Not 'doing' Santa

lostinrates

Nicki wrote: »

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...

I think that's pushing it'Santa' meaning 'saint' and Christianity having developed (in different directions) since the bible was was written.


But I think it's possble to join in a little, nod to the cultures of others and take pleasure from the beautiful bits etc without signing up to the religions.

elona

When my girls were little we told them Santa brought the small Christmas stockings filled with little bits and bobs and other gifts were from Mum and dad, Auntie so and so etc.

The stockings used to be placed at the foot of their beds till they nearly caught me one year After that we explained stockings were left on kitchen table with snack for Rudolph and Santa as he did not want to wake anyone up or disturb them.

Youngest is now 19 and they all still look forward to the stocking on Christmas morning.

DH hates all the fuss around this time of year and only cheers up when I suggest I also make a special meal to celebrate the Solstice and to look forward to the new year and eventually Spring.

margaretclare

When I was a child we had 'Father Christmas' and we also had the carols, nativity story etc based on the local village church and Sunday school.

'Santa' IMHO has been imposed on us, like so many other things, by the Americans. The growth of supermarkets and commercial TV now means that we get it rammed down our throats for a long time beforehand, and this is what I object to. I made the mistake of going into Tesco and a huge banner in front of me was wishing me 'Merry Christmas' - this was just before Remembrance Sunday. Year on year I get more and more sickened of it. There have been many people who tried to do good and help their fellow humans at the coldest darkest hungriest time of year, not only Bishop Nicholas. King Wenceslas is an obvious one, but there have been many others who didn't get dressed in red suits and attached to Coca-Cola.

I don't know about Muslims, but I have Jewish relatives-in-law and they were talking about their Christmas presents last time I saw them. Just the same as anyone else - what to buy, what do you want etc.

I also have friends who're heathen and they wish everyone 'Glaed Geol' pronounced 'ylad yeol' (can't do the a and e stuck together as in Anglo-Saxon). We had many Anglo-Saxon saints who also gave gifts in the coldest darkest part of the year.

DH and I love the singing, the ceremony, the candles which you get in church at this time of year. Although we're churchgoers, we're going to avoid our local church on Christmas morning because they do a 'what did you get' kind of service. This is where we plan to be at 10.30 am on Christmas morning: http://www.walthamabbeychurch.co.uk/Music/WAMindex.htm

I'm fortunate that I no longer have to 'do Santa' for any children, but I often wonder how it is that children do get taken to 'see Santa' in so many different places. How does he turn up so often, so far apart, at the same time?

quantumleap

I think I may have had a part in suggesting this thread so I guess it's only right I say my bit.

My wife and I are not overly religious. We don't attend church and we don't really talk god etc at home.

I have there children who all still believe in Santa (although I'm pretty sure my 8 year old is starting to test us! He sent Santa an email this year and told us his Christmas list was between him and Santa and we didn't need to get involved!)

I love the excitement that builds as Christmas Day approaches, the look in their faces, how they love to go to school because all of their friends are talking Christmas and Santa.

Leaving the Christmas letter by the fire (except Son of course:). Kids going to bed early on Christmas Eve after leaving Santa a little whiskey (to keep him warm!) and some chocolate cake (well, he just likes it...) and leaving some raindeer food for the raindeers.

Them not being able to sleep and me pretending that I can hear jingle bells in the distance and them bursting with excitement under the duvet!

Me and my wife frantically building toys after 3 glasses of wine (and a whiskey!) and carefully laying them out so that they look pretty.

Getting up early (too early!) on Christmas morning. Sneaking downstairs (in case Santa is still there) and then the look of shear joy on theirs faces when they realize that they have the gifts the really wanted (one main gift and one small gift! so not terribly material, I hope)

They are kids at the end of the day and they are only kids for what is a very short period of time (particularly in this day and age!) and yes, it is a little white lie I suppose but I'm more than prepared to do it in exchange for the joy they feel and the joy I feel over the festive period. I wouldn't deny them nor us to be honest and I can't understand how any parent, regardless of their own views, can deny a child a vital part of being a child.... Santa!

peachyprice

Nicki wrote: »

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...

Exactly!

What not letting your child enjoy a magical time has to do with being a atheist I don't know.

OP, do you intend to not tell your child about the tooth fairy too? How would she feel when everyone else in school gets a coin everytime they lose a tooth and she doesn't?

quinechinoise

notanewuser wrote: »

DD turned 2 in October. DH and I don't intend to ever do the Santa thing with her. We are atheists and intend to handle it in the same was as religion, i.e. it's something others believe, which is fine.

I am religious but I don't "do" the santa thing either. However, nursery and school have other ideas so my kids are constantly going on about it. (How they pair up "santa" bringing gifts with mommy buying gifts, I really don't know - but they seem okay with it.) If they ask me, I tell them about St Nicholas of Myra and the nativity story and giving gifts in the same tradition. I don't actively tell them school is rabbiting nonsense but I equally don't actively go against what their teachers tell them. It's a tricky situation that I mostly manage by ignoring it!

I have never been comfortable with the notion that you only get gifts if you are very good and that, following such logic, rich kids are somehow extra good because they get more gifts. My kids understand that some people are poor, some people are rich and most people are just average and they get what their parents can afford.

Alikay

I agree with Nicki, Santa can be "done" to whatever degree you choose. We never went berserk with buying gifts for our children, and since we have a very small extended family (some of whom are Jehovah's Witnesses anyway!) they only ever had a small number of presents.

They loved the stockings, special meal and the tree, and we developed our own little traditions (watching the Snowman and Mrs Doubtfire on Xmas eve, driving round the town at bedtime to look at the lights with kids in 'jama's and Christmas songs playing:)).

As offspring of a Jehovah's Witness, I'd say to the OP, that whatever your views may be on the season, the obscene commercialism, religious claptrap, pagan origins etc etc your children WILL be very exposed to it via school, friends, TV and so on. It may be better to have your own special traditions than make them feel they're missing out on other people's and getting nothing to make up for it.

shegirl

I've never understood people who don't give their kids the pleasure and excitement of Santa.

It's the most magical thing at Christmas -for kids and parents, and those memories of their excitement will stay with them for life.

It's completely harmless.

As for 'being about spending time together' yeah, it is, but I spend time with my son every day of the year, I play with him every day of the year. So, without the magic and the present giving it wouldn't be much different to any other day aside from the fact we can't go to the shop.

Besides, Santa IS real:D

quinechinoise

*zippy* wrote: »

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.

pulliptears wrote: »

Poor kid. When she gets to nursery/primary and Santa is coming round with presents and gifts how left out will she feel.

My kids have some very rich classmates. I'd rather they didn't feel they were naughty because they get significantly fewer/cheaper gifts than their friends. It's not "special" to feel bad.

balletshoes

margaretclare wrote: »

but I often wonder how it is that children do get taken to 'see Santa' in so many different places. How does he turn up so often, so far apart, at the same time?

because the Santas you see in the run-up to Christmas Day in the shopping centres etc aren't the "real" Santa - they are Santa's helpers, as he's so busy at this time of year getting ready for his big night .

Incidentally - you mentioned "Father Christmas" when you were little - whats the difference between Father Christmas and Santa?