Make Happier Christmas Memories: be realistic about Santa Claus

The ‘Let’s believe in Santa’ Tradition

Parents often support and encourage the belief in Santa Claus. They fill their children’s heads with dreams of an old jolly man who travels the whole world every year giving presents to all of the good little boys and girls. All the adults play along as innocent children believe, and often hang on every word. They ask curious questions about how one man can do all of these things, and how can there be one Santa at one mall and a different one at another mall. "It’s magic, and Santa has lots of helpers," they are told. Every year, the children believe, until something gives away the truth. Many children cry when they find out that it was all pretend, and they weren’t in on the truth.

What is wrong with that?

First of all, I want to say that I am not completely anti-Santa. The story stems from ‘Good Old Saint Nick’ who used to give presents to poor children. I think it would be wonderful to tell the actual story of how the legend and the tradition got started. If you told the truth about the whole ‘Santa thing,’ it wouldn’t be any less exciting for your children, trust me.

Should we tell them not to believe in Santa? Not necessarily. What we should do is make it clear that it is all pretend, and tradition. I believe Saint Nick was a good Christian man who started a tradition of giving to children, and now every plays Santa to their friends, family, and some even to strangers. It is a sweet and wonderful thing, without the deception.

Yes, I said deception. The problem with making up stories and answers to your children’s questions about Santa is that you are not telling the truth. As thy get older and realize that you have been ‘pulling their leg’ about the existence of Santa, and basically lying to them to get them to keep believing in him, it really hurts them. Young innocent minds believe what their parents tell them. When they are young, they trust you wholeheartedly. When most children find out that their parents have been lying to them for the sake of ‘fun’ and ‘innocence,’ they are deeply hurt. Why play this joke on them, only to have them not trust what you say as they enter their pre-teen and teenage years? They will only wonder what else you lied to them about.

How can we make it better?

Instead of lying to you children, tell them the truth about where their presents come from. Parents nearly break their necks to get the gifts that their children want, only to credit a fictional character with loving them enough to get it for them. Children love and adore the idea of Santa Claus, when they should love and adore the character of their parents and grandparents. If you choose to let them think that Santa exists, at least make it clear that you are the one who wants to make Christmas special for them and that you love them.

Explain to your little ones that everyone likes to pretend that ‘Good Old Saint Nick’ is still around, and that he is magical. Make sure they understand that it is all a game of pretend, but you are really the ‘Santa’ that is giving them a good Christmas. You don’t have to lie to them about what is going on, and you don’t have to deny them the fun of Santa. All you would be doing is saving them the pain of finding out that you lied to them for years, and it saves you the pain of having that seed of distrust in your child’s heart.

Enjoy the holiday season, and don’t forget that the coming of the savior Jesus is what we are really honoring with this holiday, whether you are religious or not.