Santa? Yes or No?

[feeb]

I love the magic of Christmas Santa reindeers snowmen etc etc it was always a huge thing in our house growing up but always knew the true meaning of Christmas as well! I love shopping in the city at Christmas there is such a great atmosphere.

Kids are only little for a short time so I will embrace all things magic I can.

[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.

[Asparagus and Lemons]

We were very similar to you Charlotte, my parents always told us that santa was a 'game' so they would always wait for us to go to bed before they put presents out.
I don't think Christmas was ever ruined for us just because there was'no santa'
My grandparents were always so mad at my parents for not'letting us beleive' in santa. My cousins however believed in santa till they were in their teens.. How embarrassing..
I won't be encouraging santa because I believe its a bit cruel to trick vonrable minds.

[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*

[[M]umma[M]ia]

We will be doing Santa in this house. Kids are only kids for a short amount of time and I love seeing where their imagination takes them. Anything that puts that huge smile on my daughters face is welcome in this house

[NaeNae]

I am not Christian, Hubby is.... in all honesty I HATE SANTA! I loathe that people put SOOOOOOOOOOO much emphasis on him at Christmas time in order to get kids excited. Its not why Christmas is celebrated and there is no reason why the magic of Christmas cannot be celebrated in all its beauty without him.

I hate the pressure to BUY at Christmas time, I avoid the shops. Infact I start my Chrissy shopping next month.

I DO LOVE the idea of giving though, and I LOVE the idea of seeing DD face light up when she sees presents under a Christmas tree. Santa is a tricky one, because I think too much of Christmas emphasis is on him and that he gives presents. We will probably DO Santa, but it will not be loads of toys, Santa can bring 1 special toy wrapped in glittery paper (different to the other presents), but I think his importance will be played down in our house.

I am a scrouge aren't I

[Asparagus and Lemons]

Nae nae, I love your method!
Friends of ours hate santa too but don't wasn't their kids missing out, so ONE of their gifts they give each child is from santa, except they say it is the crappiest of all the gifts they get, that way they don't think highly of the bearded man and loose intrest in him pretty quick!

[littlelara]

We fill a Santa hat with bits and bobs in stead of stockings, and that's what comes from Santa. The good stuff comes from us (be buggered if we're giving someone else the credit for my hard work)

[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.)

[NaeNae]

I never tell Liebs a lie is real.

This is the other issue I have with the whole Santa thing.

[BeautifulMadness]

we have santa, My eldest gets so excited and my youngest we shall see.

its great seeing them open their presents and wake you up at a silly hour of the morning

cant wait to get a santa pic with all three of my kids hehe


i think everyone is entitled to do as they wish

[onthefly]

Yeah, I think we can have fun and enjoy imaginative play without lying. I always knew he wasn't real but just thought I was geting 'extra' presents.
I really hate the commercialisation of christmas and I'm an atheist too. It's just buy buy buy - and so much useless stuff. Anyway, I suppose that's another matter.
So, anyway, DS knows of the Christmas man, as he calls him, but I'm not sure he'll get presents from him.

[BlackRose]

I think the world is full of so many horrible realities, a few lovely non-realities are good for balance! It's the kind of fantasy that, in my book, helps make childhood so full of wonder. There's time enough, when the magic stops and the relative harshness of life sets in.

I totally agree! With an 8 year age gap between me and my brother I remember his early christmas' being so exciting for him... and I want that feeling for my DS at least for the first few years!

[Astrid]

We have Santa here. He gives a one bigish present along with a stocking filled for each girl. The rest of the presents are from us and family. I loved the Santa lie as kid and has others have said there is nothing wrong with a bit of fantasy Christmas day is just a nice day for family (and sometimes friends) to get together. Something to look forward to after a long year.

DH and I are not Christian. DH believes there is something, but turned his back on Christianity a long time ago. I was a raised a questioner (my mother was a lapsed Catholic, but loved Christmas), I am spiritual with pagan leanings.

The girls will be taught about all aspects of Christmas, the Christian aspect, along with the pagan side (the date for Christmas was chosen as it was a pagan day of celebration/worship).

[~clover~]

I still love christmas as much as I did as a kid. The excuse to have as much family around as possible, the closeness & happiness it brings. DD1 knows Santa isn't real, but she still loves the thought.
My kids don't get much through the year. Cristmas will always bring them what they need as well as something fun. New school shoes, bags etc.
I don't know anyone that felt ripped off finding out Santa wasn't real.

As Catholic, I do talk to the kids about the real meaning for Christmas as well. DD1 knows about it, DD2 is just learning now

Noone can tell you whats right for your family. Thats your choice