Santa Claus?

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Rivera

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I don’t think this has been covered, please forgive the question if it has. I’m wondering if anyone has given thought to whether the Santa Claus myth is damaging to kids (later–when they figure out you have been fooling about it most of their lives). We’re considering opting out of the Santa thing in order to focus more on Christ, but first I would like some information from others who may have done it or from those who think it’s a bad idea.

Thanks!
N
 
Every serious Christian struggles with this.

Our solution was to explain that Santa Claus was really St. Nicholas, and that because he is a saint, he is more “real” than we are. As for the mysterious giver of all those Christmas morning goodies, we explained, when the time came, that just as with many of the works of Jesus, we are the hands and hearts of Santa. So St. Nicholas is still giving good things to people – little children – through our love and the things we do in honor of his name. I grew up in a home that was heavy-handed about responsibility and earning things so I remember Santa as someone who brought good things that always outstripped my hopes. Not a bad thing for children to learn: especially when they find out that Mom and Dad were the “operators.”

Perhaps, had we been holy, we would have made it a point to have our children give St. Nicholas gifts to something like the homeless shelter or the shelter for abused women and children.
 
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Rivera:
I don’t think this has been covered, please forgive the question if it has. I’m wondering if anyone has given thought to whether the Santa Claus myth is damaging to kids (later–when they figure out you have been fooling about it most of their lives). We’re considering opting out of the Santa thing in order to focus more on Christ, but first I would like some information from others who may have done it or from those who think it’s a bad idea.

Thanks!
N
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Santa Claus is the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas, who was the Bishop of Myra in the 4th century AD. So he is not a myth, he is part of Catholic history. Legend has it that he was born of a wealthy merchant family, gave it all up and became a Christian. He was imprisoned during the persecution of Diocletian. He is the patron saint of Children, His feast day is celebrated on December 6th, and is traditionally celebrated by anonymously giving children presents, or by attributing them to St. Nicholas, which evolved into the present day legend of Santa Claus.
 
Thank you for the clarification, Apologia. I was speaking of the Santa, north pole, flying sleigh, elves etc myths. Can you recommend any good kids books about the real St Nicholas?

n
 
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Rivera:
Thank you for the clarification, Apologia. I was speaking of the Santa, north pole, flying sleigh, elves etc myths. Can you recommend any good kids books about the real St Nicholas?

n
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Not a book, but there is a cartoon (approx 40 minutes long) that is excellent. My son likes it better than Santa Claus is coming to town! I’ll post the title later this afternoon, you can probably get it from your local library.
 
SANTA = MYTH :bigyikes: WHAT ARE YOU SAYING :confused:

Santa is very real. He, and his helpers are in almost every mall and shoping store across the country. I see him everywhere. NO … NO … THIS IS NOT GOOD :banghead:

Seriously, the WORLD will push Santa in your kids face every change they get. If you tell your kids he does not exist, you will only confuse them. We opted to tell them that he exists, the Santa’s we see are his helpers and you never know which one is real. THOUGH, our oldest is starting to catch on and we are guiding her towards the spirit of santa, the spirit of giving and the greatest gift was Jesus. She is helping us keep Santa alive for our younger children until they will no longer believe in the person but the spirit in which HE came.

Merry Christmas,
DHGray
 
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Rivera:
I don’t think this has been covered, please forgive the question if it has. I’m wondering if anyone has given thought to whether the Santa Claus myth is damaging to kids (later–when they figure out you have been fooling about it most of their lives). We’re considering opting out of the Santa thing in order to focus more on Christ, but first I would like some information from others who may have done it or from those who think it’s a bad idea.

Thanks!
N
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Here is a compromise. I used an example from Catholic Exchange with my kids. I showed a picture of Santa Claus and asked them what they thought of when they saw him - they said Christmas and presents. Then I showed a picture of Jesus and asked them what Jesus has to do with Christmas. They said it was His birthday. I said does He bring us anything? They said peace and love. I asked if these too were gifts? They said they were the greatest gifts.

It dawned on me that if Santa Claus is put in perspective, He may be a good mythical example that kids can get their head around later when they think of the greatest gift that was ever selflessly given. Santa Claus is not the essence of Christmas. Jesus is. But Santa Claus does selflessly give in a way that small children can understand. Keep the presents minimized and include religious gifts and the effect can be even stronger.
 
maybe… 😃

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

seriously…go see the movie Polar Express… you will find an answer there… 👍
 
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Rivera:
I’m wondering if anyone has given thought to whether the Santa Claus myth is damaging to kids (later–when they figure out you have been fooling about it most of their lives).
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What Santa Claus “myth”? I think we’re being drawn into the literal mind set here. Probably from the well meaning folks who think the Bible is absolutely literal. Santa Claus does indeed exist. He is inside each one of us, every time we do something good for someone else and no one else knows about it. We have no problem believing in spirits and saints, why wouldn’t we believe in Saint Nick?
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Rivera:
We’re considering opting out of the Santa thing in order to focus more on Christ, but first I would like some information from others who may have done it or from those who think it’s a bad idea.
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Better to teach your child that the spirit is inside of him, that he is called to be the “saint” for others. The giving at the celebration of our Lords’ birth isn’t about material gifts, but about Christian love. Explain to your child that when you do something good for someone else and no one knows about it, you’re being Santa, giving as Christ demands.

