Santa? Yes or No?

[Charlotte91]

Do you have (or plan to have) Santa??

Growing up, we never had Santa. We were always told that he wasn't real, he's just made up. But we weren't allowed to tell other kids that he wasn't real.

It was a Christian home, so Christmas was celebrated as Jesus' birthday.

I remember at the school concert one year.... Santa always turned up at the end when Jingle Bells was being sung. Santa walked in the door and my little brother was there, he was 18 months old. "Santa" walked up the aisle and stopped and said "Hello little boy, Merry Christmas" and kept walking. Abe, my brother, starts yelling "Hi Pop!! Pop!! Its POP!!!". It was my grandfather, lol. He just gave me and my sister, who were in the concert, a wink. We knew not to say anything.

We're not having Santa with our kids. DD was visted by Santa at Christmas, only because she was in the Royal Children's Hospital.

lol, I'm not a grinch! Just don't want to have Santa!

[nothing2lose]

We have Santa (although I tend to say Father Christmas).

I grew up in a Christian home and we had him (along with Easter Bunny) but we also knew the religious significance of the holiday. DD is the same. She is nine and still believes in Father Christmas, etc. (As well as fairies ) And she knows the Christian meaning behind the holidays and believes that too.

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.

[kelebek]

The hardest thing about this stance is other people. We don't really do Santa (DS was 3 in March) and hasn't really been old enough to get christmas but it was hard for me cause everywhere we went everyone would ask DS about Santa and what Santa was going to get him. It is awkward to say that he doesn't come to our house.

I am worred that DS won't think he is good cause Santa doesn't come (you know that line checking his list to see who is naughty and nice) I also want him to enjoy the magic of christmas. So while we don't celebrate Santa and Santa doesn't bring any pressies etc.... we emphasise that christmas is about family and giving etc.... and Santa is just that strange man in the red suit in the shopping centre or at the christmas concert.

Sorry if that wasn't very helpful

[Glass half full]

I understand where you're coming from. For different reasons though. I am not Christian so I feel like a bit of a fraud making a big deal out of Christmas when the true meaning behind it isn't something I was brought up with/choose to believe in. (no offence to anyone, I'm not really good with putting my thoughts into words)
We will do Christmas for the kids mainly because you cannot avoid it all around the shops, friends etc and I don't want them to feel left out. We definitely wont be going over the top with it though.
I think it's great that you're sticking with celebrating the true meaning of Christmas and not the old fat fella in the red suit

[Lenny]

I guess you are the mum - so maybe in your house, you are the boss. If you don't want Santa then that's your choice. Obviously it's something that your parents have gone through with you - a choice they made for you.

I personally think there is no harm in having a bit of fun when you are a child and, to me, Santa (or Father christmas in my house too) is one of the fun things kids can have. We talk to our stuffed toys, yell at monsters, and watch out for fairies. One day the reality will come - but not just yet. I think my kids like those sorts of fun/silly/magic things.

[Tinks]

We have Santa. Kids are only little for such a short time, I like to make Christmas fun for them.

[nothing2lose]

We talk to our stuffed toys, yell at monsters, and watch out for fairies. One day the reality will come - but not just yet.

So what do the kids do when you and DH are doing all of this???

[Miss.September]

We have Santa and we love it. I remember the feeling as a child that Santa will arrive, the excitement, the anticipation. I remember starting to realise that he wasn't real, but not wanting to admit it because it was so much fun.

Whatever you decide, Charlotte, it really doesn't matter. As long as it matters to you and your family

[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.

[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.

[~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.

[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

[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.

[~ 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.