Believing In Santa

[bernadette d]

[quote name='Lil'Monster' timestamp='1323052164' post='2344640']
when my dad was a 8 year old kid, he found out that Santa wasn't real and he CRIED his eyes out....


As a kid, I never really believed in Santa but my parents taught me about Jesus.
[/quote]
You were blessed in having such good parents, they made you the lovely open person you are today.

[Maximilianus]

[quote name='Aloysius' timestamp='1323074393' post='2344829']
I like the story of santa and would definitely use it in some form, most likely the common form but with a touch of all this St. Nicholas and child Jesus stuff... but what I really think is problematic is just how much all the movies and lore around our culture has focused on believing in him... there's always the kid in the Christmas movie that doesn't believe and is proven wrong, and explanations are flung all over the place to convince kids that he really is real.

it's not so much a lie to tell kids that there is a Santa, cause it's just a story and in some way, especially if you pray to St. Nicholas to grant graces and joy through the gifts you're giving, it really is something coming from Santa... but to struggle to keep the story straight and trick them anytime they suspect starts to get a little problematic IMO. too much Santa apologetics may be a wee bit dangerous.

now that doesn't mean I wouldn't watch all those movies with future children and such, but I get more squishy about it when it comes to all this use of terms like "believe" and bending over backwards to prove it even when kids start to suspect. I think generally when kids start to suspect, it may be time to start at least watering down the story rather than digging your heels in on the matter.
[/quote]

This and the fact that the modern incarnation of Santa no longer resembles St. Nicholas. To me he has come symbolize the commercialism and secularism that has crept into Christmas.
Anyways it's St. Nicholas Day eve, make sure you put your shoes out. All the folks that post regularly in the bad Catholics thread are getting coal, the people that post in the good Catholic thread are getting candy, the people that post in both are getting fruitcake.

[GeorgiiMichael]

[quote name='Maximilianus' timestamp='1323079587' post='2344836']Anyways it's St. Nicholas Day eve, make sure you put your shoes out. All the folks that post regularly in the bad Catholics thread are getting coal, the people that post in the good Catholic thread are getting candy, the people that post in both are getting fruitcake.
[/quote]

Being lukewarm really is the worst...

[PennyLane]

It depends on what you disclose about "Santa." If you teach them the story of Saint Nicholas... and leave out the details about elves and reindeer and those other silly things, what's the big deal?

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='MIkolbe' timestamp='1323056515' post='2344702']
no, but thanks for the cookies and milk.[/quote]
You should tell them to leave out whiskey.

[Archaeology cat]

We celebrate St. Nicholas Day and do stockings then. We then spread things out over the whole 12 days of Christmas, so we've not really discussed Santa.

[Sarah147]

I wouldn't teach about there being a magical Santa because it is lying, deception, and it distracts in some degree from what Christmas is all about. I would want children to focus totally on baby Jesus, how everything is from God, the Jesse tree, the nativity, etc. And I think it means more when they realize it was given out of love by family/parents, and through God.

[Sarah147]

[quote name='dominicansoul' timestamp='1323054441' post='2344672']
when i was in first grade, i stood on a desk and emphatically declared to all my classmates, "Believing in Santa Claus is NOT a teaching of the Holy Catholic Church."


my classmates cried, and Sister laughed out loud.... even back then I was a stinker... and a Dominican...
[/quote]

Yay!

[Papist]

I believe the only reason children like Santa is b/c he brings presents, and usually in abundance. I believe, especially in our US culture today, Christmas is more Santa-centered than Christ-centered, i.e. Santa=Christmas. The vast majority of parents attend Christmas Eve Vigil b/c Christmas day must be free to enjoy all the great stuff Santa has brought w/o the interruption of going to Mass. I told my wife a long time ago that Santa is unnecessary and is counter-productive in participating in the true meaning of Christmas. She was skeptical, but recently admitted that it was b/c of how integral Santa was in her childhood, and found it very hard to not have such for her children. And now she wants to go Santa free. She has seen our 5 year old obsessed with Santa and presents. It is amazing how much he is into Santa, when he only watches TV about 1 hour a week, and only Santa is in the commercials. We do read the story of Saint Nicholas and have the DVD. We celebrate the Feast of Saint Nicholas with treats in our shoes and that’s when we do the stockings. We will have gifts on Christmas morning, but not from Santa, they will be from each other. We give gifts in honor/celebration of the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ, our Savior.

We are not going out of our way to seek and strike out Santa. We simply do not bring him into our home. We only address it with our children when the children ask questions or talk about Santa. I am currently reflecting and praying on the best way to explain how Saint Nicholas has mutated into Santa.

[FutureSister2009]

Now the thing is, every year at my Parish on Christmas Eve, we have a Santa come to the Mass for the kids. And he's a very Religious Santa. He goes to kneel at the Manger when he gets there. I think it's just a wonderful thing for the kids to see. But I would want to teach my kids about St. Nicholas and about how Jesus is the greatest gift they will get

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Maximilianus' timestamp='1323079587' post='2344836']

This and the fact that the modern incarnation of Santa no longer resembles St. Nicholas. To me he has come symbolize the commercialism and secularism that has crept into Christmas.
Anyways it's St. Nicholas Day eve, make sure you put your shoes out. All the folks that post regularly in the bad Catholics thread are getting coal, the people that post in the good Catholic thread are getting candy, the people that post in both are getting fruitcake.
[/quote]
Now I'm sorry I post in both. Wish I had just stuck with the Bad Catholics thread. At least coal is useful.

