Why Not Santa Claus?

My wife and I never pretended with our children that Santa Claus was real, and we don't recommend it for others. There are a few reasons that I would encourage young parents NOT to teach the Santa myth to their children:

• You will simultaneously be teaching them two stories... the story of Jesus and the story of Santa. Eventually, they will figure out that Santa isn't real, and eventually they will be told by people in their culture that the story of Jesus isn't either. We wanted everything we told our children about Christmas to be true. We didn't want them to eventually know that some things WEREN'T true and wonder which ones really are true and which ones are just made up.
• It seems to me that the worst thing could be a child who says, "If my parents pretended there was a Santa, I wonder what else they tell me that they are pretending about."
• Also, Christmas is SO important theologically. It is the story of EMMANUEL (God with us). There is so much REAL excitement, joy, and content with the real Christmas story - why "clog" it up with fake stories of coming down the chimney, the north pole, reindeer, etc... We wanted to spend our teaching time with the kids on what really matters and on what really happened. 

We weren't legalistic about it. We didn't refuse to allow them to sing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" when on came on the CD player, or refuse to allow them to watch a TV movie that uses a Santa character. We just always openly told them that Santa is pretend and Jesus is REAL. 

Many would say that teaching their children the "Santa myth" is harmless. Maybe so, but I wouldn't risk it.

One more thought - we also always told them it wasn't their responsibility to tell other children that Santa wasn't real. They didn't need to be the "Santa police." 

Comments

[Josh Horn]

Thanks for the thoughts David.

When I think about having kids some day, I always kind of assumed I would have Santa Claus and teach them about Jesus. But my main reason was because when I was growing up, there was a sense of wonder that accompanied Christmas and I want my children to have that same experience.

But when you get right down to it, that wonder over Santa Claus and Christmas only existed for me because Jesus wasn't a part of Christmas. Sure, he was in the nativity set and some Christmas carols, but when I was growing up my questions were always "How does Santa get into our house without a chimney?" and "What kinds of things will Santa give a lump of coal for?" What is stopping me from teaching my children about Jesus, without introducing a fairy tale? If anything, the Jesus story, which is linked to our very human nature and need for God, should draw more wonder and hope from our children than a fat man who gives gifts.

[David Whiting]

Josh -

Excellent summary! I couldn't have said it better!

[Rebekah]

I was just talking with a coworker who is a fellow believer about this. My parents told me that Santa wasn't real from the beginning. Sometimes in my childhood I wish they had just because commercialism makes it seem so fun and magical. However, I already cared WAY too much about presents even while I KNEW about Jesus, so I can't even imagine how obsessed with Santa I would have been as a child.

I don't plan on telling my children the Santa myth. I was in the air about it a couple weeks ago until I had this conversation. I realized that I want my children growing up knowing about Jesus' birth. I want all of the joy of Christmas to be found in Jesus not in Santa. Jesus died for us and certainly doesn't deserve to share the spotlight or lose the spotlight to a myth;. He didn't have to come for us, but He wanted to because it was the only way we could be with Him. Santa can't hold a candle to that.

[Rebecca Chalone]

We do not enjoy families who insist on eliminating every aspect of Pagan Christmas any more then We enjoy families who insist upon pursuing every aspect of Pagan Christmas.

We would like to meet the family who celebrates Christ's birth with such ardor and joy as to put the Pagan celebration to shame. That is our goal. We also choose to enjoy the imagination God gave us and if that includes Santa's lap and reindeer shaped cookies and Mary riding a donkey, then praise Him for His creation!

Most things are things - they can be used for good -God's glory or for bad - Satan's glory. As much as we downplay Santa, we don't use him for Satan's glory. We believe time and proof will show what is real and not real much more than we saying, "Santa's fake, but Jesus is real" If we live Jesus everyday, and mention Santa a couple of times will this truly cause them to think we are liars and therefore Jesus is fake too? Pathetic logic. We believe God's bigger than Santa. I certainly don't have any issues with my crazy folks over allowing me to believe in Santa - to the contrary - I wanted to believe longer and actually punched Kelly Lapp in the nose right there at NBCS in the 5th grade room for telling me he was fake. NAY, the issues children have with parents, as kids or adults, is the inconsistent lives they lead as professed followers of Jesus. Even that issue must ultimately be left for God to handle as He alone can lead us to live closer to Him and He alone can heal childhood hurts.

