Just wanted to know everybody's opinion about Christmas & Santa Claus?

Sally - posted on 08/24/2011

Santa is alive and well at our house. And I will keep it that way as long as I can. Being agnostic and knowing for a fact that Christmas was a truely pagan holiday long before it was taken over by any other religion, I see no harm in Santa. Giving gifts in the Winter time goes back a long, long time. I love the hanging of the stocking, I love the look of wonder on her face when she sees it full of surprises. Most of her gifts come from us & family. But Santa fills her sock and leaves one wrapped gift. I love it. I just hope some kid whose parents chose not to do the Santa thing doesnt ruin it for her. Childhood magic only last so long, why take it away. When she is old enough to know Santa isn't really filling her stocking, we will explore the tradition together and learn some of the facts behind the legend. Until then, Ho Ho Ho & Fly Rudolph, Fly......

Lareashia - posted on 08/23/2011

We celebrate but not at the expense of lying to the kids. We are honest about the whole holiday and who Santa is.

Jane - posted on 08/20/2011

how about you tell the kids that santa was a kind man who brought gifts to kids in france (as that is the story) and the story of the xmas tree that norway gave the xmas tree to queen victoria as a present, cards were made originally by a man who made it for his wife as a gift and it then became a brilliant idea, then boxing day was a victorian tradition where gifts were given, christmas is a time for love and sharing and peace, the bells are the church saying as prayer for christ, christmas=christ mass. its all true and its been passed down for centuries, the three wise men did follo a star, if you notice the star comes late october and leaves around 4th january, its actually venus, but its brighter than the stars. i dnt think you are an atheist, some religions dont believe in giving at christmas and birthdays, the winter solstice is another reason why we celebrate xmas, as it brings in the snow and ice xx

Angela - posted on 07/04/2011

Mine had Santa Claus to believe in when small but they were told that parents, grandparents, friends etc .... bought their gifts at Christmas and then, when these were wrapped and ready, they were sent off to Santa at the North Pole who would then deliver them at Christmas.
I have lived in communities where Christmas is the ideal opportunity to "show off" and try and outdo your neighbours in how much you spend on your kids. Personally it sickens me that people are like this.
This goes on long past the age when children believe in Santa.

Jamilee - posted on 01/17/2010

I feel the best thing is to let your child know what Christmas and Santa Claus is really about. Christmas is the holiday to celebrate Jesus and Santa Claus was a man a long time ago who went around and gave gifts to the poor. I don't think that children should believe that Santa Claus watches you and gives you the gifts because it can hurt them later when they find out you've lied to them for 5 - 6 years. I am also Atheist, but I want my child to know all the different types of religions so when he gets old enough he can choose what's right for him.

Joy - posted on 01/17/2010

Growing up my mother taught us that my parents had to pay for the gifts Santa brought, so we never asked for too much. I believe Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth and is especially for family. When I began to question about Santa, My mother explained he was the spirit of giving & if I quit believing he would quit coming. I still hang my stocking at age 53.

Debbie - posted on 01/16/2010

Santa Clause is based on a real person who gave to the needy (not only toys) and that is what my daughter will learn. She gets one gift from "Santa" and she donates at least one gift to teach her the meaning of giving which is what the man attempted to teach.

Dawn - posted on 01/14/2010

I completely agree with your opinion. Christmas is about family, sharing memories and creating new ones. It's about giving to others and enjoying time off from work. :)



I just introduced the concept of Santa to my 2yr daughter and she only thinks of him as a person at Christmas to take a picture with, even though she won't sit on his lap she will wave to him. This is fine with me too.



What she remembers most about this past Christmas was that we went to her "grandma & grandpa's house" and daddy, mommy, her Aunt & Uncle and Grandma & Grandpa all opened presents together.



Happy memories!

Shannon - posted on 01/06/2010

I don't think that it is a necessity to tell your child that the presents you bought came from Santa, let your child know that they come from you and family that cares, not from someone that they don't know. I think kids really like the fact that you listen to what they want and put the extra effort into providing and taking care of the holiday yourself. My kids go see Santa but they know that Daddy and I spend a lot of time figuring out what they want and need, and we put a lot of effort into our holidays for them to have happy memories from their childhood. I grew up with Santa, and really got nothing from it but a heart ache when i was 8 and found out he wasn't real.

Dani - posted on 01/02/2010

We do Christmas big, we do Santa big. Christmas week is huge for me, my b-day is the 27th, my aunt's b-day is the 27th, my dad's is the 29th. Nothing beats seeing my kids face (even my teenager's) on Christmas morning after Santa has come.

This whole Christmas is too commercialized and blah blah blah makes me laugh. Too many people worry about what goes on in someone else's house. For me, it's always been easier to get on board with Santa than any religious entity because Santa loves everybody and is fun, whereas most religion isn't.

Mylene - posted on 12/24/2009

We had Santa growing up. Santa was the guy who brought us that special gift (only one) that Mom and Dad could not (wink wink). It was never about worship or delusion or anything like that. It was a way of symbolizing the act of giving selflessly to others. It was also a time to celebrate Jesus and what He represents. Yeah, Jesus wasn't born in December, but who knows His exact birthday? The idea is to celebrate the fact that He was born and came to save us. We were taught this as children and the lesson has stuck until now. Santa eventually became what he is, a caracter that is made to entertain children and symbolize the better aspects of the spirit of Christmas.



