Saint Nicholas is a saint. Santa Claus is a character that was derived from the image of Saint Nicholas. You can allow a child to believe in Santa and use Santa as a great tool to teach them about Saint Nicholas in the future.
But Santa is not St. Nicholas. Why should one allow a child to believe in plain lies?
Maybe when they hit 7 you transition to - did you know Santa is a lot like his friend Saint Nicholas?
But Santa didn’t exist.
When they stop believing in Santa - did you know Santa was based on Saint Nicholas?
Why not just teach them about St. Nicholas directly?
Don’t consider Santa to be an enemy, consider him to be a easier concept for a child to understand than the explanation of Mother Theresa’s work in India and the political system there which keeps the people poor. Explain to your child who Saint Nicholas is in basic terms suitable for their age.
Isn’t the devil the father of lies? Why should a son of truth (God) have as a friend the son (a lie) of the devil?
- Do you know why Santa gives presents on Christmas? Jesus was born on Christmas…
Except that Santa doesn’t exist, doesn’t give presents to all the people in world on one night and the Santa the children are unavoidably going to hear about in the world has no relation to Jesus Christ.
- Santa is charitable, did you know Jesus was even more charitable little Jimmy?
Instead of comparing Jesus with someone imaginary compare him to someone who existed. It is far better this way.
- Santa gives you presents, why? Because he’s celebrating Jesus.
As I said, even if you teach them these things, when they walk out of the door they’ll learn about the real Santa (not the distorted one you’re giving them) who doesn’t have much to do with Jesus. And Santa doesn’t give anyone gifts.
“every good things comes from above from the father of lights” -this is a much better thing to teach them.
- See that giving tree at Church? Santa couldn’t make it to the homes of those children this year, so Jesus and Santa are asking us if we’d help out. (What a great time to teach about charity! At a young age!)
Again, Santa is a lie. Why do you mix Jesus with Santa? What do light and darkness have to do with eachother? One is the Truth. The other one is a plain lie that deceives little children. There are better ways of teaching children about charity.
- Santa is a pretty special fella, but Jesus has made us all equally special!
Santa is imaginary, unreal and we are told not to lie to eachother! (Colossians 3:9)
Saint Nicholas gave a present himself - most famously gold to a poor family so the daughters would not become prostitutes. Nicholas didn’t want publicity for this so he brought the gold into the house under the cover of the night. Gifts during the night… this is ringing a bell. I can’t say I’d mention the prostitution part to small children though.
Just say to them that he did it to avoid the girls becoming sinners or avoid them doing bad things; things which you’ll tell them about when they grow up. Is it wrong to be honest with them?
At a young age, how many children truly have the ability to grasp the concept of a saint?
It’s not difficult. Oversimplified: God, the creator of the world has a special plan for everyone. Those that follow His plan (i.e.: do what He wants) are saints. Those that listen to God and do what He says become saints. Or isn’t it true? It is much simpler than Santa.
I could easily get into a philosophical debate over whether or not you can safely say you won’t be murdered or not, but that wouldn’t be productive.
I agree. Plus, it would be off-topic.
Exaggeration? I never recalled the Bishop of Myra was living in the North Pole, rode around on a sled and raindeers, and was an elf. I don’t think there’s anything in the modern secular image of Santa Claus that even resembles St. Nicholas.
Ditto.