Life can be full of wonder and joy at all ages and the contemplation of God's use of St. Nicholas's story is one that continues to cause me to reflect and focus all my Christmas talking and energies on the celebration of Christ's Mass - therein lies the joy and wonder.

So, Christmas' eve, I'll be kissing Santa Clause and thanking Jesus for His birth and His wondrous blessings which happen to include my children, their imagination, the gifts under the tree, the tree itself and the ability He gave me to discern and to treat my children with love and joy as the gifts from God they are.

We don’t believe this issue warrants private emails. We don’t need any sympathy or prayers because our children will have a few presents under the pagan tree from St. Nicholas or Santa Clause. If our children grow to question the truth of Jesus, it will not be because of Santa Clause, it will be because of the Great Deceiver and he doesn’t have any more control over the Santa Clause myth than people give him.

[Dave Charleston]

My kids knew early on that A Santa was once a real guy who purchased things for others, but didn't fly around and have a red suit. I also teach them that often in life people will try very hard to replace a real meaning of something, but nothing can ever replace what God sent to man kind. The world has so commercialized such a simple beautiful message! Aren't Christmas trees pagan also!

[Chris Wyatt]

hey PD! thanks for the post on santa clause- very refreshing to hear. Should I ever have kids I would never want them to believe in santa- and that causes quite the stir with some of my co-workers when I bring it up. Sometimes I want to make a t-shirt that simply says in big letters, SANTA CLAUS is a POSER!

[anonymous]

Hi David !

I agree with all you have said about Santa Claus. BUT... What to do when you become a believer after you're married and have children and have raised your children to believe in Santa? It's my case. My spouse became a Christian just a few years ago (at North, by the way) at the same time that I came back to Christ after many years away from God. My children still believe in Santa. Of Course, they also know all about the real meaning of Christmas. I suspect they won't believe the myth much longer.

Meanwhile I try to ignore "the big S.C."and focus on Christ.

I just hope my fellow Christian friends can understand situations like mine and not judge my family.

[David Whiting]

I totally sympathize with you. I would encourage you to think about telling your children this year that Santa is pretend. They will eventually hear it from others – so it would be better to hear it from you. It is kind of like sex. We told our girls more than we wanted to tell them – earlier than we wanted to tell them because we wanted them to hear it from US rather than from others. Because many of their friends no longer believe in Santa – maybe it is a good time to tell them Santa is pretend and where Santa came from (St. Nicolas), and that really it is all about Christ. Just a thought.

And no Christian ought to judge you for this. That is what freedom in Christ is about. I never said it was sinful. I just think it should be avoided when possible.

[matt T]

our kids are 4 and 2 and we didn't teach them about santa 1. so the focus would be on Christ. 2. because we didn't want them to be dissapointed when they found out he's not real. and 3. when someone gives them gifts we want them to be thankful to the person who gave it to them not think it came from somewhere else. however in explanation we tell the girls right now that santa gives toys to kids without moms and dads. i'm not sure if that's worse or better. haha.

[michele]

We were never ANTI Santa...we even have a few artrsy santa decor around the house But we didn't TEACH the kids about Santa either.(apart from the Saint Nick story)

As they got older and began to have questions.... we would answer questions with questions...such as "have you ever seen a flying reindeer?" and so on...we actually had quite a bit of fun with the questions!

It taught the kids to seek truth and be critical thinkers...they never felt like they missed out, and in fact they enjoyed being set apart and knowing the inside scoop!
They were actually baffled at HOW their friends could actually believe such a story...and
they came to understand that Santa was "all some people had" and gave them compassion for those who didn't know Jesus...

We would ask them is they wanted to talk to Santa at the Mall but they never wanted that, arent most kids affraid of Santas anyway?? hahaha
Sometimes we sign gift's "from Santa"
and they just smile...

The truth of Christmas has always been more than enoough for our family!!!

[Mark D.]

We never did the Santa thing but it was not because we thought that they would question whether God or Christ was a lie as well. (My parents did the Santa thing and God and Santa were not in the same league in our house.) It was just to cut down on the distractions and excess baggage that comes along with Christmas. I think that it has served its purpose. We are not anti-Santa we make it clear that we do not want our boys outing Santa to kids that may believe. For our family we just chose to erase that bit of folklore from a celebration that is already to crowded with other things.