SPOILER ALERT: This post is not really intended for little ones, if you are reading this with them looking over your shoulder, you may want to come back to it when they are tucked away in bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads 🙂
Do your kids believe in Santa? My kids have always believed in Santa Claus. I have never told them otherwise. The HH’s family did the same thing. In fact one year they all grumbled that they did not believe in Santa and there were no presents under the tree that Christmas morning.
Instead The HH’s mom hid them all in the bathroom shower until later in the day when the kids finally said they believed. 🙂
Goofy yes, but maybe sometimes it’s the parents who want to keep the illusion of Old St. Nick alive. Maybe it’s the hope that they will remain innocent forever, or that they will always carry the belief of possibilities with them in life, who knows exactly?
It kind of makes you wonder where the whole Santa thing started, though, doesn’t it? I remember reading several years ago {so, take the information with a grain of salt} that the picture of Santa, jolly and round, was started by Coca Cola in 1931. They ran an ad that featured Santa as a rosy cheeked elf. The image stuck, for us Americans anyway. I guess it really should come as no big surprise that Santa, as we know him, was born out of an advertisement.
BUT, that Santa is just an image–a place holder for an idea. Where did the IDEA of Santa bringing toys to little girls and boys come from? Turns out, it kind of depends on who you ask. Some people believe the idea originated from St. Nicholas, who spent his life giving to the poor.
As Christianity swept over Europe {and notably Germany} there is folklore that the idea of St. Nicholas was combined with the Pagan god, Odin, who was associated with a winter event that led a “Wild Hunt” across the skies. As the tradition spread across Europe, it altered slightly with each country. Sometime in the 1820’s the idea of Santa, the North Pole and the reindeer began to surface.
Whatever the origins, what are your family traditions on Santa Claus? Does he bring gifts Christmas Day or Christmas Eve? Do your kids still BELIEVE?
~Mavis
Bible Babe says
Never told my son Santa was real. We stressed that he was a symbol, along with the tree and wreaths, etc. In fact, for years my son thought the old dude in the center of the mall each year was just a biker with bad fashion sense!
andrea d says
i guess i am one of the mean moms…i have always told my kids that he is not real. we still have fun with santa. some of our favorite movies to watch are the ones with santa. they just know it’s make-believe. and they have learned about st. nicholas. but they have also been told not to spoil it for other kids. that might earn them some coal.
Amy says
My 5 kiddos know Santa is just a character in costume. They still get presents, but instead of Santa we choose to honor, glorify, and be thankful for the coming of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ!!
April Myers says
I couldn’t lie to my kids. So I let my husband do it. One year, he wrote a message from Santa to the kids on the bathroom mirror. They were pretty amazed to find that in the morning.
Lisa says
My teenager just recently found out he wasn’t real. Then to my surprise, he was then (4 months later) SHOCKED to hear the Easter Bunny was pretend also. We decided to break the news about the Tooth Fairy right then and there.
We have a two-year-old that loves Santa but we still aren’t sure what we will tell her. The selfish part of me wants credit for all the cool presents and I know there are other ways to celebrate the season rather than hoping someone comes down our chimney. We are still working on what to tell her.
Mary L says
You should read Autobiography of Santa Claus. I cant remember who its by but it is a fun read.
Helen in Meridian says
We believe in Santa. In fact Chazz and I exchange Santa gifts separate from our other gifts. We also believe that the REAL Santa is the one on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Two year’s ago he came to the Boise Mall Macy’s for 2 hours. Chazz left work early and I packed my favorite doll he brought, and we joined all the little chilluns in line. He was so gracious to us, and remembered bringing my Terri Lee doll 59 years ago. Right after the parade, Santa boards a pink bus with Believe all over it, and heads to different Macy’s to visit all us kids of all ages. You can’t believe how elegant his suit is with embroidered flowers on the leather suspenders and everything.
