Santa Claus has remained a huge part of Christmas, with children all over the world looking forward to Christmas eve when the legendary jolly bearded man who wears a red outfit is said to travel worldwide using his trusty reindeers, delivering gifts to children who belong to the “nice” list. Of course, every adult knows that Santa Claus is a fictional character based on St. Nicholas — a real and revered fourth century saint who became known for secretly giving gifts to people.
When asked what Christian parents should tell their kids about Santa Claus, Dr. Joshua Straub, president and co-founder of The Connextion Group, offered a few ideas. “If you’re a Christian parent, perhaps you, too question whether you should conform to the holiday tradition of Santa Claus celebrated across the world. Logically speaking, your concerns are warranted. If we lie to our kids about Santa, then perhaps we lied to them about Jesus as well,” he wrote for The Christian Post. READ MORE
They should tell them the truth, it’s a lie and an abomination in YHWH’S EYES
I believe even in our christian families that, children have the right to some fantasy. It’s part of it. But like I do… I tell them the real story of how Santa came about (there is the story) he died many years ago because that happened many yrs. ago..and that ‘today’ he has a lot of helpers that continue making children “happy” by bringing them presents.. Etc. My children also believe in Jesus and they are perfectly well balance people..my grands, my nephews and nieces..etc. That’s how I believe.
We carry on with the true legend and let the children be happy. Saint Nicholas was a Christian Bishop in Turkey in 280 AD who gave gifts to the poor children around the world. A man named Clement Clarke Moore wrote a poem in 1820 called “An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas”, he described St. Nick as a jolly, heavy man who comes down the chimney to leave presents for deserving children and drives a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer. Then a cartoonist Thomas Nawt added to the St. Nicholas legend with an 1881 drawing of Santa as wearing a red suit with white fur trim.
It’s all make believe to add with the true legend of Saint Nicholas for the children. Keep the legend going.
Anyone who is against the true legend of a Christian Bishop bringing joy to the children is a legalist.
I have a friend who did the whole magical “Santa” thing when her children were little. When they grew up and discovered it was a lie, they also questioned the reality of God. To this day her nearly grown son is still skeptical. On the other hand, my husband and I chose to tell our children the true story of Saint Nicholas-that he was a real man who is remembered for his good deeds. But we always stressed that Jesus Christ is the reason we celebrate. They were satisfied with that explanation and have never complained about not getting a present from “Santa.” Consequently, my children have never asked me if God was a made up story like Santa. And as far as taking the joy out of Christmas, our grown children still get excited about celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ with the added bonus of beautiful memories not tarnished by lies. And yes, they also know December 25th isn’t the Lord’s real birthday, we just choose to celebrate it on that day.
Blessings.