Grinchy remark sends kids home in tears

Lebanon Daily News ^ | 12/23/05 | RORY SCHULER

[safisoft]

So, if another kid asked you what Santa Claus is bringing you for Christmas, what was your reply?

I grew up in Central Africa. My parents were missionaries. I never heard a single missionary kid talk about "Santa".

I would imagine that a polite answer such as, "My parents gave me..."

But considering the fact that we celebrate Hanukkah this time of year, and we celebrate the birth of the Messiah during the Feast of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) in Sept/Oct (which was the more likely time of His birth) my kids don't have to answer the "Santa" question - they just could say, "Santa doesn't come to houses with Menorahs." < grin >

[Kingosaurus]

I'm somewhat disturbed by people who are seemingly insecure about their religious beliefs to the point where they are fearful that "buying in" to Santa will cause their kids to leave the fold.

I had plenty of dounts about my religion at different points in my life, but none of them were ever related to the fact that Santa was part of my upbringing. I never felt "betrayed" by my parents, or any other such pop-psychologist nonsense.

[Hildy]

You have a 12 year old who thinks Santa is real? You've gotta be kidding me.

[EDINVA]

"Farrisi doesn’t believe in Santa Claus,......" but she DOES believe J. Kerry is a war hero ;)

[safisoft]

Somewhere, I believe there IS a Santa. I am 57 years old. And I am a committed Christian.

The connection? An explanation, a caveat? < grin >

I too believe that there is a "santa" somewhere... but that "santa" does not wear red, and is no joke.

And He said to me, "Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing." So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the L-RD's house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. Then He said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these."
Ezekiel 8:13-14

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Apparently this hag seems to feel it's her job to play Superparent. May Santa's reindeer dump a load on her as they fly over.

[Miss Marple]

I am assuming that people who "don't buy into the Santa myth" also do not have a Tooth Fairy or Easter Bunny in their family traditions.

Well, to each his own, but a large part of my childhood memories are of the magic of those moments.

I gradually realized the truth about Santa, but it never made me doubt God. It made me grateful to my parents for doing all those wonderful things (like a PONY for Christmas one year) when they were not the most well-off people and had five children.

Santa symbolizes the spirit of giving. When you drop your change (without tax deductions) into the Salvation Army kettle, you are playing Santa. Those who leave the anonymous food baskets and gifts at the homes of the poor are likewise playing Santa.

And parents who do this are loving and helping their children discover the joy of giving.

Foobar to all the nay-sayers. Santa lives!!!!

[Steve0113]

Placemark.

[safisoft]

Foobar to all the nay-sayers. Santa lives!!!!

Repeat on Easter. A fitting statement. Easter bunnies, Santa, and fairies...

[Miss Marple]

Pfft! How about the fact that Santa is the spirit of giving without expecting a "thanks." It is the spirit of unselfishness, which I believe is one of the most important aspects of Christianity?

Do what you want. My family continues the Santa tradition, and we are quite happy with it. I am sure you are convinced of your moral superiority, and you are welcome to feel that way. In fact I will concede it, which is my Christmas gift to you.

[Kay Ludlow]

I told my children that Santa was "pretend," but it's fun to play "pretend." I didn't want to breach their trust by lying to them. I made it very clear to them that they were not to tell other children that.

I did that too - I had to. My son went through a phase of having a very hard time telling what was real and what wasn't - very fearful of what people said, commercials, etc. I promised him I would never lie to him, that he could trust me if I told him something wasn't real. Since he and his sister are a year apart, she knew too. I told them that the Santa game was a wonderful thing, and not to spoil it for other children who didn't know yet that it was a game. We played the Santa game for many years, setting out cookies, pretending it wasn't Dad that ate them etc. It didn't spoil Christmas for them, knowing the truth. Having a teacher, and a substitute at that, treat it this way is horrible. She wasn't worried about lying to the kids, she wanted to shatter their innocent belief.

[Dianna]

But considering the fact that we celebrate Hanukkah this time of year, and we celebrate the birth of the Messiah during the Feast of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) in Sept/Oct (which was the more likely time of His birth) my kids don't have to answer the "Santa" question - they just could say, "Santa doesn't come to houses with Menorahs." < grin >

And so you don't know what a Christian child growing in America would experience. I can tell you that discussions of Santa and whether or not he is real, what he is bringing, etc. are a HUGE topic at Christmas time. It may very well be inevitable that a non-believing child will have to lie to his peers to have any part of the discussion at all.

[Kingosaurus]

I obviously agree with you.

If any early teenager can figure out on their own, without prompting, that Santa isn't "real" in the tangible sense, and yet there are billions of adults who belief in the concrete reality of God, I don't see the big problem in differentiating the two concepts.

[dalereed]

I didn't give some dumb teacher the chance, I caught my parents playing Santa when I was 3 and blew his cover in my kindergarden class along with the stupid easter bunny!

[Raycpa]

If she didn't want to lie, than just skip the subject.

[safisoft]

I am sure you are convinced of your moral superiority, and you are welcome to feel that way.

There is a lot of moral superiority being displayed on this thread, where people are bashing others for not lying to their children about the myth of "santa" - as if doing so is some sort of virtue. Believe what you like, but why do some think that forcing others to have the same customs and traditions is a virtuous thing?

[Dianna]

I would imagine that a polite answer such as, "My parents gave me..."

Oh that would NEVER do! Who cares what parents are buying! What is SANTA bringing? What is that one deeply desired gift that you've been hoping for for weeks??!!

Sorry, I think you just can't understand.

[Windsong]

Careful with the language..

[Miss Marple]

You know, this is really aggravating me. Santa is a legend, for sure, and a tradition passed down in families.

Jesus has an entire book of Holy Scripture pointing to his coming and his existence. There is no Church of Santa, just as there is no scripture pointing to the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny.

People who think that a pretend done by parents negates faith are simply not understanding how children think, if you ask me.

Besides, who's to say that somewhere there ISN'T a Santa? C.S. Lewis had Father Christmas appear in the Narnia books....was Lewis trying to make chidren doubt God? I don't think so.

[safisoft]

And so you don't know what a Christian child growing in America would experience. I can tell you that discussions of Santa and whether or not he is real, what he is bringing, etc. are a HUGE topic at Christmas time.

I am an American. I have lived here for thirty years. I have raised sons here. We didn't use Public School, which is probably why we never had the issue come up. Silly us.