Christians answer please!!! It's about Santa Clause and St. Nick?

Question

O.K. one question. We are told not to lie right? Well I have 3 adorable little girls. Who hang on everyword that I tell them. And I would not for the life of me. Lie to them. But I have been, right? They are 4,2, and 1 years of age. I have told them all along that Santa Clause exists. Even though he dosen't. O.K. my question is this. How can I go about telling them the truth? I am currently researching St. Nicholas and all the things that he did while he was alive. I mean that is the true meaning behind Santa Right? I just don't want to lie to my children anymore. I am really worried about this. Because I don't want them to go to school once they get older preaching to other children that Santa Clause isn't real. I just really don't know what to do.

Here is the question; Shoulld I just go along with the story, the Santa Claus really exists, and risk breaking their little hearts when they get older? Or should I explain to them from the beggining about St. Nick, and Santa is fake?

O.K. Thank you all so much for the responses that I have recieved on this matter. For one thing I know that Santa, the easter bunny, the tooth fairy, ect. Are all made up. And were all made up by either merchants, or someone else looking to make a profit out of the lie. I just don't want to lie to my children. Even though I have been doing so for well 4 years now. And I don't want them to run off and tell other children because of the fact that I don't belive that is their place to do so. I think that the other children should find out about this matter from their parents. I mean it is a parents choice of what to teach your children right?

Answer 1

Tell them the truth. You know, look at it this way....You lie and tell them that there is a Santa clause, and at the same time tell them about God. They get older and find out the truth that you lied to them. Why would they not think that you lied to them about God also. They can't see him, so they just might assume that you lied about there being a God. I am assuming that you do believe in God.

I would also like to say, that if you are a Christian....Please do research on the origin of Christmas. It is really not a Christian celebration.

Answer 2

I was brought up with the whole Santa Claus myth thing. Yes It is a lie. No 2 ways about it. My wife and I decided that we would not even start with our children and Santa Claus. We explained to them who Santa Claus was...a made up person, blah blah blah. The 4 yr old is the only one you really need to worry about when it comes to getting it straight. The others won't remember one way or the other. I don't think the St Nick angle will be grasped by them either. Save it for a 5th grade history lesson. The truth is always the right way to go. Start now before they are so indoctrinated by the society. How do our children trust us as teenagers if we lied to them. I know this may be taking it too far for some, but it's how I see it. We are pretty cut and dry here. It sounds to me like you want it that way too and are just looking for someone to agree with it....Well, we do!

We told our daughter when she went into kindergarten, that this is what some families believe, and she was not to say otherwise, but respect their beliefs for their sake. It was never a problem. Actually, it was like our little secret. She would come home and tell us who believed in SC and who didn't.

Answer 3

Personally, I think you should go along with the story of Santa Claus. I completely respect that you do not want to lie to your children, but at the same time, I also think that believing in Santa is part of being a kid. Fostering this belief is about sparking a kid's imagination and allowing them to dream about something extraordinary. Being kids they don't need to deal with harsh realities just yet. There will come a time when they'll begin to realize Santa isnt real, and when that time comes you can then explain to them St. Nicholas and the spirit behind the story of Santa. This is what my mom did with me when I was younger, and it did not break my heart-she explained that the spirit, love, and generousity behind Christmas are always real and that helped. Also-I think starting kids off believing in Santa sets them up for believing in positive things. They'll understand why you did it. No matter what you decide, your kids are going to love you for caring enough to put this much thought into it.
Merry Christmas!

Answer 4

You need to do what you feel is right. If you're doubting the wisdom in letting them believe this story, maybe it is God telling you not to let it continue? How about something like: the idea of Santa is a way to keep the spirit of St Nick's kindness alive. Christmas is truly about the birth of Christ, not Santa or St Nick. Guess what, kids preach about Santa not being real all the time...whether or not they are taught the Christian meaning or just find out that Santa is really mommy and daddy.