Thanks!
N
 
Kids, as well as adults, like make-believe. So, I ask myself the question, “Did believing in Santa Claus damage me?”

The answer is “no, it didn’t.” And believing in the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and the Man in the Moon didn’t damage me either.

Believing in Santa Claus might be damaging to me, if I still believed in him. Which reminds me. I’d better start writing that letter to Santa, now. I can hardly wait to see what he brings me for Christmas this year.
 
My take on the whole Santa Claus myth has been this: If you tell your kids about Santa Claus, and then they find out you’ve been lying, what are they going to think when you tell them about Jesus? Obviously, in this culture one cannot escape the whole Santa thing, but it’s better to present it as make-believe from the very start.

A lie is a lie is a lie.
 
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DaveBj:
My take on the whole Santa Claus myth has been this: If you tell your kids about Santa Claus, and then they find out you’ve been lying, what are they going to think when you tell them about Jesus? Obviously, in this culture one cannot escape the whole Santa thing, but it’s better to present it as make-believe from the very start.

A lie is a lie is a lie.
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But it isn’t. Saint Nicholas is a canonized saint in both the Catholic and East Orthodox Churches, was the Bishop of Myra in the 4th century, and his generosity and love of children are the basis for the legend of Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children. His feast day is December 6th, which is traditionally celebrated by giving children anonymous gifts. So, in this case, it is not a lie, his life is just taken grossly out of context, but the real guy is there, and his relics are said to give off an oily substance that has been credited with numerous miraculous healings.
 
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DaveBj:
My take on the whole Santa Claus myth has been this: If you tell your kids about Santa Claus, and then they find out you’ve been lying, what are they going to think when you tell them about Jesus? Obviously, in this culture one cannot escape the whole Santa thing, but it’s better to present it as make-believe from the very start.

A lie is a lie is a lie.
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I respectfully disagree… 👍
 
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DaveBj:
My take on the whole Santa Claus myth has been this: If you tell your kids about Santa Claus, and then they find out you’ve been lying, what are they going to think when you tell them about Jesus? Obviously, in this culture one cannot escape the whole Santa thing, but it’s better to present it as make-believe from the very start.

A lie is a lie is a lie.
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This can be easily resolved. When your kids reach the age of reason, they can be shown the overwhelming historical evidence for Jesus and what He did and they will be able to find no evidence of Santa Claus (I think).

Imagination is something kids do and should spend a great deal of time in. It helps to prepare for reality.
 
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Scott_Lafrance:
But it isn’t. Saint Nicholas is a canonized saint in both the Catholic and East Orthodox Churches, was the Bishop of Myra in the 4th century, and his generosity and love of children are the basis for the legend of Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of children. His feast day is December 6th, which is traditionally celebrated by giving children anonymous gifts. So, in this case, it is not a lie, his life is just taken grossly out of context, but the real guy is there, and his relics are said to give off an oily substance that has been credited with numerous miraculous healings.
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St. Nicholas doesn’t have anything to do with reindeer, chimneys, red suits, or the North Pole.

If you keep to the straight facts about St. Nicholas, that’s fine, but as soon as you start bringing the Santa myth into it, you are LYING!

Anyway, when you rearrange the letters in “Santa” you get “Satan” 😛

DaveBj
 
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DaveBj:
St. Nicholas doesn’t have anything to do with reindeer, chimneys, red suits, or the North Pole.

If you keep to the straight facts about St. Nicholas, that’s fine, but as soon as you start bringing the Santa myth into it, you are LYING!

Anyway, when you rearrange the letters in “Santa” you get “Satan” 😛

DaveBj
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yeah, and if you rearrange the letters in God you get dog… i don’t see the harm (if done properly) in Santa Claus… given your mode of thinking, get rid of all (most) childrens books, i.e., mother goose, fairy tales, etc… :cool:

i’m sorry, i just don’t agree… :cool:

but, i hear and respect your opinion… raise your children as you see fit… 👍
 
It is very difficult talking about this subject to someone who doesn’t believe in Saints. I once had a conversation with an atheist/former anglican who suggested that we don’t call it Christmas, but Santa Claus Day or Stocking Day or Soltice Day… I had to explain to her that there was already a Feast Day for Saint Nicholas.
 
space ghost:
but, i hear and respect your opinion… raise your children as you see fit… 👍
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Kinda hard to do now–they’re in their 30s 😃

DaveBj
 
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