Lying to your children about Santa?

[@scottforesman7968]

I remember one Christmas, lying in bed, eagerly awaiting the Tree and the presents I would find the next morning, when I heard my Grandmother say (on the other side of my bedroom door), "Have you filled the stockings yet?" I then knew that Santa was a fake. But you know what? I felt that I had learned a 'secret'. I felt grownup. One thing knew now that my little brother did not. Every kid has a moment like this. I enjoy the secret of Santa, and my grandchildren love him too. Patrick, you're often right. And maybe in this instance, I'm a 'relativist' and I can say, "do what's right for you." But for me, I going to enjoy Santa with my grandchildren as long as I can. Ho ho ho.

[@lotusblue8945]

I had a wonderful early childhood. My parents encouraged me to believe in father Christmas. One or two children at school tried to spoil this fun for me (I believe they were bitter). When I found out the truth at age around 9, I simply understood that my parents had spun this story for me to give me a happy time at Christmas. I certainly didn't start disbelieving them about other things definitely didn't start doubting them about God. I could see that all children grow out of father Christmas, whereas plenty of adults of all ages believe in God. I knew it was just totally different. I don't think I was a unique child in seeing it that way either.

[@annieoelker2465]

I’m with you, Patrick. Though I can understand other viewpoints, I too grew up with Santa and the true meaning of Christmas was not emphasized, sadly. So after a major reversion in my twenties, my husband and I decided to teach our five kids about the St. Nicholas story and really try to celebrate Advent until the actual Christmas season begins. I’ll admit it hasn’t always been easy, given the culture at large and how I grew up, but I’ve loved emphasizing our faith over all else and am not sorry we didn’t “do” Santa.

[@TDawg736]

You can talk about Santa without lying. "They say that..." works to relate the story without prevarication.

[@tom1catt]

Personally I loved believing in Santa Clause !

[@sainteliz]

I’m sorry your experience was bitter growing up. I think it’s unusual. Here are my two cents. 1. Best of memories growing up. I think it helped instill in me a wonder for mystery, precursor to the wonder of faith and beauty of creation. I carried the tradition with my children, who also have none but warm and happy memories. It segued into teaching them veneration of St. Nicolas, and having taught them Catechism well, they knew the true meaning of Christmas. 2. Perhaps you could have dropped this video the first or second week of Advent and not Christmas Eve. Bonus 3. A boy told me Santa was not real (at a vulnerable age), but I called him a liar and completely trusted my parents. No loss of trust as I grew out of the belief.

[@TheFirstManticore]

When I was about ten, I became convinced that Santa didn't really bring presents. This offended me because I believed that people should never lie, and I was embarrassed because I had believed my parents who lied to me. So I never told my daughter specifically that Santa Claus brings presents. When she was very young, I said it, but as she got to be 4 or 5 I introduced her to Saint Nicholas. She was thrilled to hear that Saint Nicholas was a real person who lived a long time ago. One year, Santa Claus brought me a present, so I knew she had the idea. We pretended that Santa Claus brought the presents, and it was fun.

[@scottwhite3713]

I have never known anyone to have a happy experience learning the truth about santa. Sadly we perpetuated it with our children. Fighting what everyone else does is the hardest when it comes to your children. And the most important.

[@susieb6742]

I agree 100% . In my family we celebrated St Nicholas day and that makes since. Christmas is supposed to be about Jesus birthday. Why do we even give each other gifts? Santa Claus is a distraction to what Christmas is all about. I pray that all will see this truth.

[@idecarlow]

We did not want to lie to our children ,so our children knew that Santa Claus was not real, but they still loved doing all the Santa Claus "pretend games". Knowing it was make believe did not lessen their enjoyment of Christmas at all. It allowed us to focus on the birth of Christ ,as the meaning of Christmas, and still have fun with imaginary Santa at the same time. The only hard part was their indignation that so many other parents were lying to their own children. My children have done the same with my grandkids, and they also have great fun pretending about Santa, while fully enjoying the Catholic traditions that focus on the birth of the Lord.

