Yule (and all pagan holidays), just like I was.

As for Santa, they will know about him, just like they will know about the christian beliefs and Jewish beliefs (since they will be Jewish by birth, as I am)

[Tinsel]

We told DS that santa is a game that we play at xmas.

I love this! Santa is an issue in our house every year because DH is totally against it and I grew up with the whole 'magic' of Santa. DD1 who will be 4 just before Christmas got right into it last year because of all the talk at childcare (although she was so scared seeing Santa at the mall). I think DH might go with it if we treat it like a game so thanks Krysalyss, you might have saved Christmas! hehehe

Charlotte, it really is a tricky one. I have been in battles with relatives talking about the whole Santa thing and how could I ruin the magic of Christmas. Not that I was, just raising other sides to the whole event. A woman at work was in a crisis because she felt like she was lying to her kids and couldn't deal with it. DH grew up without Santa being the focus so none of their presents were from anyone in particular and certainly none said from Santa. Even though it appears the whole event circles around Santa, many families have different ways of bringing it into their homes. I've discovered people get pretty heated over the whole Santa debate (IRL that is).

I don't thnk you are a grinch. You sound just like my husband. I love the 'hi pop' as well. Very cute.

[Cranky Kitten]

We have santa. It started for me when DD was little as I had older stepchildren (my XP's kids) that believed in santa, so I couldn't really rip that away from them and do my own thing. But over the years, I've found my own meaning in the traditions, DD loves the charade and the magic it holds for her, which to me is something special - an innocent belief that will pass as she gets older, but hopefully not *too* soon.

But I do agree go with what works for you.

[~ Mylitta ~]

I still believe in the miracle of Christmas - the love, the giving, the sharing, the peace.

Me too! Everyone in my family still gets a Santa sack filled with presents, and my youngest brother is 22!

My hubby and I are not religious (spiritual and have our own beliefs, but don't follow a particular religion), but we still love Christmas and celebrate it as a time to spend time and love with family. Sure, you can do that everyday, but I'm sure you all know how quickly life can fly, so it's lovely to have a special time at least once a year to really remember how wonderful and special time together with family really is, and to celebrate it with sharing and giving.

For us Santa just symbolises the nature of giving at Christmas time. The kid's will always get a Santa sack of presents, BUT all the best presents always come from Mummy and Daddy (can't let Santa take all the credit ).

Childhood is such a magical and imaginative time


PS. I must still believe in fairies too, because there is a particular garden in the city that I adore, and everytime I go I always look for fairies. I guess if I totally didn't believe in them I wouldn't bother looking hehe.

[MummaBee]

SANTA ISNT REAL?????????

Nah hehehe had to do it. I was brought up with all the magic of Santa and although we were not religious at all, it was totally about food, family and presents especially for the kids. I intend to do the Santa sacks on the end of the bed, beer for Santa and of coarse the reindeer footsteps in the lougeroom lol. For me believing in Santa was magical and the excitement is something I hope to pass on.
I haven't come across many that don't do the Santa thing but that probably because my family was so nuts about it each to there own and I'm sure you can make it special without giving all the credit away to the fat red man hehehehe.

[AndiE]

We are a Santa household and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm another who feels that my kids are only "young and innocent" for a short time, so I'm happy to indulge all manner of fantasy (Santa, Easter Bunny ... Lightning McQueen lol).
Having said that, I'm also teaching my kids that Christmas is Jesus' birthday and that it's the time of year - in particular - when we give to others and are nice to people. I refuse to have my kids grow up thinking that Christmas is only about Santa and "gimme a present". So yes, there's two elements to Christmas in house, and Santa is definitely one of them.

[Diamond75]

I love Santa and still have wonderful memories as a child with all the excitement leading up to the big day. I couldn't imagine not sharing that with my own children now.

Each to their own I guess.

[Epacris]

We are atheists and we do Santa. He brings sensible presents like toothbrushes and is always mindful of over-indulgence and waste. One year DS1 opened his present from Santa and started crying hysterically, he was inconsolable. I finally got out of him that Santa had given him children’s scissors, he wanted very dangerous scissors. How could Santa have got it so wrong!

[nothing2lose]

We are atheists and we do Santa. He brings sensible presents like toothbrushes and is always mindful of over-indulgence and waste. One year DS1 opened his present from Santa and started crying hysterically, he was inconsolable. I finally got out of him that Santa had given him children’s scissors, he wanted very dangerous scissors. How could Santa have got it so wrong!

I bet he brought a non-toxic glue stick too! Damn you kid-safe Santa!!!! *shakes fist*

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I hate Santa. I really do. He is the local god of winter, IMO. Everything hinges on Santa. I don't follow Santa, I also don't believe in him. So no way are we doing Santa for Liebling.

My mother and sister, on the other hand, know my sensibilities and ignore them, asking Liebling what "Santy" got him.

I do tell Liebling the story of St Nicholas and why we hang stockings up by the chimney. I love the story of The Night Before Christmas and tell it to Liebs as a story - as is A Christmas Carol, which I also love. But Christmas is about Jesus' birthday, not Santa.

(We also have fairies in the garden and go hunting Gruffalo - we do play pretend! But we know it is pretend. I never tell Liebs a lie is real.)