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Many parents and children enjoy the Santa myth at Christmas until the children outgrow it. Other parents wonder what, exactly, to tell their children about Santa. Some don't want to present a fairy tale as a reality; others want to put the Christmas emphasis on Christ rather than a myth. Here's one solution that is not a compromise and doesn't involve any fairy tales.
My purpose in writing this is not to denigrate anyone who chooses to enjoy Santa Claus at Christmas; that is a perfectly good choice and many parents and children get a lot of innocent pleasure from pretending Santa will be coming down their chimney Christmas Eve. This essay is simply to offer a viable alternative to parents who have misgivings or doubts about the Santa myth. Some parents don't want to lie to their children, even if it is as simple as the pleasurable conspiracy of Santa and the Easter bunny. Other parents worry about Santa taking the limelight from Christ as the center of Christmas. Other parents may not like the naughty/nice emphasis that can create a lot of stress on little would-be do-gooders, or the God-like qualities assigned to a fairy tale (he sees you when you're asleep and awake and knows everything you do!).
Parents deciding how to celebrate Santa Claus, or what to tell their children about him, may want to know the true story of Santa Claus. He was a real man, Nicholas, born in A.D. 280 to a wealthy family in what is now Turkey. He was a Christian and well known for his generous acts of charity. He died on December 6, 383, now known as St. Nicholas Day. The name "Santa Claus" is from Holland, where he was commonly called "Sanct Herr Nicholas" (Sanct = Saint, Herr = Mister, Klaus = nickname for Nicholas), which was eventually shortened to Sinterklass. Hence, the English Santa Claus.
One solution that has worked for many families, and that works for my family, is to remember St. Nicholas and his life on December 6. We give the children stockings on that day, filled with small wooden toys and gold candy coins (to remind them of the giving Nicholas did and the things he gave), and tell the story of this gentle man who gave so generously to those in need. When they ask about Santa Claus, we tell them who St. Nicholas really was, and how his love pointed people to Christ - the reason for his generosity.
Here is the story we tell as they open their stockings: The True Story of Santa Claus. As you read it, you will see there is plenty of material there for teaching your children more about charity and giving to the needy. It may spark their interest in adopting a needy family for the holidays to give secretly, the way Nicholas gave to needy families in his day.
Copyright (c) 2002 Carma Paden. All rights reserved. No portion may be reproduced in any fashion without express permission.
