Don't Lie about Santa Clause!

[estesbob]

I love Chritmas traditions in CAF, As Chritmas approaches we are sure to find threads about how the Christmas Tree is condmend by Jeremiah as a pagan idol and we risk eternal damnation by puting it up AND that anyone who tells their Kids tthere is a Santa Claus are craven liars who risk destroying their childrens belief in Jesus when they find out the truth. Fortunately sanity will return on or about December,26. smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_15_61.gif smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_16_18.gif

%between%

 

[MGEISING]

I told 5 children about Santa and about Jesus. Now they are ages 26-almost 18 and none suffered from any ill effects when they found out Santa was a myth. They all still believe in Jesus and never questioned it.
I’m sorry, but I enjoyed that wonderful, magical time. Just as my oldest is now with her 3 little ones

It is a magical time for children — I couldn’t even think of not sharing in this exciting time with my children. They are now 13 and 14 … and although sense there isn’t a jolly old elf going down fireplaces delivering gifts to good boys and girls … they sense the magical feeling of the spirit of Santa …

It is awesome!

 

[mlchance]

I love Chritmas traditions in CAF, As Chritmas approaches we are sure to find threads about how the Christmas Tree is condmend by Jeremiah as a pagan idol and we risk eternal damnation by puting it up AND that anyone who tells their Kids tthere is a Santa Claus are craven liars who risk destroying their childrens belief in Jesus when they find out the truth.

Another site I used to frequent included another holiday favorite: “The Jesus Wasn’t Born on December 25; Therefore, He Wasn’t Ever Born at All and Is Just a Myth” thread.



– Mark L. Chance.

 

[kim3260]

It is a magical time for children — I couldn’t even think of not sharing in this exciting time with my children. They are now 13 and 14 … and although sense there isn’t a jolly old elf going down fireplaces delivering gifts to good boys and girls … they sense the magical feeling of the spirit of Santa …

It is awesome!

You are so right, my grandbabies are far away, I live in Tennessee, they live NJ close to NYC, but hearing those cute voices prattling over the phone about Santa and having their Santa photos on the mantel of my 3 cuties is the most precious thing for me. It reminds me of the Oak Ridge Boys song “Thank God for Kids” there is magic if only for a little while.

 

[rciadan]

quote=scylla;1753408]Don’t lie, tell them the truth.

Santa Clause was a Bishop of the Catholic Church who was very generous. We remember him before Christmas on the 6th but it is ok to remember him on Christmas, as long as we put Jesus first.

Then explain that candy canes are fashioned after Bishops staffs and how Christmas is a Catholic holiday that most the world celebrates.

That is what I told my kids, it doesn’t take away from Christmas, heck I never believed in Santa Clause (the commercial one) as I never had a fireplace as I was growing up.

In Christ
Scylla

stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38

I have done the same, with a tiny twist. I let them know about the Bishop of Myra and I remind them that Saint Nicolaus (I can never spell it right for some reason!) is Catholic!
This said, I have also told them that because St. N is with God in Heaven, he can, in fact, see if you are naughty or nice and is able to intercede on your behalf through prayer. I also tell them that with St. Nick being with God in Heaven, all things are possible, even the appearance of gifts under the tree on Christmas Morning. They will understand the exact nature of the miracle soon enough when they get older. For now it is more exciting to think of him traveling the globe in his sled. The more mundane understanding of the miracle of Christ being more manifest in the hearts of humanity in general at this time of year, resulting in more generosity than any other time, is no less a miracle and, therefor I tell no lie. I just don’t bore them with the "whole " truth just yet.

 

[kellie]

I don’t have a problem with traditions, as long as they don’t violate the laws of God.

Almost as importantly, I want my kids to trust me when I tell them something. I was really upset when my parents finally told me that Santa Clause was not real. Not only because Santa Clause didn’t exist, but because my parents lied to me all those years as an ignorant kid. Maybe wonder what else they were lying about that I could not prove. I still hold that against them.

You dont believe in pretending Santa is real, as you say it violates the laws of God, but you still hold a grudge against your parent for doing so?

Seems you are violating the laws of God there.

Have you ever said “yes” when someone has said “Does my hair look ok?” or “Do you like this cake I made?”, just to keep things peaceful??

The whole story of “if they find out we lied about Santa, they will think Jesus is a lie too” is a bunch of hogwash.

Once a child matures, and realises that Santa is pretend, they have grown up in their mind enough to realise why their is the pretence.

Then when they start looking at evidence, they accept Santa for what he is.

They believe Jesus is real, as their is the correct evidence too.

Children are much more wise than what some are giving credit for here.