Angela says
Yes my kiddos believe in Santa and I won’t tell them otherwise! I love it and the kids think its great fun. I let my kids believe in anything they want (within reason) as they can become disillusioned when they’re older, who am I to ruin the fun for them? I am not religious so I don’t care if he isn’t focused on a particular religion, rather he exemplifies giving to others. Now that can’t be a bad thing, eh?
Tom W. says
I always told my kids that Santa, the Easter bunny, and the tooth fairy weren’t real. Nor any other spiritual or supernatural entities. They kind of got mad at me about that.
Kim says
I have children 6 years old to 25 years old and
A grand baby on the way , I have always had a
Little one believing , I have never told them and
Always say if you believe you will get your Santa
Bags . All my children and partners still get
Santa bags every year full to the top ! They must
Still believe
Ellen in Clackamas says
I never told my kids Santa wasn’t real but they of course found out on their own. They still believe in the spirit of Santa which is love and giving. Even if you are not Christian this is a message anyone can believe in
christine says
A couple of months ago I told my 11.5 year old that Santa wasn’t real. I didn’t think it would be a big deal because I assumed that he already knew this. To my shock and dismay he was absolutely devastated by the news. He lay in his bed and sobbed, coming up for air to ask if the tooth fairy was fake, and (ouch!) if God was fake. He wanted to know why we had “lied to him” about this in the first place. I wish I could take my words back but of course this isn’t possible. I sure feel like the grinch this holiday season…
Rosaleen says
We never told out kids about Santa. There is plenty of Santa hype in stores, on TV, etc. When asked, I always said that “Santa lives in the hearts and minds of people who love him.” My kids are all healthy adults who know that their parents NEVER LIED TO THEM!
Tom W. says
^^^^This
Cyntha says
John 4:24 says “God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth.” Santa is not true. Jesus was not born on December 25th. I read the true story of Jesus birth, to my son who is 8, in the Bible at Matthew and Luke chapter 2. For more information please look at. http://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/bible-about-christmas/ Thanks for reading.
Cecily says
You got there before me. Thanks for sharing the truth with everyone Cynthia!
Cecily
Wapato Park Cong. Tacoma, WA
Tiffany says
Nicely put. I don’t lie to my kid either. And agree the real story is in the bible. Nice link!
Kristen says
We’ve never “done” Santa at our house…our kids have always known he’s not real. My husband and I were just not comfortable with presenting something as true that’s not, fearing that they’d maybe question our trustworthiness in the future.
We still have super fun Christmas celebrations, though, and they all know not to tell other kids that Santa isn’t real.
Stacey says
My husband and I never played Santa with our kids. Did they miss out on something? Maybe, but we still had a lot of fun. When they opened their presents, they knew they were from us, just because we wanted to give them to them. We got the thank-you’s, which was a plus. Many people have fun with this, but I remember how I felt when I found out he wasn’t real. I felt betrayed by my parents who had lied to me.
KAte says
I can’t remember actually finding out ‘the truth’ in one moment. I think it was a gradual realization. I have also never actually made a big deal about not believing either. In my house growing up you got presents from Santa as long as you believed in Santa. I still get presents from Santa. Although once I was of legal drinking age they were usually practical, new floormats for the car, type stuff.
I was the one who always insisted on leaving cookies out. Sometime around middle school it morphed from cookies and eggnog to Scottish shortbread and whiskey.
Sarah says
When I was a kid, Santa filled our stockings, but all other presents came from my parents and grandparents. Our stockings had a little candy, a small toy, lip gloss, and a toothbrush, nothing extravagant, but a thrill to get. My mom made our stockings, and hers was the one she had when she was a little girl (her stocking in hung up in my dining room right now). When I got married I made a stocking for my husband, we don’t have kids, but Santa still comes to visit, we each fill the others stockings secretly overnight (plus a stocking for each of our pets!).
I’m glad my mom let me believe in Santa and the Easter bunny. I remember when I realized that Santa wasn’t an actual person; I confessed to my grandma, worried that the news would make my mom sad. Grandma told me not to worry, learning about Santa was part of growing up. I don’t think that I ever told my mom that I knew the “truth”. Oh, I miss her!
