To Santa or Not To Santa-That Is a Question?

I came across this article on a worship blog. My wife and I have been discussing what we would do when we had kids if we would teach them about Santa or not. We have ultimately decided that it would be best for us to raise our children the truth about who St. Nick was and teach them the reason for the season in our protestant home. Some folks disagree with our decision yet some agree. I think that’s par for the course that my wife and I play on. Keeps life fun that way.

I posted this link on my Facebook and these are a few of the responses I got. I left the last names out to protect the innocent .

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Brandon

To not allow a child the excitement Of learning about Jesus and Santa is extremely selfish and robs the child Of important life lessons! Santa is exciting to a child! If the parent says they do not lie to their children, then what do you tell the child when he or she ask What the noises are coming from the bedroom a night! I bet the parents don’t tell the truth!

William

Juli mentioned it’s not just the parents that are teaching the kids this. It’s also the teacher at school, daycare, media, and etc. I would also agree that these mediums are not just teaching our kids what I would say is a “fun lie” but these mediums are inundating our kid’s lives with other things that the church teaches to be wrong. So I think it is fair to say that it is our duty as parents to protect our children from the things we as the parents do not want our kids to learn. Thanks Juli for that comment.

Corrie mention that those sounds in the bedroom is just Daddy loving Mommy. PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!! I gotta remember that one.

With Sarah’s post, it is very well thought out as I can see she has been struggling with this very same thing. However, I would argue (if you wanna use a word that strong, maybe debate, or just simply question) the idea of comparing fairy tales with twisted truth. I believe Santa Clause is a twisted version of many ideas incorporated into one. Foundational truth being on St. Nick and stories about shamans and flying reindeer being an additive to create a wonderful fairy tale like illusion. I do however see her stand and appreciate where she’s coming from and right on to her if that’s where her convictions lie. Thanks for the comment.

Robert calls him Satan Clause! Need I say more.

Bottom line is I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer. I was raised on Santa Clause, had Santa all over my presents and my parents asked if I was ready for his visit. I even once thought that I saw Rudolph one night coming home from a Christmas party. The red light was NOT blinking so I didn’t think it was an airplane. However, I knew that the story was that Santa came down the chimney. So either my parents were wrong, left the key out on the porch so he could come through the door or it was all just a big lie, cause we had no fireplace. And the sucker still  ate my cookies that mom made me leave out cause I didn’t want to. I wanted those cookies myself.

So stick to your convictions cause I made it through life ok knowing there really wasn’t one. But I refuse to teach my kids about the “fairy tale” of Christmas. They will know who St. Nick and how St. Nick felt about the real reason which was Jesus Christ.

Thanks for reading!!!!