About Christmas

Chelli - posted on 12/05/2008

Okay, here's my two cents. I was raised believing in Santa Claus. It didn't warp me or make me feel that my parents were liars. As I got older, I figured out that Santa didn't exist on my own, chimney slithering, flying reindeer, elves. It just didn't add up. However, I do agree that the materialism is out of control! So with my children here is what I do. We have Santa Claus, but my kids know that Santa expects us to be Santa for other people to. So however many presents (toys, clothes, etc.) that they get for Christmas, they have to take that many old toys and put in a box (Santa Box). Then we load up in the car and take our donation to Goodwill. I think that the kids enjoy thinking about what they will put in the Santa Box each year than what Santa will get them! It also cuts down on the gimmies. The more they ask for the more they have to give away.

Briggitte - posted on 12/04/2008

Hi Kimberly,

I recently came to know the Lord about 5 years ago. For me, the idea of Santa Claus introduces materialism to children. If they are good, they get something in return. It makes it about them. Yet, the Bible teaches us...that it isn't about us...it is about serving others before yourself.



In my opinion, I would find out how the idea of Santa Claus was started, so you are informed (knowledge is power idea). That way when your children start asking you questions you know how to respond. All the while, you are teaching them the true meaning of Christmas.

Briggitte

Samantha - posted on 12/03/2008

I think it is ok, but my son asked me last month (he is 7) and I wont lie to them so I told him that santa was not real, that is just a fun thing to do. I am not real big on all that, I work to hard for my money to give santa all the credit! =) but if they ask, I wont lie to them. we consentrate on jesus.

Kathleen - posted on 12/02/2008

My belief is that we be honest with our children. We stress the importance & meaning of Christmas and then we explain to them that how they see the world celebrating xmas is worldly, materialistic and that all the glory has been taken from God. Santa is a myth that persons have created to celebrate in their own way but this fictional character seems to always get God's glory. I was raised that God blessed my mom with a job to be able to afford me things/gifts throughout the year. See for us there were no chimneys so our parents felt like if they told us those falsehoods that would be the same as lying to us therefore encouraging us to lie. Ok, I digress, I apologize.

Laura - posted on 12/02/2008

we did "Santa" with our older two but with our new little one...We wont' be doing Santa. She will get lots and lots of giflts. We just aren't going to tell her that they are from Santa.



I want the focus to be on Jesus, He gave His life for us. I want to focus on giving, not getting. I want to teach her that we buy gifts for each other to symbolize the greatest gift we got...our salvation through the death, burial and ressurection of our Lord.



I think we contradict ourselves with Santa.

Jesus = Came for all for all sinners. You don't have to be "Good" to be saved. You don't earn your gift and last but not least...Jesus is real and alive!!



Santa = Only brings gifts to "good" little boys and girls and you have to "earn" it. oh and last but not least...he's fake!



This is just my opinion...I could be wrong. LOL

Lindy - posted on 12/01/2008

My husband's family and now mine celebrate the Day of St. Nick (Dec 6th). To my husband, Santa was St. Nick. He just got his presents from "Santa" earlier than the rest of the kids. The story of St. Nick is kind of neat. A good way to discuss giving to others etc. Good luck.

Sharon - posted on 12/01/2008

We have always told our daughter why we celebrate Christmas the birth of Jesus Christ and Santa was always the man who gives away presents, but that changed last year when dad was caught placing the presents under the tree, this year we have been told what she would love to see when she opens the present

Amber - posted on 11/30/2008

Kimberly, you did a GREAT job with that! I wish I would have thought of it like that when my oldest was young. I just told her Santa was a real person and that the reason for Christmas is Jesus. I will be using this for my younger 2 if you don't mind!

Mandy - posted on 11/29/2008

I was raised that Santa was part of the magic of Christmas. I allow my kids to believe but I also make sure they understand that Jesus is the main celebration.

Joyce - posted on 11/29/2008

Our kids talk about Santa and realize that dad is Santa and brings all their gifts. He is a fun character for Christmas but the truth is the Santa's they see are just men dressed up and playing a part. I think it is very important to teach kids truth. There are so many lies out there today that kids need to know truth is found in the Bible.

Angela - posted on 11/28/2008

my husband and I were planning on skipping santa and teaching our children about Jesus on Christmas...I never believed in santa, but my husband did and we figure if they grow up knowing he isn't real they won't be upset about it later, but whatever parents decide is up to them...I don't have anything against people teaching their kids about santa

Kimberly - posted on 11/28/2008

i would like to thank everyone for responding. so here is what i decided, i told my son that Christmas is about Jesus and that there is a Santa in fact he could be Santa. I explain that when we go out to get gifts for the family we are being Santa. Santa is about sharing and giving from your heart. and then I told he that mean he will still get gift for Christmas for Santa and to remember that God blesses him with the gifts. So i told my children that they must do right by God because he sees everything and he knows whats in our hearts.

Kristina - posted on 11/28/2008

I think Santa's a great part of Christmas if you emphasize the fact that Santa gives without receiving. He's a character that young children are captivated by(like educational cartoons) and he teaches children what it means to be selfless.

Sarah - posted on 11/28/2008

I struggle with this myself as my son doe believe. I grew up not believing so my husband and decided to tell our son the truth. We did when he was 3. The very next day Santa came to his school and Elliot was very upset that I "lied" to him.I could not convince him otherwise. I decided maybe it is not such a big deal and we do Santa. We have a Playmobil nativity scene and a Santa set.Santa comes to visit baby Jesus. We put Santa into the super hero category as not to confuse him with Jesus. My son also believes super hero's are real.

Lisa - posted on 11/25/2008

I think it depends on the child. When I was only 4, I had doubts about the reality of Santa and felt lied to when I learned the truth. Because of that, now that I have kids of my own, I don't ever want them to think I've lied to them, so we tell the "story" of Santa and talk about how it's a fun part of Christmas, but we emphasize the "reality" of Jesus being the true meaning of Christmas.

But on the other hand, my brother was 12 and still wanted to believe in Santa, so I think it depends on the kid. Just follow what your heart is telling you to do.

Kimberly - posted on 11/25/2008

thanks Terri

Terri - posted on 11/25/2008

Absolutely! As long as you make sure they know the most important reason for Christmas is that Jesus was born. I taught my children that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas & "Santa" was just a wonderful person who brings joy to children, etc. Go back to the beginning story of Santa. When my son & daughter were about 9, they didn't believe anymore. The realization for them was "easy" & they weren't upset because we always talked so much about Jesus being the most important part of Christmas. Plus, they'll be really left out if all there friends believe & they know the truth at a real early age.