Not 'doing' Santa - part two

Poppy9

mumps wrote: »

I don't discuss my sexlife with anyone I certainly wouldn't with my kids, I think they would throw up or die of embarrassment. :rotfl:

I didn't intend to. She was in Primary school and she just came out with it as I was brushing her hair. My OH was peeing himself and I just laughed and replied 30.

shellsuit

It's all about innocence. The innocence of young children who believe in something magical.

Nothing beats seeing your child's face light up with joy and excitement at Christmas

If there is no Santa, does that mean there will be no fairys or unicorns or other magical mystical beings/things that little girls like?

I have a cousin and her Mum was a J witness so of course my cousins were too. They never celebrated Christmas. A few years ago, my cousin 'left' (i don't know how to phrase it) them, and the first thing she did that year was have a huge Christmas and she was SOOOOOO happy.

She said she knew what it felt like to be the odd one out and she didn't want that for her own daughter.

Sometimes we do things for our children, which we don't like, but that we do anyway just to give them a little more happiness and magic in their lives - they grow up way too quickly!

pipkin71

shellsuit wrote: »

It's all about innocence. The innocence of young children who believe in something magical.

Nothing beats seeing your child's face light up with joy and excitement at Christmas

If there is no Santa, does that mean there will be no fairys or unicorns or other magical mystical beings/things that little girls like?

I have a cousin and her Mum was a J witness so of course my cousins were too. They never celebrated Christmas. A few years ago, my cousin 'left' (i don't know how to phrase it) them, and the first thing she did that year was have a huge Christmas and she was SOOOOOO happy.

She said she knew what it felt like to be the odd one out and she didn't want that for her own daughter.

Sometimes we do things for our children, which we don't like, but that we do anyway just to give them a little more happiness and magic in their lives - they grow up way too quickly!

Sometimes, I wish mine were younger again as the innocence of little ones issuch a joy.

I think, no matter what the parents believe, children are always playing make believe - a secret friend, they are the teacher and dollies the pupils, that sort of thing, so if a child wanted to believe in dragons or unicorns as part of a a game, they will.

Parents may explain that things are not real but that the child can still enjoy the make believe - just as skintchick did with the santa sack whilst not believing in santa.

It's not what I would do but it does depend on how one nurtures the child's mind.

If any talk of christmas is stamped on, mustn't believe, have to be removed from anything at school where it might be doscussed, yes, I can see why a child would feel they were missing out.

dizziblonde

Anselm wrote: »

I remember the time he finally brought some double A batteries with him, so I could play with my gizmos... Those were the days

My mother was always disgustingly organised and wrapped up batteries in an envelope sellotaped to the package in question!

mumps

pipkin71 wrote: »

I knew that versions of santa were around before coca-cola but was under the impression that the image of santa that we have today was created by coca-cola.

A check with google though suggests this poem shaped many of the images we have of santa:

A Visit from St. Nicholas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads,
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap —
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
"Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer and Vixen,
"On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Donder and Blitzen;
"To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
"Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys — and St. Nicholas too:
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound:
He was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
And he look'd like a peddler just opening his pack:
His eyes — how they twinkled! His dimples: how merry,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
That shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly:
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laugh'd when I saw him in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle:
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight —
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

—Clement Clarke Moore

Spot on and well before Coca Cola. :T

mumps

Poppy9 wrote: »

I didn't intend to. She was in Primary school and she just came out with it as I was brushing her hair. My OH was peeing himself and I just laughed and replied 30.

Being caught on the hop is a shocker isn't it.

jenhug

Dear Editor—
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

victory

dizziblonde wrote: »

My mother was always disgustingly organised and wrapped up batteries in an envelope sellotaped to the package in question!

That's me:D I always put the batteries inside the box got caught out one Xmas and since then always include batteries:D

POPPYOSCAR

We still leave out our tray for Santa, mince pie, beer and carrots.

My daughter is 16 and she laughs at me but we still do it.

I love Christmas and everything that goes with it.