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1323093522' post='2344857']
I believe the only reason children like Santa is b/c he brings presents, and usually in abundance. I believe, especially in our US culture today, Christmas is more Santa-centered than Christ-centered, i.e. Santa=Christmas. The vast majority of parents attend Christmas Eve Vigil b/c Christmas day must be free to enjoy all the great stuff Santa has brought w/o the interruption of going to Mass. I told my wife a long time ago that Santa is unnecessary and is counter-productive in participating in the true meaning of Christmas. She was skeptical, but recently admitted that it was b/c of how integral Santa was in her childhood, and found it very hard to not have such for her children. And now she wants to go Santa free. She has seen our 5 year old obsessed with Santa and presents. It is amazing how much he is into Santa, when he only watches TV about 1 hour a week, and only Santa is in the commercials. We do read the story of Saint Nicholas and have the DVD. We celebrate the Feast of Saint Nicholas with treats in our shoes and that’s when we do the stockings. We will have gifts on Christmas morning, but not from Santa, they will be from each other. We give gifts in honor/celebration of the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ, our Savior.

We are not going out of our way to seek and strike out Santa. We simply do not bring him into our home. We only address it with our children when the children ask questions or talk about Santa. I am currently reflecting and praying on the best way to explain how Saint Nicholas has mutated into Santa.
[/quote]
All we ever got from Santa was one "big" gift (and by big, I mean a board game or a book, not like a stereo or something crazy) and our stockings, which mainly consisted of candy and a few other small odds and ends, and we loved Santa, so I don't think it's just a greed thing. But then, that may have to do with the fact that, we didn't really have Christmas over-done, anyway. And we spent more time arguing about who got to give the first gift than about receiving gifts at all.

That being said, I know my parents didn't really want to do the santa thing, but felt like they had no choice because of the decisions relatives had made, and not knowing how to address it without us telling other kids or feeling bad because we weren't good enough for Santa to come, or something. And I know my mom really regretted it after my sister found out and was pretty much devastated, and my dad was out of town on business, so my mom had to deal with it all herself. And we don't really plan on doing Santa, either. My brother and SIL already don't. That was partly because in my SIL's childhood, Santa brought all the toys and "razzle dazzle" gifts, while Mom and Dad gave the lame gifts, like clothes.

[Basilisa Marie]

St. Nick's day is the best. I'm in grad school and my mom still sends me a St. Nick's package.

[Papist]

[quote name='MissScripture' timestamp='1323095979' post='2344877']
Now I'm sorry I post in both. Wish I had just stuck with the Bad Catholics thread. At least coal is useful.


All we ever got from Santa was one "big" gift (and by big, I mean a board game or a book, not like a stereo or something crazy) and our stockings, which mainly consisted of candy and a few other small odds and ends, and we loved Santa, so I don't think it's just a greed thing. But then, that may have to do with the fact that, we didn't really have Christmas over-done, anyway. And we spent more time arguing about who got to give the first gift than about receiving gifts at all.

That being said, I know my parents didn't really want to do the santa thing, but felt like they had no choice because of the decisions relatives had made, and not knowing how to address it without us telling other kids or feeling bad because we weren't good enough for Santa to come, or something. And I know my mom really regretted it after my sister found out and was pretty much devastated, and my dad was out of town on business, so my mom had to deal with it all herself. And we don't really plan on doing Santa, either. My brother and SIL already don't. That was partly because in my SIL's childhood, Santa brought all the toys and "razzle dazzle" gifts, while Mom and Dad gave the lame gifts, like clothes.
[/quote]
That is what me and my wife want to do. Just do a few simple gifts, not the packed Toys R Us truck. As for family, I will not be able to say what I stated in my above post. They all will take it as a commentary of how I think they are doing/did it wrong. They will get a short and sweet version...then wait for them to ask questions.

Edited December 5, 2011 by Papist

[i<3LSOP]

I think that it's perfectly fine to lie to your child about Santa. It is so cute to see lil kids so excited and innocent about Santa and all. I don't think that it's a sin to tell them, but that you shouldn't tell them when they are to young. My brother ruined it for me when I was six, and my lil sis who is seven mostly believes. I knew a girl who's family told her three year old brother and he wouldn't believe that there wasn't a Santa. That was so sad. Basically I think that you should tell your child when they are emotionally ready if you know what I mean.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1323099309' post='2344890']
That is what me and my wife want to do. Just do a few simple gifts, not the packed Toys R Us truck. As for family, I will not be able to say what I stated in my above post. They all will take it as a commentary of how I think they are doing/did it wrong. They will get a short and sweet version...then wait for them to ask questions.
[/quote]
I'm not really sure how my parents did it, if it was because we were not spoiled rotten or what, but I really hope my kids are like my siblings and I were, with as much excitement about giving things as about getting. And it's nice to know that my parents and my siblings won't be offended by us not wanting tons of material items for our kids for gifts. I really have no idea how my in-laws will react, though. I don't *think* they'll have a huge issue, but I never can tell with them. I definitely feel for the people whose extended families are completely unsupportive. I have a friend whose mother was upset when she asked that the kids not be given any more toys for Christmas (they have a ton already, it's not like the kids are deprived by any means!) and provided instead a list of educational "toys" and games and things like that.