The Santa Problem

Santa Claus, one of the most recognizable faces in the world. He brings gifts to children everywhere on Christmas Eve, slipping down the chimney and eating the cookies the children leave for him. Except it's not really Santa leaving the gifts. It's the parents. Most children believe in Santa, and when they hear the truth, that Santa is a lie, they typically feel distressed. Some take it harder than others, but rarely does a child brush it off and say, "Makes sense." Children are, after all, not known for their brilliant logic. (Nor should they be; they're fucking kids!)

I've heard this said a lot: "When I have kids, I'm not going to tell them that Santa is real." The people who say that, however, are still young and don't have kids, so I'm not sure if they're really going to tell their kids the truth about Santa Claus and the Christmas presents under the tree. Whenever I hear someone make that statement, I wonder if they really will forsake Santa when they have children. Part of me believes that they will, because they undoubtedly remember how they felt when they learned that Santa wasn't real. I myself wouldn't want to put my child through that. (And not only is learning Santa is a lie hard; it sucks when you're one of the few children who believes in Santa, and the other kids ridicule you.) At the same time, however, I think that many parents go along with the Santa lie because it's tradition. And it's easier. Don't want your kid telling all the other kids that Santa Claus is really mommy and daddy staying up late. The other parents would sure ride your ass then. And what would you say to the child when commercials with Santa came on?

You: "No, Billy, those commercials are lying to you. Santa is a marketing tool."
Kid: "What's a mark cutting tool?"

So, what do you plan to do when/if you have kids and Christmas time rolls around? Will you tell them the truth about Santa? Or will you go along with the lie?

NOTE: Sorry that this kind of leaves out all those who don't celebrate Christmas. I'd still like to hear your thoughts on the subject of Santa Claus and whether parents should or should not tell their kids that he is real.

since nobodies ever actually seen santa before I'd like to know how the original image of him came to be in the first place.

as for the main question, I was raised believing in santa and I learned the truth myself. However, it's not like it had any major affect on me, I just went, oh well. I say let the kids keep their beliefs, they're more happy that way

Santa is not delivering everywhere, we have our 'Father Christmas' (got this from a translator, 'Baby Jesus' would be more fitting) and this formless guy giving gifts is owning your red, fat dude.

It's better to keep up the lie about these guys up to a certain age. When them kids get into elementary, they usually lose much more illusions than about Christmas.

When I have children I'm not going to tell them Santa Claus is real, and I'm not going to tell them he's not real. I'm going to tell them to be critical, skeptical (to some extent) thinkers (in general) and not except "because I say so" (or some other silly stock explanation for St. Nick's existence) for an answer. I wouldn't want strangers shoving lies down my child's throat, and I certainly wouldn't want my child to go around ridiculing people with different beliefs either. (I also think that letting children believe something fallacious without providing proof is dangerous and a form of child abuse to some extent. What else are they going to take in and from whom?)



I wouldn't put it this way, obviously.

Now, I'm not saying I wouldn't celebrate Christmas (I'm an atheist), but I would emphasize the secular aspects, like giving loved ones presents and donating to charities, etc. - the empathetic stuff. I don't see how literally believing that St. Nick is still alive fits in - I'd assert that he should only represent charity and good will - ideas.

Learning that St. Nick isn't alive anymore can't suck if you never seriously believe it in the first place. Right? At least, I don't remember being traumatized or anything serious; I think I had already figured it out.

Does this make sense, or am I rambling. -.-

Meh, never plan on having children myself so I should easily avoid that issue. My parents never really forced the issue themselves. I don't remember them ever telling me Santa was real, or that he wasn't real. I chose to believe he was when I was really young, but by the time I got in school I learned that he wasn't. Nothing "traumatic" about it to say the least.

Although my dad would do the whole "leave cookies and milk" for Santa, so I would do that and by the time I woke up in the morning they would be gone since my dad ate them after I had gone to sleep. Other than that though, never really received any feedback from my parents regarding the situation with Santa.

Another point I forgot to make. I can't say that I'm too sympathetic with parents whose children have been told the truth concerning Santa Claus (assuming it wasn't done in an intentionally offensive, mean-spirited way). The fewer people accepting things without reasonable evidence, the better off society is in general.

Well I don't celebrate Christmas. So going about telling my children whether Santa Claus exists or not shouldn't be difficult, they'd just a get a "no + explanation". But like pizzabite said I wouldn't want my kids ridiculing anyone for believing in Santa Claus.

As for my opinion of other parents telling their kids whether the big ol' man in red and white exists. I'd say go for it! I respect tradition and to some (IMO, most) kids it brings a type of joy knowing that there's some "magic" behind the whole present receiving event. Like how all those presents magically appear under the Christmas tree while they're asleep. Let them enjoy it while it lasts. Call me naive but I say it's alright to go on with the tradition.

