Santa Claus made an appearance at Christmas Eve Mass

[fastenatingguy]

Personally, I prefer my Mass without extra foofy stuff for kids; but I don’t know if I would be THAT upset. They didn’t do anything like that at my parish. I really think this was something nice that the pastor was trying to do for the kids, and nothing more than that. Are we so un-confident in our CCD classes (and ourselves as parents) that we’re afraid that our kids will be confused as to the REAL meaning of Christmas?

Almost all of the Catholics here on this forum are real die-hards in one manner or another, and I would expect reactions such as the ones that I’ve seen here. Does Santa belong at Mass? Not really. Was the priest trying to have a little fun for the kids who might get a kick out of something like that? Yes. It’s not like Santa barged in during the Liturgy of the Eucharist ho-ho-ho-ing…

If it were me… as long as this was a one time thing, the priest shows the proper respect for the liturgies at all other times, and kept this in it’s proper perspective, I’d let it slide. I may not have cared for it, but I’d have let it go.

I teach 8th Grade Catechism and preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. At our last class prior to Christmas break, I spent twenty minutes explaining the tradition of Santa Claus to my students. I started with a picture of Santa Claus (an advertisement by Coca Cola), and everybody could identify the guy in the red suit and his favorite drink. My explanation was all about the secular side of it. I went backwards in time and shared other pictures, mostly of European origin, to show how Santa Claus/Sinter Klaus/Father Christmas/Pierre Noel/etc represented a tradition associated with Christmas. Most of the kids had no idea of those figures’ names, but recognized their relationship to the modern day Santa.

Well, I finally worked my way back to the 4th Century and the REAL, Original St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (in modern day Turkey). I told the story of Nicholas “punching out” Arius at the Council of Nicea and even read to the kids " 'Twas the Night of Nicea"
which I found online. Since we had prayed the Nicene Creed and studied the Council of Nicea earlier, it all started to come together. I then told them the story of the three daughters and the gold which Nicholas placed in their shoes/stockings and what it meant to them (dowry). I even said this could have happened, or it could have been folklore, but we don’t know for sure. But as one student said “so there was a St. Nicholas!”

At this point I showed them a picture of a “younger Nicholas” and then a few more of the aging Nicholas as depicted in red bishop’s robes. By now they were all able to understand the connection between Saint Nicholas of the Church-- and Santa, a mythical but beloved character. It was twenty minutes of information and fun and tradition that was well received (I got emails from a few parents).

 

[Sarabande]

I teach 8th Grade Catechism and preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. At our last class prior to Christmas break, I spent twenty minutes explaining the tradition of Santa Claus to my students. I started with a picture of Santa Claus (an advertisement by Coca Cola), and everybody could identify the guy in the red suit and his favorite drink. My explanation was all about the secular side of it. I went backwards in time and shared other pictures, mostly of European origin, to show how Santa Claus/Sinter Klaus/Father Christmas/Pierre Noel/etc represented a tradition associated with Christmas. Most of the kids had no idea of those figures’ names, but recognized their relationship to the modern day Santa.

Well, I finally worked my way back to the 4th Century and the REAL, Original St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (in modern day Turkey). I told the story of Nicholas “punching out” Arius at the Council of Nicea and even read to the kids " 'Twas the Night of Nicea"
which I found online. Since we had prayed the Nicene Creed and studied the Council of Nicea earlier, it all started to come together. I then told them the story of the three daughters and the gold which Nicholas placed in their shoes/stockings and what it meant to them (dowry). I even said this could have happened, or it could have been folklore, but we don’t know for sure. But as one student said “so there was a St. Nicholas!”

At this point I showed them a picture of a “younger Nicholas” and then a few more of the aging Nicholas as depicted in red bishop’s robes. By now they were all able to understand the connection between Saint Nicholas of the Church-- and Santa, a mythical but beloved character. It was twenty minutes of information and fun and tradition that was well received (I got emails from a few parents).

That is really wonderful!! I would have loved learning about that in detail as a child, having always enjoyed history. The Catholic school I attended always talked about St. Nicholas each year and helped us understand that St. Nicholas = Santa Claus. We also put our shoes out in the hallway on St. Nicholas Day (or on a day close to it if it fell on a weekend) and St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) would come by while we were in class and put in our shoes candy and prayer cards. Looking back, I think it was a nice way to help kids realize that Christmas Eve was not about Santa Claus. Parents are also responsible in teaching their children what Christmas is all about and I think many were able to do it fine.

In terms of Santa coming after mass to pray at the manger, it doesn’t really bother me much since it was done after mass. Not ideal, but I understand the priest’s reasoning for this. It also depends on how it was done. If he was ho-ho-ho-ing down the aisle, I think that would be worse. I worked at a parish where it was a tradition for years having Santa come. The Christmas Eve mass for the families were very reverent and beautifully done. Father would focus on reminding the children (and adults) about the real meaning of Christmas and who it was for… not about presents, St. Nicholas/Santa Claus etc. At the end of mass, the lights would dim with only the candles and white Christmas lights on the trees, Santa Claus would come down rather solemnly, actually, and kneel in front of the manger. When he knelt, father knelt as well as everyone else in the congregation to pray. Then “Santa” would get up as quietly and solemnly as he entered and left. No one would say a word. I remember the younger children in my choir got a little excited, but the prayerful ambiance reminded them that they were in church and that Santa was there praying to the baby Jesus. You could see their minds working and the connection being made in regards to Christmas being about the birth of Jesus.

 

[robwar]

That is really wonderful!! I would have loved learning about that in detail as a child, having always enjoyed history. The Catholic school I attended always talked about St. Nicholas each year and helped us understand that St. Nicholas = Santa Claus. We also put our shoes out in the hallway on St. Nicholas Day (or on a day close to it if it fell on a weekend) and St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) would come by while we were in class and put in our shoes candy and prayer cards. Looking back, I think it was a nice way to help kids realize that Christmas Eve was not about Santa Claus. Parents are also responsible in teaching their children what Christmas is all about and I think many were able to do it fine.

In terms of Santa coming after mass to pray at the manger, it doesn’t really bother me much since it was done after mass. Not ideal, but I understand the priest’s reasoning for this. It also depends on how it was done. If he was ho-ho-ho-ing down the aisle, I think that would be worse. I worked at a parish where it was a tradition for years having Santa come. The Christmas Eve mass for the families were very reverent and beautifully done. Father would focus on reminding the children (and adults) about the real meaning of Christmas and who it was for… not about presents, St. Nicholas/Santa Claus etc. At the end of mass, the lights would dim with only the candles and white Christmas lights on the trees, Santa Claus would come down rather solemnly, actually, and kneel in front of the manger. When he knelt, father knelt as well as everyone else in the congregation to pray. Then “Santa” would get up as quietly and solemnly as he entered and left. No one would say a word. I remember the younger children in my choir got a little excited, but the prayerful ambiance reminded them that they were in church and that Santa was there praying to the baby Jesus. You could see their minds working and the connection being made in regards to Christmas being about the birth of Jesus.

wow how wonderful!