They may get disappointed that Santa isnt real, but they are wise enough to know why we as parents do it, and they are wise enough to know Jesus is real. There are many mroe teachings they hear about Jesus through their childhood than Santa to give them a solid background that Jesus is real.

I never questioned whether Jesus was real after discovering Santa wasnt.
And I never got angry with my parents either.
It all just sort of made sense.

 

[DaveBj]

snip

The whole story of “if they find out we lied about Santa, they will think Jesus is a lie too” is a bunch of hogwash.

Once a child matures, and realises that Santa is pretend, they have grown up in their mind enough to realise why their is the pretence.

Then when they start looking at evidence, they accept Santa for what he is.

They believe Jesus is real, as their is the correct evidence too.

snip

True, most kids will. But some kids won’t. And for those who won’t, the ones who are responsible for destroying their faith bear a terrible burden of guilt.

It is better to just tell the truth, period. Have some pretend, but let them know that make-believe is make-believe, and truth is truth. Anything outside of truth is a lie.

DaveBj

 

[MGEISING]

You are so right, my grandbabies are far away, I live in Tennessee, they live NJ close to NYC, but hearing those cute voices prattling over the phone about Santa and having their Santa photos on the mantel of my 3 cuties is the most precious thing for me. It reminds me of the Oak Ridge Boys song “Thank God for Kids” there is magic if only for a little while.

This is the very reason I love “The Polar Express” … because if you STOP BELIEVING, well… you become a grown up

 

[leonie]

Well, I told my kids that Santa wasn’t real, but the younger ones don’t believe me!

We do celebrate St. Nicholas’s Day on December 6th!

 

[estesbob]

Is There a Santa Claus?

**From the Editorial Page of The New York Sun,
written by Francis P. Church, September 21, 1897

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

• "Dear Editor–I am 8 years old.
• "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
  "Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.'
  "Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
• Virginia O’Hanlon
  115 West Ninety-fifth Street

**Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. **

**Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. **
**Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. **

**You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. **

**No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. **

 

[Syele]

Tell them all the stories of St. Nicholas. If you don’t know them, do a Google search. Tell them we put presants under the tree when everyone is sleeping and attribute it to St. Nick to remember him and have a fun game too. That’s what we do and we have a great time. My kid isn’t lied to or deprived.

 

[Kay_Cee]

I have made it a policy never to lie to my kids.

I also told them Santa brings them presents.

That was not a lie. Let me explain it to you the same way I explained it to my older daughter. One day when her little sister was gone, I told her I wanted to talk to her about Santa.

The first words out of her mouth were, “Don’t tell me there isn’t a Santa!”

I said, “No, I’m not going to tell you that. I told you there is a Santa, and I don’t lie to you. But I never told you he lives at the North Pole or rides in a sled pulled by reindeer. However, there’s more to Santa than you think, and I believe you’re old enough this year to understand.”

I then explained that Santa is anyone who gives a gift secretly, without expecting a thank you. I explained that she herself had been Santa when she helped me pick out a present for a girl whose name was on the Angel Tree the year before.

Then I added, “Daddy and I would like to invite you to be Santa with us this year. After your sister falls asleep, we’ll go get you, and you can fill the stockings.”

Well, she was absolutely thrilled! And I never once lied to her. Nowadays she and her sister alternate years when each gets to be Santa. (And yes, we leave out cookies and whoever is Santa that year gets to eat them.)

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!

 

[Wolseley]

We told our 5-year old that “Santa Claus” is really St. Nicholas, and all about Nicholas and what he did.

Then, we also tell him that “Every time you do something nice for somebody, when you help them or give them a special gift, you’re Santa Claus.”

Of course, thanks to Rankin and Bass, he’s also been thoroughly indoctrinated with the usual nonsense about a fat old man in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer, and elves, and Rudolph, and the Winter Warlock, and Snow Miser, and so forth—not mention the Grinch; but he understands that these are just cartoons, and they don’t have any more substance in reality than Bugs Bunny or Clifford the Big Red Dog, or Kermit and Miss Piggy, or Littlefoot the Dinosaur.

 

[Ladybug42]

Christ is the center of our Christmas celebration. We don’t need Santa to have a special magical feeling, to learn about our Savior’s birth and how He came to save the world. My daughter will know about Santa, but will never be told that he watches her to see if she is good or not–that isn’t true. She will be told that God knows if she is good or bad, and just like we open our presents after waiting and looking forward to it, we’ll get to go to heaven someday after looking forward to it all our lives. And Jesus can be born in our hearts just like He was born on His birthday. My parents never lied to me about Santa. I remember the magic and excitement of the holiday, of the spirit of giving, the love shared. Give your Savior some credit–you don’t have to lie to your kids to get them to like celebrating their God’s birthday. He’s worthy of all that excitement without making anything up.

