Not 'doing' Santa

OrkneyStar

Treevo wrote: »

Just those on the thread who have piously declared that they would never lie to their children. Unless it's about a higher being, for which there is no evidence, but that doesn't matter apparently.

It's apparently terrible to tell a child that Father Christmas is watching, but fine and dandy to tell them stories about the wrathful god who massacres people for giggles. Or tell them that they'll be going to hell if they don't do God's will - I can totally understand how that's much nicer than the thought of no Christmas presents.

Thanks for your 'interesting' take (:rotfl:), but I was directing the question to the person who posted.
Just for the record, there has been no pious-ness, that I have seen, but read as you will .
This thread seems to be a sensible debate on the one hand, and petty (un-called for) name slinging on the other, thanks to those who are taking part in the former, I think I have had enough of the latter (and have already apologised for any involvement back a few pages).

balletshoes

alyth wrote: »

I have read through the thread on and off all day, and I have to say I am hugely in admiration of you. I don't celebrate christmas, nor birthdays for that matter, I don't believe in telling children that santa brought the presents,
santa does not exist - there's no magic in believing a lie.
I don't have children so I have no experience of family life, but I do feel extremely strongly in not perpetuating this myth that santa is this magical figure.

Someone mentioned the magic of santa going around a classroom - I wonder what happens to children of different religions who don't celebrate christmas when "santa" comes round?

sorry but i disagree - from my own experience there is tonnes of magic in believing in Santa.

seashore22

I'm not at all surprised about the believing in Santa/believing in Jesus debate going on. It was bound to happen. However:

Christianity (and other religions) - something that many, many believe in and which is fundimental to their lives. I know you can't prove it. That's why they call it faith.

Father Christmas - a completely mythical and made up character. Only young children believe he exists because we adults tell them so. I don't imagine for a minute that there is a single adult who thinks Santa is real.

As I've already said on this thread we didn't do Father Christmas and we are christians. I know this may seem illogical to some, but our faith is real to us, Santa isn't.

It was also none of our business whether other parents did Santa or not. Just wasn't right for us.

Also we never once told our children that they were going to hell if they didn't believe in God. There's also quite alot in the Bible that doesn't involve God smitting people. You seem to have had an interesting experience of Christianity Treevo.

jellyhead

alyth wrote: »

Someone mentioned the magic of santa going around a classroom - I wonder what happens to children of different religions who don't celebrate christmas when "santa" comes round?

I've never heard of Santa going around a classroom! They have a grotto at the school fete that parents can pay for, but I never have because we see him elsewhere. He goes to christmas parties at toddler groups, but parents who don't want to see him could just avoid that day. He was always at the sunday school party, but again if parents feel very strongly they could avoid that. Likewise the christmas party for an organisation we were part of.

It's always been something we could avoid - never in the classroom. I don't think any of the schools in my town have a Santa who comes to their actual school. If he did then there would be children who wouldn't join in - the JW children would probably go to the library as they did when they avoided hymn practise.

Looking back my friend at school was JW. She's not now, but her parents were so she was brought up in that faith. I wonder if she was told all along that Santa wasn't real, or if she just thought that he didn't go to people who didn't celebrate christmas.

glitter03

Many schools now do 'tea with Santa'.

My daughters was last night and it is after school for an hour. They have some party food and Santa comes along and gives out the presents etc.

Maybe they have started doing it this way for those families who don't want to be involved that way the children don't feel they are missing out if it was to be during class time etc.

shegirl

jellyhead wrote: »

I've never heard of Santa going around a classroom! They have a grotto at the school fete that parents can pay for, but I never have because we see him elsewhere. He goes to christmas parties at toddler groups, but parents who don't want to see him could just avoid that day. He was always at the sunday school party, but again if parents feel very strongly they could avoid that. Likewise the christmas party for an organisation we were part of.

It's always been something we could avoid - never in the classroom. I don't think any of the schools in my town have a Santa who comes to their actual school. If he did then there would be children who wouldn't join in - the JW children would probably go to the library as they did when they avoided hymn practise.

Looking back my friend at school was JW. She's not now, but her parents were so she was brought up in that faith. I wonder if she was told all along that Santa wasn't real, or if she just thought that he didn't go to people who didn't celebrate christmas.

Loads of schools have Santa in! I don't actually know of any that don't.

In ds last school 'Santa' went in for each class

JimmyTheWig

jellyhead wrote: »

I've never heard of Santa going around a classroom!

He certainly did at our primary school, at least one year recently. Our daughter came out of her reception class all chuffed that they'd seen Father Christmas. "It was Mr X, really", she whispered, "but don't tell the little ones!"

jellyhead

Maybe my town is just miserable then! The teachers give small gifts such as a pencil or a candy cane.

OrkneyStar

shegirl wrote: »

Loads of schools have Santa in! I don't actually know of any that don't.

In ds last school 'Santa' went in for each class

Ours doesn't!
Not saying this to prove a point or anything.
As I mentioned before he has gone to the Toddlers party, does appear in the town and also in the odd shop grotto, not at school though.

Bitsy_Beans

I don't think FC comes round my kids school although he was there at the Christmas party. I do recall however him coming round to my school some 30 years ago actually the run up to party day has my very best memories, making paper table mats using rubber stamps to decorate them with, singing Christmas songs like Santa got stuck up the chimney etc. Happy, happy days :D

Bottom line is some say its lying I say it's make believe. I know which I would rather go with