Now that you mention it, I think I never really believed in Santa. Not too much, at least. Always found the story a bit fishy.

As for my kids (if I someday have some), ill probably do as pizzabite.

I was never raised with santa and tbh most christians shouldnt even believe in santa(otherwise shame on you for worshipping an idol, fucking gay fags :lol:). Well anyway my friends believed in santa and i tried telling them he doesnt exist but alas it proved fruitless so i gave up and shut up about santa and went with the ride. Then after my 18th b'day i told christmas to go fuck itself and stopped celebrating it but it gives me an excuse to party and get fat for another month.

I'll just tell them the truth. Well, it's not like I'll force down their throat any religion anyway...so something as small as santa is not an issue.

I don't have kids yet, but that's how I do it with my lil' bro.

Hmm, I rather not follow the tradition of santa claus. When I was I a kid, I recognized Colonel Sanders better then Santa, probabbly because of the culture here that do not celebrate christmas. If I would give my kids a present, I would give it to them on the morning of christmas, letting them know that the stuff they get have a source and their parent bought it for them, not some illusional old man who goes around houses and gives free stuff for kids based on the "good boy/girl meter". Since Santa isnt real anyway I would rather let them know whats really true early of age rather then later (when their santa worshipping grows, they fall harder when they know the truth). My family never celebrate christmas so I dont think its such a big deal...

Hmmm, I guess I'm the only one so far who would plan on giving my kids the illusion of Santa. I remember finding out about Santa not being real and I was a little crushed but I can't say I regret the time I believed in him. I guess I'm one for magical feelings and I think being a kid should allow you to be foolish and full of dreams.

Reminds me of the time my dad told me Superman lived in the Superdome...I really believed him lol.

I agree, kids should be allowed to believe in wonderous things - even if they aren't real.

And your dad told you Superman lived in the superdome!? That is hilarious!

I was always fully aware that Santa Clause was my father in a red jump suit. It was always just fun make-believe. I expect I'll do similar in the event of rearing children of my own.

When i was little i was a little skeptical about the whole idea about santa, Why must i go to sleep and not see him as to this was the only way to get my gifts?
When i found out he was not real i brushed it off, i had fun for those 13 years and i still play along with it and tell my neices that Santa does not always give you what you asked for because how else is he to give the other 2000 kids their Nintendo DS`s?
Even if you dont believe or if you do, just play along and let them have fun while they still can, they can at least look back on it when they are older and have some fond memories other than growing up and not having as much fun without that Jolly old fat man in their life.
I for one will inform my kids and tell them the stories of sandy claus and let them have those fond memories.

I'd probably allow my kids to believe in the illusion of Santa. I remember when I believed in him, it made Christmas a bit more fun for me. He's just a story to help make Christmas more fun for kids, and to make them act nicer to tell the truth. I wasn't crushed when I found out he wasn't real, it was an oh well thing since I still got presents based on how good I was. So I don't really find any reason to tell my kids he doesn't exist since he can make Christmas more fun for them.

Harmless lie imo, it makes it that bit more magical and special. Childhood should, by nature, be free from the cutting reality of the wider world. Logic doesn't dictate to them what ought to be real, rather their imagination is there to believe and conjure up anything; why not nurture it.

Well It didnt hurt me much when I learned that it was fake, but I remember when my parents admited it, for a moment I had a big feeling of dissapointment towards them.

I dont know If I will have the heart to lie to my kids (if that day ever comes) that way...

That being said Heres a research of the possibility of santa claus being real:
http://astro.berkeley.edu/~gmarcy/thermal/tpteacher/jokes/santa.html

Honestly I think my parents were worse off than me when I learned the truth. But I think they were more pissed off than hurt because it was my kindergarten teacher that told the whole class, "There is no Santa Clause, and you will burn in hell if you believe in him."
My point is, from a parents perspective it is alright if a child believes as long as the child is told the truth from the parent when they think its the right time, rather than a third party source who can feed the child other information (i.e. crap like sex is best before marriage, drugs are good and other information a child should not be taught at that age).

Oh the dreadfulness of Santa Claus... personally, we believed in the "christmas child" mostly, basically another synonym for Jesus but well... let's just say that I was rather happy that it were my parents who gave me the gifts and not some dude I had never seen before, sneaking into the house and managing to put back the small traps that I had at the front door to check if he came in ... grrrr (I was about 6 years old and thought of something incredibly stupid to check).

However I don't think it is bad to tell the children a small lie like that, as long as you remember to slowly introduce them to the truth later (when they are around 6 years old). Telling the children that (insert random fictive Christmas celebrity here) is going to give the presents and that they are depending on how good the child behaved that year has a certain advantage, that parents don't have to dig too deep into their pockets (if they aren't retarded and spoil their children too much) :P