Why or why not?
I got a great book off ebay called "santa are you for real?"
I will either read this to my kids when they stop believing in santa, or read it to them early on and not do santa, but we can still surprise them with gifts..............I'm just not sure what to do.
Both my family and husband's did santa with us and of course we're all fine, but I just keep thinking I may not want to do it....
2007-12-06 06:34:19 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My family is Christian and all of us believed in Santa. Santa Clause is something to keep kids hopes and dreams and Christmas spirit alive. I think it's ok...I hope I answered your question.
2007-12-06 06:39:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm a Catholic and I know that 'Santa Claus' comes from St. Nicholas ... a REAL saint who snuck into the house of some girls who couldn't marry because their father didn't have the dowry they needed. He put the money (gold coins) into their shoes at the foot of their beds, and they were able to get married. I raised my four kids to 'believe in Santa Claus' but when they were old enough, I told them the reason that 'Santa Claus' is ALIVE AND WELL ... and then I 'enlisted them' in becoming 'Junior Santas' who gave to charity and gave to their younger brothers and sister. All of my kids are grown now, and are having kids of their own ... and they plan on teaching the grandkids what I taught my own kids. Start with helping your kids 'grow' into being 'Good Santas' by having them give something (a toy they don't want any more but still works, or money they have 'earned' doing chores around the house) to a charity. I don't have kids any more, but I have already 'given' ... $40 to First Books from my husband and me, and $20 from my pets (a hedgehog and 42 fish) to charities that help people who are poor keep their pets. And it's still 'early' but we'll also give $500 to charities that help the homeless ... and we'll also take some things other people won't give and hand them out to people going into shelters on Christmas Eve. We LOVE being Mr. and Mrs. Santa, and we 'dress up' for this ... my husband is frequently called 'Santa' because he has a PERFECT white beard ... so he doesn't need a fake one ...
2007-12-06 06:43:52 · answer #2 · answered by Kris L 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In telling toddlers approximately Santa, you're actually not telling them to worship him. Having to tell your toddlers that magical entities which includes Santa, Easter Bunny, and the enamel fairy are actually not genuine should not be equated to God. God is so lots extra complicated, and is obviously dealt with extra suitable than one season a three hundred and sixty 5 days. merely because of the fact God is unseen would not make him some magical fairytale ingredient. It some thing toddlers might have a complicated time information while they're youthful, yet will improve into adulthood as they become older. and quite, it is the spirit of Santa that lives on. Attaching the sentiments of giving, love, and happiness to a mystical character is straightforward for toddlers to comprehend. by ability of having that reminiscence, even while they comprehend Santa won't be a real individual, they might look fondly on those strategies and choose to sell a similar ingredient for their toddlers.
2016-10-01 00:23:34 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even though we were not a religious family (I never went to church before college and never again after), we celebrated Xmas during my childhood with gift giving and feasting. My folks equated the Santa Claus story with the Baby Jesus story--both were metaphors for living a kind, honest life.
When I consider the Jesus story (even though and partly because I think of it only as a story) I am appalled how far from the ideal described in the sermon on the mount our allegedly Xian nation really falls short!
2007-12-06 06:43:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My parents did the Santa thing with me and I never actually believed in it. I thought it was just a fun tradition. I'd set it up in a similar way with my own kids. Wanting to believe Santa is real is just as much fun, even if you know your parents pull the presents out of hiding that night.
2007-12-06 06:39:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
ok, my mom was a pentecostal (aka born again) i did not get to believe in Santa as a child, and also seemed to miss out on seemingly normal things such as Star Wars, the Smurfs, Halloween, any music that was not about God... I WAS ALWAYS TEASED, MADE FUN OF, NEVER FELT LIKE I FIT IN WITH THE OTHER KIDS. DO YOU WANT YOUR KID TO DEAL WITH BEING THE JESUS FREAK WEIRDO WHO CAN'T DO NORMAL THINGS?? Please, I'm not being spiteful, but it is not necessary to take Christian believes to the point of making the kids feel uncomfortable about being a Christian. Only harm will come from that...
here's what happened to me, as an adolesent i totally lost my sense of boundaries, since seemingly good people did normal things i was told were wrong, i honestly had a hard time knowing what was truly right or wrong, i went down a path of distruction and misery for many years.
now, as an adult, i would like to belong to a church, but am still unsure of all the different branches of Christianity, and fearful of the effects they may have on my kids.
when you overdo it with religion it does more harm than good, Santa is not going to turn your kids against god or think you're lying about him too, many Christain kids enjoy this American tradition. your kids will feel left out of the fun during the holidays and do you want to be the mom who has a kid who verbalizes that Santa is not real, Jesus is at as young an age a 2,3,4. Let your kids be kids and enjoy their childhood!
2007-12-06 06:42:51 · answer #6 · answered by sherman supporter 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yea why not?
Look up the origin of Christmas and you may learn something. Santa is not the only deception going on with this holiday, so if you do Christmas you might as well do Santa too, and Halloween the Great Pumpkin, and Easter and the Easter Bunny
2007-12-06 06:39:13 · answer #7 · answered by Majestic One 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
its just a fun little thing.
my parents got me gifts from "santa" even long after i stopped believing. *shrug*
i dont think it hurts. but i remember when i was at an appropriate age to stop believing, our teacher (i went to a christian school) read us this paper about reason why santa cant be real.
brought more logic and thought into it then just saying hes not real and leaving it at that.
i still think its a fun thing for small children. kids should be allowed to be kids. what a horrible thing it is to take that away from one.
2007-12-06 06:37:56 · answer #8 · answered by Chippy v1.0.0.3b 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Do you teach your kids that it is ok to lie? No I am sure that you don't. Then why would you lie to them by telling them that Santa is real? Do you tell them that God is real? Why should they believe you if you lie to them about Santa being real? Be a good Christan parent and study the history of Christmas. It is not as innocent and harmless as so many think.
May the Lord Bless you in your search for truth.
2007-12-06 06:41:36 · answer #9 · answered by Bride of Christ 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
When my little one asks if Santa is real I say "Santa is someone who loves you." Even when the North Pole and reindeer phase is over, he will know that part is true. My older one knows about Saint Nicholas helping the poor. It's all good.
2007-12-06 06:38:49 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