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Babies: 3 - 6 Months
Anyone not telling LO about Santa?
DH and I were talking last night about Christmas traditions that we would like to start with DH, and Santa came up. In my house we knew the story of St Nick, but we were never taught that he was some mythical being that lived in the north pole etc. We knew it was our parents that bought us gifts each year. I don't know if this was because of my parents religious beliefs or what, but I never felt slighted in the least. We still had amazing memories of Christmas. My DH, however, feels that I was! We must have had a 30 min conversation on how santa was the best part about Christmas. So, we obviously will carry on this santa tradition with DS since it means so much to DH. I am just curious how others grew up. Anyone like me? Do you feel slighted? Anyone not keeping this tradition? : )
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Re: Anyone not telling LO about Santa?
I couldn't imagine not having Santa at Christmas!
I feel so bad for DH because his parents told him that Santa died and wasn't coming anymore...but he had to tell him sister that he would still be showing up...weird...
this exactly...
I didn't grow up with Santa Claus either. My mom has told me that she tried to do the Santa thing with my brother and I but she couldn't bring herself to lie to us if we asked directly. So she and Dad started out putting presents out from Santa and reading "The Night Before Christmas" etc. But when we asked if Santa was "real" (around 3yrs) she said she couldn't lie. Something about, if she lied to us about that, how would we ever know if she was telling the truth. Probably a little bit over the top, but that's her.
Anyway, I don't feel slighted in the least. Christmas was still a wonderful, magical time in my childhood - even without the jolly elf.
ETA - not sure what we'll do with Andrew. I asked DH this very question and he seemed shocked that we'd ever consider NOT telling about Santa. :-)
Christmases were so magical when I believed in Santa. I used to lay in my bed and I couldn't sleep because I'd try to listen for him on the rooftop or I'd get out of bed and look for him in the sky. I made Christmas lists. I put out milk and cookies.
After that, Christmas was "just" about family and religion. Don't get me wrong, that is very important....but the magic behind Christmas was lost. I felt like a grown-up once I found out the truth (and I was in second grade).
ETA: Christmas is about Jesus in this house too...we just like to have to have Santa too.
DH grew up believing in Santa, and I didn't. I never felt I missed out on anything , and DH was really sad when he found out there was no Santa. He cried.
With DS, we're doing a compromise. We're going to tell him the story of St. Nick, and how its important to carry on the tradition of giving and helping others throughout the Christmas season. We will tell him that Santa is an elaborate, make-believe game that people play in memory of St. Nicholas. We'll still have presents from Santa (a stocking, because St. Nick people gifts in ppls shoes) and we'll still write letters to Santa and take pictures with Santa at the mall. We will play the game, but he'll know its just for fun.
This exactly.
look at the birds | bless this food
And this. We are going to have a Happy Birthday Jesus cake every year
My favorite part about Christmas was Santa. Even when I was old enough to understand, I loved keeping up with Santa for my brothers (they are 7/8 years younger than me).
I think whatever tradition you want to have in your house will be great!
What did you do in school though when all of the other kids were talking about Santa?
I went to a very religious school so it never really came up - not sure if this was because the other children there didn't believe in santa, or because our school made Jesus the focal point.
I like the idea of the happy birthday Jesus cake - very cute! We will incorporate both santa and religion into DS' Christmas traditions. I told DH that he will have to be the one to tell DS when he is older that there is no such thing as santa. : ( I don't want to see him cry!
Nope. I grew up Jewish. And my dad used to light a fire in the fire place on Christmas Eve every year so that if Santa came to our house he'd burn his butt.
Dh's family is nonpracticing Catholic. I think their holiday gifts will be coming from Frosty the Snowman. I don't like the whole be a good boy so Santa gives you presents mentality at all. And I know my mom will be all about Hanukah.
This exactly. I also don't like the idea of lying to my kids about someone who resembles Jesus. When they find out Santa isn't real, I'm scared they'll assume Jesus isn't either. And like PP said, we don't like the whole performance based "you better not cry" mentality that comes with Santa.
This is just our personal opinion. I know most kids wouldn't go from "Santa's not real" to "Jesus isn't real". It's just one of my (probably over the top) fears. I would never judge any parent for telling their kids about Santa! I'm pretty sure all our siblings will be, and it's not like I'm going to be the Scrooge that tells all the kids that Santa's mythical! LOL.
My parents encouraged us to play along with Santa for our classmates and friends. My parents would talk about how much fun it was for people and that we shouldn't spoil that fun. We even came up with a story for when friends came over and saw all our gifts already out - we said we were on Santa's "early delivery list."
I never told any of my friends and actually had a lot of fun joining in. I just never believed that Santa was real.