Mavis Butterfield says
I remember getting a mandarin orange and a few pieces of candy in my stocking when I was a kid. I miss the simplicity of it all.
Kerry C says
My mom taught us that everyone can be Santa. The magic of Santa is giving gifts without them knowing who gave the gift. I am 37 yrs old and I am excited every Christmas morning. I wake up very early and wiggle in bed until my husband is awake. I can’t wait to see him open his presents from Santa.
nikki says
I was the oldest of nine kids. Once we came to find out about the Santa gig, we were consoled by being co-opted as helper elves. I remember being sad, but not feeling lied too. Instead of hearing that Santa wasn’t real, we were just told that Dad was Santa. With my own kids, we tell them about the man, St. Nicholas, and about the spirit of giving. We talk about the nativity story and read the birth of Jesus and go to additional church services, but we know that this is not really the time of year for Jesus’ birth and that some of the nativity story is condensed for the sake of pageantry. They know the gifts come from their parents, but, man oh man, my kids have some really heated debates with Santa believing children! I try to ask my kids to be sensitive to others who believe in Santa Claus.
I think it’s important to be honest, and I think it’s important to learn where traditions come from, so we can understand and enjoy them more fully. I don’t think it’s a good idea to become a grinch in any event. I like to enjoy each season and find the revealed truths in the culture and traditions where ever possible, and just let go of the rest. It’s also a great time to develop special memories and unique traditions that you will always treasure together.
Margery says
We used to ,but with the youngest in the house we really don’t. He does visit Santa at the annual parade, and leaves cookies out ( the kind mommy likes). But he knows that the gifts come from mom and dad and other family. This came about as we had a year when the older kids asked why did Santa bring other kids what they wanted but not them. After that they know that mom and dad get the gifts and that some years the budget is smaller. So when A asks for things outside the budget, a reminder that there is a Christmas budget helps.
Stacey says
This is another problem we completely avoided. Some kids get an extreme amount of presents while some get only a few. I’m not a Scrooge, but getting kids to believe in something so unfair isn’t fair to them. Holidays in general can be enjoyable without the lies.
Kathy says
My kids believed in Santa, I never told them otherwise. They think to this day, and they are both young adults, that Santa is the SPIRIT of Christmas, the giving and not receiving, and I think that’s what counts.
Jenny says
I had the child that hated Santa. The thought of someone sneaking in the house while she was sleeping was scary to her. She would have nightmares about it. She didn’t want to sleep at night in case he came in the house. And the first time we took her to see one she flipped out and wouldn’t let him within 30 feet of her.
Elizabeth says
Our kids don’t believe but we do watch Santa movies because they do get the message that many of them have. We wear Santa and elf hats because they’re fun and have those annoying singing/dancing Christmas dolls because the kids love them. My kids know that we give gifts because we love each other-lots of homemade gifts. I’m currently training them that it’s ok if kids believe (I don’t want my 5 yo to tell his out of town cousin the truth because its not our place). My sister in law just scolded me because we are apparently depriving our children of the experience of Santa.
I’ve found that Santa raises expectations of gifts (at least that’s how I felt as a kid) and I was often disappointed when I didn’t get everything I asked for and I never asked for a lot. My mom just bought whatever she wanted to.
John says
“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished….You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.”
Mary says
Seeing isnt believing Believing is seeing.. What’s better a lie that draws a smile or a truth that draws a tear! I always believe because there is no harm in believing in a magical figure. I always make Santa extra magical for my nieces and nephews who love hime
Kirsten says
I broke it to my kids this year that Santa was a fun story for kids (they are 9 & 7) I might have kept it going for my younger on another year or so, but it was just time. The ‘asking for things’ and Santa gives me things you don’t was getting to me. I wanted it to be more about gift giving and less about the commercial version of Santa and getting what you want. Topping last year always an issue too.