 

[leonie]

I remember that when I first was wondering how we should handle this Santa Claus/Easter Bunny/Tooth fairy mess, I heard the scripture in which Jesus tells us not to put new wine in old skins. I interpreted it to mean that my husband and I shouldn’t try to fit Jesus into the secular fairy tells, but make our celebrations about Jesus.

We haven’t outlawed these cultural symbols but relegated them to second place. We don’t really hide the fact that mom and dad are buying presents. In fact, I say, “I’m going Santa Claus shopping now.” We treat Santa Claus as a fun story like the fairy tales that they love so much. We don’t encourage belief or tell the stories/read the storybooks in the home. We have watched some of the movies. To these, I just say, “isn’t that a fun story?”

But, I have had a couple of kids that really cling to the stories. We just let it go. When they ask, we tell them. I know as a child I kept the hope that magic existed.

 

[Guardian]

You dont believe in pretending Santa is real, as you say it violates the laws of God, but you still hold a grudge against your parent for doing so?

I don’t hold a grudge against them in the sense I am still angry with them. I got over it in a couple days. I hold it against them in the sense that I made a permanent mental note never to do that to my children and how I felt when I was lied to for years.

Seems you are violating the laws of God there.

I have violated the laws of God many times, but not in this case.

Have you ever said “yes” when someone has said “Does my hair look ok?” or “Do you like this cake I made?”, just to keep things peaceful??

I may have, but if I did that would be lying and wrong. Lying is objectively wrong, whether you have good intentions or not.

The whole story of “if they find out we lied about Santa, they will think Jesus is a lie too” is a bunch of hogwash.

Thank you for examining every child’s experience throughout history and relating the data back to me.

mlchance:

It’s time you got over it, Guardian. Forgive us as we forgive others and all that. Probably a more healthy course of action, both emotionally and spiritually, than whining on the internet about how evil Santa is.

I don’t hold a grudge against anyone, I just still happen to think that lying is objectively wrong. And Santa isn’t evil, but telling kids he’s real intrinsically is.

 

[tee_eff_em]

What’s the difference between telling a story and telling a lie?

:twocents:

For me and my children, I thought it was fine to tell the story of Santa Claus. And when my eldest was in the 2nd grade, and frankly I was getting a little worried about him in this regard, he asked me: “Dad, is there *really *a Santa Claus?”

Now this is the point where I could have made a grave mistake and changed from telling a story to telling a lie, because I could have said “Of course there is a Santa Claus!”

But instead I asked: “What do *you *think?”
“I don’t know…”
“What about all the presents?”
“Well…You and Mom could be doing that after me and my sister go to bed…”
I winked and said “Don’t tell your sister”

He got the biggest grin on his face, because he had figured it out and was now in on it. But I think the ending would have been quite different (for both of us) had I lied.

“Ho, ho, ho”,
tee

 

[kim3260]

Once my kids figured it out I did not lie and I resent the people here who say we are liars. I told a story, a fairytale. To liken the fairytale of Santa Claus to the True teachings of Jesus is just not right.
I read Winnie the Pooh to my kids and maybe the kids thought he and his friends were real because I did not go into a silly explaination that Winnie the Pooh is only a stuffed animal.
Let Children be children.
Merry Christmas

 

[Ladybug42]

Once my kids figured it out I did not lie and I resent the people here who say we are liars. I told a story, a fairytale. To liken the fairytale of Santa Claus to the True teachings of Jesus is just not right.
I read Winnie the Pooh to my kids and maybe the kids thought he and his friends were real because I did not go into a silly explaination that Winnie the Pooh is only a stuffed animal.
Let Children be children.
Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! If you are not lying to your children, then those comments weren’t really directed at you. hug

I agree that it is not good to mix the fairy tale of Santa Claus and the story of Jesus Christ’s birth in our Christmas traditions. Keep 'em separate.

 

[estesbob]

Once my kids figured it out I did not lie and I resent the people here who say we are liars. I told a story, a fairytale. To liken the fairytale of Santa Claus to the True teachings of Jesus is just not right.
I read Winnie the Pooh to my kids and maybe the kids thought he and his friends were real because I did not go into a silly explaination that Winnie the Pooh is only a stuffed animal.
Let Children be children.
Merry Christmas

WINNIE THE POOH IS ONLY A STUFFED ANIMAL!!! YIKES!!!

Merry Chrismas.