Answer 5

A child's mind is simple and beautiful. Whats even more beautiful is that you are their mother and they hang on every word you say. I understand you don't want to lie to them so instead of focusing on the "lie" why don't you focus on the beauty behind the concept. If you are open in explaining questions to them and you teach them good concepts, and you use your best judgment it will probably work out. Since it is a universal thing children face, it's hard to deal with on a personal level. The best thing to do is be mindful of your children and have a open relationship with them. If you don't focus on the negative associated around Santa and you focus on the positive then you won't be telling them a lie and the transition will probably be smoother. Either way don't focus on the existence, and weather are not the persons real, focus on the beauty of the holidays.

Answer 6

Here's what I am doing with my 2 little girls - I am telling them that Santa represents the giving spirit and it is that spirit that comes down our chimney each year. I let them take their picture with Santa, we don't write or receive letters from Santa, but they do get one gift from Santa each year.

My sister doesn't tell them anything about Santa and when they talk to her about it, she acts like they are educating her. Her mother in law sends gifts from Santa - and I don't know if they tell the kids that Grandma is playing Santa or just leaves it to them to wonder about their miraculous Santa gifts.

I think it's cool either way - we don't really need to make a bigger deal out of this that it is. Children learn for themselves and it is at that time that they begin to realize that they must think for themselves - which is also an important lesson.

Peace!

Answer 7

Perhaps focus more on the "spirit" of Santa Claus, rather than trying to see how many years old they can be before they don't believe Santa exists. Just remember Santa Clause is just a subordinate clause anyway.

Take them for a drive; used to be you and they could see a Santa Claus on almost every street corner; now, anyway, in every shopping mall. (If malls allow such a "religious" symbol).

Don't try to explain how Santa gets from one mall to another so quickly. Instead, try to tell them how it is about being good and kind, etc. And forget the "he knows when you are sleeping, he sees you when you are awake ...."; that does sound too much like "God".

What about the newspaper editorial that said "Yes, Virginia ..."?

Joulupukki or Father Christmas.
Sinterklas or Kris Kringle.
Bellsnickle or Père Noël.
Whatever the name, Santa's spirit is loved around the world!

Ash Man - (Germany)
Christkindle - (Germany)
Father Christmas - (England/N.Z.)
Hoteisho - (Japan)
Kris Kringle - (Aus./Can./U.S.)
Rauklas - (Germany)
Babbo Natale - (Italy)
Deda Mraz - (Yugoslavia)
Gaghant Baba - (Armenia)
Joulupukki - (Finland)
Mikulas - (Hungary)
Saint Nick - (Aus./Can./U.S.)
Befana - (Italy)
Diado Coleda - (Bulgaria)
Ganesha - (India)
Jultomten - (Sweden)
Papa Noel - (Spain)
Santa Claus - (Aus./Can./U.S.)
Bellsnickle - (Old American)
Dun Che, Lao Ren - China)
Gwiazdor - (Poland)
Kerstman - (Belgium)
Pelznickel - (Germany)
Sinterklas - (Indonesia)
Bozicek - (Slovenia)
Dyed Moroz - (Russia)
Hagios Nikolaos - (Greece)
Kolyada - (Russia)
Pere Noel - (France/Canada)
Svaty Miklas - (Czechoslovakia)

Answer 8

Santa does exists if you believe. he is what dreams are made of we tell our children about this wonderful man who on Christmas eve delivers toys to all good boys and girls.i do not think this lying to them. as long as we keep the Christ in Christmas for our children we have done a good job, the children of today find out real early that mom and dad buy all the toys they get. should we stifle the emanation at such a early age? and what about the Easter Bunnie these are all emanation craters not lies sorry about some of my spelling

Answer 9

Im a christian and I allow mykids to believe in Santa, they 7 5 3 3 yrs old. There is nothing at all wrong with allow them an imagination its also a good thing that your researching the true St. Nick so when the time is right you can educate them.

Answer 10

Well, my heart wasn't broken when I found out at the age of 6 that Santa Claus is an imaginary figure. But your idea of telling your children about the real St. Nikolaos is very commendable. He was a remarkable man.