[@amandabritobaez1277]

Feliz Navidad 🎄!!!

[@marknelson8435]

The first time I heard Miss Barnhardt express these same sentiments, I thought, "Aw, c'mon, Ann, it's harmless." But it struck me, and deep down, I knew she was onto something. Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy; all lies. "Oh, and by the way, kids, that bread and wine that the priest has up there becomes the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus. No, really." You can see why so many Catholics no longer believe in the Real Presence. There was actually a Saint Nicholas. I say tell his story and explain secular Santa is based on him, but not real. Kids are smart, much more than we give them credit for. Merry Christmas, and God bless us all.

[@MamaBeckman]

We've gone with "Santa is real like Mickey Mouse is real", hopefully keep the categories clear. My oldest is four, seems to be working pretty well. If he sees someone on a Santa suit, he's happy to see it but when I asked what happens on Christmas, he says Jesus is born. He knows who gave him which presents. He thinks Santa is a cool character, but we're good for Jesus and we're celebrating his birthday.

[@williamjohnson3093]

My plan is to celebrate St. Nicholas Day, and then have Father Christmas (a personification of the joyfulness of the season who dates back to the Middle Ages) give toys. I want to emphasize that we shouldn’t deny the magic of the season and that it’s very real even if we can’t necessarily see it. I also want to untangle the two figures so that the real Saint Nicholas can be appreciated.

[@ginaschubert4977]

Also, the Germans celebrated Saint Nicholas on December 6th, not December 25th. Most Germans, or most Germans that I know, reserve December 25th solely for the celebration of the birth of Christ the King.

[@williamjohnson3093]

They have a tradition where the Christ Child gives kids presents.

[@BaintonTV]

I like the European version with St. Nicholas, which is very rich and lovely. Like you (though I grew up mostly in NYC and Connecticut), I did the same thing with my kids and the nativity scene, keeping child Jesus out until Christmas morning. My British mother also had this Advent calendar, and my sister loved opening the windows and counting down to Christmas. Your story reminds me of St. Therese, as a child, and her father, and the one Christmas where she overcame her problematic sensitivity. In Sorentino's 'The Great Beauty,' the sequence with the aged nun ascending the Holy Stairs is both riveting and agonizing. Rome is certainly the place to be during this season. Enjoy!

[@PrayNow4all]

This is one of my huge pet peeves. When we lived near my in-laws, we went along with Santa Claus, but then we moved several states away. I was aware that our our kids would have noticed that the bad kids of our former next door neighbors received far more from Santa than ours did. Our oldest was 7 at the time. But the crux was my realization that there was NO avoiding Santa diminishing Jesus! It’s utterly impossible. Children (and adults!) look forward to Christmas NOT because of the birth of Our Almighty Lord God and Savior as an incredibly humble baby lying in a manger in a stable, but Christmas is something they look forward to because of what stuff they want to have. What a disgrace! So when we moved, Santa, the reindeer, the sleigh, and all the stuff he was giving away, was revealed to our 4 children to be the glory-stealing farce they’d always been. Then we began to home school with Mass everyday and attempting to focus our lives more on Christ. Most of my grandchildren have NO Santa delusions, and our own 5th child is in his 4th year at a trad seminary. Sometimes you just have to identify traditions that aren’t good. Santa is definitely a bad one.

[@maggiesace389]

Youre wrong. Childre are ALLOWED to enjoy an INNOCENCE that theyll remember in their hearts long after the age of reason has set in! Children NEED this fairytale to balance the battlefield they encounter as adults!

[@EngineerMK2004]

Never lie to your children.

[@shtonker8]

As usual around Xmas grinches and scrooges arise sanctimonious prigs. Decrying oh the travesty!

[@ginaschubert4977]

I was 110% relieved to know Santa was not real! Every Christmas Eve I tossed and turned all night long, because I cannot remember the whole year and wondering if I had been naughty.

