Telling Kids The Truth About Santa & Easter Bunny!

[Zooey]

The Eastern Rite Churchs place the importance on St. Nicholas - it is the bishop that comes on his feast day, that is when we have our plays and dinners, not Santa Claus. There are many families I know who even open their gifts on his feast. So the children understand the historical significance of what happens on Christmas morning and why. Then on Christmas morning something special is exchanged. Maybe that can help someone.

What a great post! And I have also bookmarked the St Nicholas site that ssomeone posted.
My parents tried like mad to tell me that there was a Santa, but I always laughed at them, because I thought it was silly. (I never did believe any of it; when Daddy dressed up as Santa & came to the door, I said “Daddy, you look so silly!” (This at 20 months).
But you know what? My great-grandmother, who was an immigrant from Holland sat down with me, and told me all about “Sinter Klaas”, which is what I still say, and it was great…I don’t think I missed anything. But I also never thought my folks were trying to lie to me. I thought it was a wonderful fantasy about a wonderful man, & I still love the “real” Sinter Klaas–in a bishop & miter.

So I don;t think its lying, unless you insist on pushing it at a child who clearly doesn’t believe it…And I firmly believe that that dear little Dutch lady (Church of the Brethren, by the way) is now :yup: happily enjoyinng the presence of Sinter Klaas himself. This proves (to me at least), that there is a way to have the fantasy & the reality, and that sometimes Sinter Klaas is:thumbsup: 4’7" tall, & wears a:yup: floor length cotton dress that she sewed on a treadle machine all herself, and speaks:yup: mostly Dutch…especially when she explains about what Christmas is all about…and then she “warms up” some ice cream on the back of the woodstove, and we eat it…with a cup of hot coffee…yes, :aok: complete with caffeine, even at that age!! (Not quite 2, and nearly 90).

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Grandma coffee is so full of love, it doesn’t hurt children, don’t you know?

 

[Brenda_V]

Grandma coffee is so full of love, it doesn’t hurt children, don’t you know?

(sorry, had to take one image out since both of you used them and I quoted both, yours was easiest to remove)

So right!

What a great post! And I have also bookmarked the St Nicholas site that ssomeone posted.
My parents tried like mad to tell me that there was a Santa, but I always laughed at them, because I thought it was silly. (I never did believe any of it; when Daddy dressed up as Santa & came to the door, I said “Daddy, you look so silly!” (This at 20 months).
But you know what? My great-grandmother, who was an immigrant from Holland sat down with me, and told me all about “Sinter Klaas”, which is what I still say, and it was great…I don’t think I missed anything. But I also never thought my folks were trying to lie to me. I thought it was a wonderful fantasy about a wonderful man, & I still love the “real” Sinter Klaas–in a bishop & miter.

So I don;t think its lying, unless you insist on pushing it at a child who clearly doesn’t believe it…And I firmly believe that that dear little Dutch lady (Church of the Brethren, by the way) is now :yup: happily enjoyinng the presence of Sinter Klaas himself. This proves (to me at least), that there is a way to have the fantasy & the reality, and that sometimes Sinter Klaas is:thumbsup: 4’7" tall, & wears a:yup: floor length cotton dress that she sewed on a treadle machine all herself, and speaks:yup: mostly Dutch…especially when she explains about what Christmas is all about…and then she “warms up” some ice cream on the back of the woodstove, and we eat it…with a cup of hot coffee…yes, :aok: complete with caffeine, even at that age!! (Not quite 2, and nearly 90).

I loved this story! This is what Santa Clause, Sinter Klaas, Saint Nicholas is all about, not necessarily the presents or anything like that. It is the wonder of a man who shared his wealth with those in need. Yes our Santa Clause has become so commercialized but so has much of Christmas, sad as that may be, we can all know and share the Truth “That the Word became Flesh”. That is what Christmas is all about, the Incarnation of God the Son.

Brenda V.

 

[kaws]

This proves (to me at least), that there is a way to have the fantasy & the reality, and that sometimes Sinter Klaas is:thumbsup: 4’7" tall, & wears a:yup: floor length cotton dress that she sewed on a treadle machine all herself, and speaks:yup: mostly Dutch…especially when she explains about what Christmas is all about…and then she “warms up” some ice cream on the back of the woodstove, and we eat it…with a cup of hot coffee…yes, :aok: complete with caffeine, even at that age!! (Not quite 2, and nearly 90).

Your grandma sounds like she was a wonderful and special woman. I used to have coffee and chats with my grandma too . I miss her