Not 'doing' Santa

pulliptears

notanewuser wrote: »

I think you've misread me. It's fine for her to take part, as she will in school assemblies. But we won't be encouraging her to believe it. Ditto the nativity story, Easter story etc.

It's a bit like saying I should take her to McDonald's because other kids go. Or

No, I haven't misread you.

You intend to take away a pivotal part of childhood, a part which to most kids (and adults) is magical and special and part of the fun of growing up.
I have no religious belief either but I left it up to my children to make up their own minds, I certainly didn't put my beliefs on them and that actually involved me grudgingly sitting through a church service or two.

I know Muslim children who believe in Santa Claus. Its a story, a magical story and a huge part of childhood for a vast majority of children.

Personally I think its cruel. For the sake of the 6 Christmasses or so you have left before your child finds out the truth is it really such a big stretch to play along and make the kid smile?

pinkshoes

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

I don't think the OP is not doing Santa because Santa is religious.
I think their point is they don't want to tell their child that something that doesn't exist, does exist. Which, presumably, is their same logic for not telling their child that god exists.

Santa is a fictional character based on a real person - Saint Nicholas, so in reality, he DID exist.

(whereas God, in my opinion, didn't exist...)

I personally see Saint Nicholas as in important historical figure with a moral message, rather than seeing him for his religion. Christian or not, he was a good, kind person, which is something I hope my son will also grow up to be!

(although given his refusal to let me have a bite of his Kinder Egg the other day, then I think I'm going to have to work on this sharing thing!!)

dizziblonde

I'll probably do Santa the same way my parents did with me - I knew from the get-go that parents bought the presents (cut down on the materialism when I knew who was paying for them) and then they obviously sent them to Santa who checked the naughty and nice list and delivered accordingly... kind of like a Paypal meets DHL guy.

Thought it was a nice work-around - plus I think it's when kids get the idea that Santa's some kind of bottomless pit of presents that it gets ludicrous.

As for all the department store Santas - they're simply sub-contractors as he's so busy loading his sleigh up and getting ready.

Oooh reminds me - the coca cola truck's in the area end of this week - tempted to go see!

lostinrates

pinkshoes wrote: »

Me and my OH are also atheist, and have a just turned 2 year old.

I actually think that most bible stories after the birth of Jesus are true (or at least loosely based around an event that actually happened!), therefore the story of St Nicholas (a rich man and devout Christian who decided to discretely give his wealth to those in need) is quite sweet and moral.

People got bored of the St Nicholas tale, and he then got re-invented as Santa/Father Christmas - a person who likes to share.

I don't think you have to be religious to do a Santa Stocking. It's just a reminder to children that some people are less fortunate than others, so sometimes it's nice to think of others before yourself.

How many parents and children who give/get Santa stockings actually know WHY they're getting them???

On this basis, my son will be getting a stocking!

This is a new perspective for me and I like it.

Op the left out, or the not encouraging it would not worry me at all. What might is the lack of any 'magical' imagination stimulating things in her formative years, the idea that things don't have to be seen to be true or possible (important for science and development Of technology)

I also hesitantly suggest that your slightly..'black and white' op suggests a rather intolerant approach. I think you have a wonderful opportunity as a non believer to teach her that belief is acceptable for others, sensitivity towards what others believe is helpful for them, and for her politically, and that while it might never form part of her life she will be unlikely to avoid any influence from other people's belief...for example, bank holidays for achristmas and Easter.

We are a mixed faith background marriage (neither observant or believing in our religions of background, but both of us feeling cultural obligation, benefit and respect towards them, and we would both like to be able to believe something, and feel 'spiritually' unclassified in agnostic or any religion yet. we do things slightly differently, we choose to celebrate anything and everything that takes our fancy. I am certain we would do the same with children, using it as an educational opportunity for all of us.

themull1

pulliptears wrote: »

No, I haven't misread you.

You intend to take away a pivotal part of childhood, a part which to most kids (and adults) is magical and special and part of the fun of growing up.
I have no religious belief either but I left it up to my children to make up their own minds, I certainly didn't put my beliefs on them and that actually involved me grudgingly sitting through a church service or two.

I know Muslim children who believe in Santa Claus. Its a story, a magical story and a huge part of childhood for a vast majority of children.

Personally I think its cruel. For the sake of the 6 Christmasses or so you have left before your child finds out the truth is it really such a big stretch to play along and make the kid smile?

I agree with this poster, its lovely for the kids to have the magic of santa claus, whats being an atheist got to do with it? i'm not religious, but my kids believed in Santa, The easter bunny ,tooth fairy, jack frost etc - life is !!!!!! enough when you become an adult, making things magical for kids is something nice to do when they're young enough to believe it. Believing in things when you're a kid, doesn't affect you when you're an adult!

Nicki

I have friends who went down this route with their children, and OP is right that the children did not come to any harm.

BUT, it is in my view a bit of a puritan way to live life. Father Christmas and Santa is one of the things kids get most excited about, and brings a lot of pleasure. It does seem a bit curmudgeonly to deprive your children of this enjoyment. Santa doesn't actually have to be all that materialistic if you don't want him to be. My kids get a stocking (not a sack) from Santa with cheap bits and pieces in (maybe a paperback book, some mini chocs from a variety pack, a satsuma, a toy car or doll perhaps) but we do the whole leave a mince pie and carrot build up and always read "twas the night before Christmas" together before bed on Christmas Eve. Any of their presents under the tree from us or relatives always costs more than the sum total of their santa stocking but I think they actually enjoy the stocking more.

peachyprice

notanewuser wrote: »

I don't think so. Do Jewish or Muslim children feel they're missing out?

No, because many of them do christmas, including santa and presents, which is was many athesist do.

It's quite possible to do santa without religion.

Nicki

peachyprice wrote: »

It's quite possible to do santa without religion.

Particularly as so far as I know Santa isn't actually a tenet of any religious faith. He certainly doesn't rate a mention anywhere in the bible...

*zippy*

My SIL did the same because she was always frightened of Santa as a child, but gave the reason it's wrong to lie to children. Once the eldest started school though they came home and asked why she had lied because all the other children had told her there was a Father Christmas!

I find it sad anyone would want their child to miss out on something so special, we said to ours they could only have a a limited amount of presents because santa had so much to get on his sleigh, it wasn't materialistic just a joyful part of childhood.

balletshoes

true - Santa really isn't anything to do with the birth of Christ, he wasn't there in any form in that stable.

I'm not religious, and we've always done Santa. We celebrate Christmas, Easter, and all the Eids .