[@LadyVader33]

St. Nicholas, and his beautiful legacy, isn't a lie

[@danielcardoza6167]

My parents never beat around the bush. No filter. Santa isn't real. Dad and mom provided some gifts if they were able to. If they were strapped for cash, we'd only get one gift. No Santa. I remember being in kindergarten and telling all of my classmates that Santa isn't real and their mommies and daddies buy them gifts. I was THAT kid. Now as a parent, my son WILL be told Santa is not real, but we read the make believe stories and watch the cartoons and movies for entertainment. Regardless, he'll know mom and dad buy gifts and we are celebrating the birth of our lord and savior.

[@ruizmorelos]

My kid is only two. This is gonna be his first christmas undersanding whats going on. I agree I don’t want to lie to him, but how can I present the teuth to him without him losing the wonder, and without going against the wishes of the other kids’ parents. Any suggestions?

[@TheFirstManticore]

Basically I told the Santa Claus story, but didn't say it was literally true. At a pretty young age, I introduced her to Saint Nicholas, and she was very happy that "Santa Claus" was a real person who lived a long time ago. The gifts "from Santa" still showed up on Christmas morning, and sometimes even I got a present "from Santa," so I knew she understood. She had fun with the Santa story without having to believe a falsehood.

[@dadjoke6825]

when my parents told me the truth about Santa, Easter bunny and such, I stopped believing in Jesus too. it set my faith back at least a decade.

[@firematron]

I grew up with the tradition of the tree kings and not Santa Clause. It was much more connected to Christ. Gifts were given Jan 6. No naughty list and no cookies or lies about the north pole. My mom even said they got the gifts from the store 😁 because we asked.

[@eklecticman]

The spirit of Santa Claus is a heavily watered-down version of the spirit of our loving God! Accordingly, I've never wanted to advocate for Santa because that fable is such a major distraction from the Truth of the exclusive Savior of the world. Merry Christmas! ¡Viva Cristo Rey! 🌟

[@christophermartinlobb2260]

So, what of children's fairy tales, and the like? Should we ban them all, because they aren't true, but are presented to children as such? I think you need to lighten up.

[@PatrickCoffinShow1]

I'm light. Strange reply. Calm down.

[@christophermartinlobb2260]

@PatrickCoffinShow1 Calm down? Seriously?I was perfectly calm. Perhaps the problem is you. That you baulk at criticism?

[@eire-d9l]

​@@PatrickCoffinShow1expect a lot of harsh responses. Santa is like an idol that needs to be smashed, so certain people loyal to the idol will get angry. @christophermartinlobb2260, Santa is not a fairytale, it's a major deception. Children know other fairytales are just that, tales, but with Santa they are led to believe it is real.

[@GerardFornwald]

I thought you were holding back, seemed to have touched a nerve with Santa Claus Catholics.

[@miracles_metanoia]

Fairy tales & Santa is fine as long as kids KNOW it's imagination, it's pretend. They are smart. It's why it's called a tale not a truth. My parents never deceived me with St. Nick, and we still enjoyed the ritual of cookies, milk, and gifts. We also celebrated dec 6 st nick feast day. Christmas was about Jesus not santa

[@GerardFornwald]

We ponder why our children and grandchildren have lost their faith. If Santa isn't real, Jesus isn't real also.

[@John-m7k5u]

Parents have long told their kids that Santa is real but you can’t see him, the Easter bunny is real but you can’t see it, the tooth fairy is real but you can’t see it. Then they find out it’s all fake. Then parents try to tell their kids Jesus is real but you can’t see Him. What kind of impact do you think this might have on a kid’s faith?

[@sebastianofmilan]

Ends don't justify the means. Idk why it's so hard to understand lying is not justified by the warm fuzzies you make people feel in the short term.

[@maggiesace389]

You are WRONG, Patrick!!!

[@GerardFornwald]

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, or do you practice consumerism ?

[@ginaschubert4977]

I was 110% relieved to know Santa was not real! Every Christmas Eve I tossed and turned all night long, because I cannot remember the whole year and wondering if I had been naughty.