What you teach your children is up to you. If you want to have Santa, go ahead. If you don't, go ahead. Be aware though that there will be questions about Santa, because of other children who believe and who will talk about him at school and such when your child is old enough to attend. Be prepared to deal with these questions.



Either way, May the Spirit of Christmas be with you and your family; Joy, Love and Generosity.

Kim - posted on 12/21/2009

As a child we received a few gifts from "santa" but I think we always knew it was really from our parents along with the other gifts from them. Are parents taught us the real meaning of Christmas (Jesus, giving and being with family) and that is what I want my son who is 4 to learn. I was never scarred for life for having "from Santa" wrote on a tag, but again I knew the true meaning of Christmas. My husband told my little boy the other day that all good gifts come from Jesus and that santa works for Jesus to bring boys and girls their gifts. He seemed to like that conclusion. He can't read yet and I have decided that his gifts will be from Mommy and Daddy this year.
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!

Christina - posted on 12/21/2009

We don't do the Santa thing in my family. I am Christian. I am actually anti-Christmas because it's origins are pagan (and Jesus wasn't born in December), but my husband and I had to come to a comprimise. So, we do dinner, the tree and presents from family. We don't hang stockings or do Santa. I don't participate in the decorating of the tree because it's origins are from pagan tree worship, so my husband takes care of that.

I was raised with Santa Clause, and it was fun for me. But, it was devistating when I found out he wasn't real at the age of 6 or 7. I don't want my kids to have to go through that.

My children are still very young. But, I plan to also teach them to not spoil the fun for other children by telling them Santa isn't real. That would be mean to spoil it for other children.

Lourdes - posted on 12/07/2009

I don't introduce Santa to my children.... I tell them the truth...the true story of Santa....What i thought to them is the value of giving gifts... and to appreciate anything that they may receive during Christmas Season... At least, you have started right and no telling lies...Happy Christmas

Brook - posted on 12/06/2009

My daughter is 15 and we always wanted her to be appreciative and thank the people who thought enough to get her things. She new not to tell anyone she did not believe in Santa so she would not ruin things for the other children.

Randi - posted on 12/06/2009

Would you hide the tooth fairy? the easter bunny? your not lying to your child when you say santa is real, santa is in everyone. teaching your kid santa is real(which he once was long ago) shows them the spirit of giving without recieving, no matter how young they are as they grow older they will understand the real meaning to the made up term santa clause.

Michelle - posted on 12/06/2009

I have a nearly 3 year old girl and I read "The Night Before Christmas" book to her so that when people talk to her about Santa Claus, she would know whom they're referring to, but I also told her that he's pretend just like Cinderella and Dora. I try really hard to make Christmas not be about presents. Each of my kids gets three small gifts (because that's what Jesus got). Believe me, they have plenty of toys. We talk about Christmas as a big birthday party for Jesus. It just worries me that the kids would worship Santa over Jesus.

Melissa - posted on 12/05/2009

At my house Christmas is a well loved tradition of service and giving. My daughter is still small but I remember as a child receiving ONE (1) gift from Santa Claus. We don't want our daughter to think that its acceptable to be greedy or ask for whatever she wants but I love the spirit and innocence that Christmas allows us to have. I'm 27 and the spirit of Christmas and Santa Claus emphasizes a life of giving and service to others. I do not think there is anything wrong with kids believing in Santa if families focus on the best elements of it and less on the commericalization of it. I think it serves parents right if their kids are greedy and ask for huge lists of things at Christmas, if they didn't take the time to help their kids understand the true spirit of the holiday. On the other hand I don't think there is anything wrong with being honest with your kids. I love the feeling of Christmas and everything that comes with it. I love telling the old stories about St. Nicholas and believing that in each of us is a kind giving person. Don't worry about your decision :) just teach them what is important.

Tonya - posted on 11/22/2009

I tell my children there is a santa and when the time comes when they get to the age that they need to no the truth i tell them that santa is part of the spirit of christmas and he is in all of us who belive in christmas but they also no that jesus is the real reason for the season. i'm glad my mom and dad told me there was a santa because my childhood would not have been the same around the holidays.

Leanne - posted on 11/21/2009

I'm nineteen years old and still receive presents from "Santa Clause". Haha

I was thinking about this a little while ago as well, good topic.

I don't know if I gained anything by the fact a stranger (Santa) sent me gifts.. However, I always thought that it was so cool and very magical that this man could go to such extreme lengths to give kids all over the world gifts.

I don't believe that Christmas should be about gifts and things like that, of course it should be about family. But I look forward in capturing those precious moments on Christmas day when my baby boy opens a gift and his eyes light up. I think that will be just priceless, of course my son is only eight months old now and wont understand gifts yet.. But down the line I look forward to it.

I think if I didn't give my son gifts from Santa though that he would be missing out on a very magical, even if it doesn't last many years, part of growing up that I had.

Leah - posted on 11/21/2009

My baby is too young (7 weeks old) to understand Christmas, but I remember when we were kids we believed in Santa. We would get gifts from him and my parents, which goes with what you are saying about understanding about working hard for things. For us though, even to this day, Christmas is about spending time with family and not the gifts. I think it is how you look at it with your kids. My husband's family was also told about Santa growing up, but to this day it is still about the gifts to them, not family (and the are aged 16 to 29)

Rupal - posted on 11/20/2009

xmAS is the best festival to show love and fun at the same time family time is also great...Santa claus is a loving person like grandads i guess