Ok, So We're a Little Counter Cultural...
Today in the grocery store, Isaac (who will be six in a few weeks) saw a picture of Santa Claus and asked who he was. In the van I asked him what Santa does, and he hadn't the foggiest notion. I thought it was kind of funny. He has heard of Santa, we have some Christmas books with Santa, he must of just forgot about him since last year.
We don't villify Santa. We neither go out of our way to include or exclude Santa as a part of Christmas. We just try to focus on what Christmas means to us as Christians.
I suppose some of you might be thinking our kids are being deprived of a special part of the holiday but we haven't found Christmas to be any less special sans Santa.
We don't villify Santa. We neither go out of our way to include or exclude Santa as a part of Christmas. We just try to focus on what Christmas means to us as Christians.
I suppose some of you might be thinking our kids are being deprived of a special part of the holiday but we haven't found Christmas to be any less special sans Santa.
posted by Amie at 6:04 PM
17 Comments:
That sounds exactly like the conversations that take place between us and our kids. They kinda know who santa is as part of a "story" but not as the meaning of Christmas. We told them about the real man from whom the santa story came from. (good ole St. Nick) We celebrate the true meaning of Christmas (Christ) so, like you, we must be depriving our children also. Just kidding, nothing could be further from the truth. :D
Same exact thing here. We aren't antisanta, we just don't tell our kids santa brings the gifts or that he is real. He is just another Christmas character like the snowman. People think we are depriving our kids too. I don't think so.
On Thursday when I was out shopping with Tori a lady asked Tori "what do you want Santa to bring you?" Tori said "umm...Santa doesn't bring me anything, he is pretend. My Mom and Dad get the gifts for us." And she said it like she was teaching the lady the truth. It was interesting because the lady kept on talking about Santa. We are the same as you. Santa isn't bad, but Christmas isn't about the gifts we get, but what we can do for others to show Jesus' love. I think it is neat what kids say and do and think. JILL
I think it's so funny when an adult asks my kids about Santa and Rory looks like he wonders if they're all there :-)
We were just talking about this last night. I am so sick of Santa being part of a Christian tradition. As if you celebrate the "Santa" part of Christmas you are actually celebrating Christmas. To when I was little, I don't remember a time when I thought there was really a Santa. I think my sister is the one who spoiled it I always knew it was my parents doing it (the Easter Bunny….another story). Did I feel deprived? No. But I had to play along and it was annoying. Chad isn't so into the idea of eliminating Santa, but I don't think I would be against it at all.
We always got presents from santa, but my mom told me that Santa lives in your heart, not as a real person. So I guess that's sort of the same idea?
My kids love Santa!! I don't think my kids are deprived from knowing the true meaning of Christmas (as we talk about what the meaning of Christmas every year, and especially when we attend mass). I think it's awesome that they believe in someone and a tradition that was so special to me and my husband growing up. Santa plays a big part for allot of children. But now is the time where I have to start explaining every little detail to Olivia (she's asking lots of detailed questions about why Santa does this, and why Santa does that, and why do the kids at school say he's not real etc. etc. lol) Fun, fun times!!!
Very sensible, Amie! There's a good chance that the people who feel you are "depriving" your children by not emphasizing Santa would also say that they think Christmas has become too materialistic! Umm, isn't "Santa" the main way we teach children to be materialistic at Christmas? Helllloooo!
BTW: I really appreciate your comments on my blog- I envy you mommy-bloggers for all the feedback you get!
I would have to disagree with "Mark". I don't feel like you are depriving your children of anything if you don't emphasize Santa, you do what you do, and others do as they do. But to say that because I want my children to learn and dream about Santa, does not mean I am teaching my children to be materialistic. To us, Santa is about tradition, giving, and not necessarily receiving. Santa is about dreaming and imagination, and about giving to others and enjoying doing it. They are taught every day that Jesus does all this for us and for a month out of every year or so they focus on Santa. Does that make us materialistic?? Having your children growing up believing in Santa does not place you in a materialistic, selfish group of parents.
Sounds like us. Shayel however, does know who santa is.
My kids seem to have somewhat of an idea who Santa is, but we don't say he brings our gifts or anything. They may see him in the mall and it seems they find a way to his lap, but we really enforce that Jesus' birth is the reason for Christmas, not Santa. They see all the Santa decorations in the stores and around, but they don't really understand all that. They keep asking what we're going to get Jesus for His birthday (but they also ask for presents for themselves, although we try not to go overboard on that and we explain that it isn't about getting gifts).
I'm going to jump off the bandwagon here too and say that Santa always was the fun part to me as a kid. I knew that it was about Christ and his birth, but, I was all about the gifts. Tell me a kid that isn't all about getting presents on Christmas Day, w/ or w/o Santa.
I plan on letting Gracie believe what she wishes. If she wants to believe in Santa, that's cool with us. If not, that's fine too. Either way, we'll instill in her what we were instilled with as kids....the true meaning of Christmas.
A very interesting disscusion Amie I appreciate hearing all sides. We don't have to worry to much about this for at least 2 years (next year a 9 month old isn't going to care either way;-). However we need to start agreeing on how to approach it.
Yes, it did turn into quite an interesting discussion. I don't want anybody to feel that I think its either Jesus OR Santa. Like I mentioned we don't avoid Santa or turn him into a bad guy. I would even like the boys to get a picture with him (they never will though).
My kids are almost 4 and 20 months and we do follow the santa thing, but I do also make sure they know that that's not what it's all about. At my daughter's preschool they have a birthday party for baby jesus every year, which I think is GREAT!
Our almost five year old has grown up hearing about Jesus & celebrating him each day. We talk about Christmas day as the day that everyone celebrates His birth, & a day that we get together with family & join in festivities - like loads of eating & playing!!! Santa has been explained to him as a character, just as Dorothy the Dinosaur & Wags the Dog are characters... He hears about the kindness of Saint Nick. He had a photo with Santa for his first Christmas at 11 months & has refused point blank to have one since! Even with his new baby brother... But I am pleased that we've gone about things the way we have. In my husband's words "Why promote an untruth (as in 'Santa is real') when we expect them to grow up telling the truth." N
We homeschool. We have 5 children (one is only the size of a raspberry inside momma's tummy ;)). We don't celebrate Santa. "Christmas" is a "family time to get together in the winter." We don't have a tree (can't after reading Jeremiah 10--try reading it in the KJV instead of the Not Inspired Version--NIV). We don't have wreaths (druidic symbol of death and resurrection dedicated to the spirits of the trees--dryads). We don't have crosses (symbol of Christ's death? Or the symbol of the god Tammuz?)
We're a little counter culture, too. :)
Nice site, by the way. Come visit mine? Or my wife's: http://www.harshrealities.info/nutrition
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