One lady said that her children do believe in Santa Claus, but she was still a little uncomfortable with it because she didn't want them to question whether Jesus was real too. I must admit - she had a great point.
As children, we are taught that Santa Claus is a jolly, white man in a red and white suit that delivers toys to children based upon whether the children have been "naughty" or "nice". It seems pretty straightforward, but also a little mean. When examining the history of Santa Claus, also known as St. Nicholas, Father Christmas, and Kris Kringle, people will find that the Legend of Santa Claus is connected to religion and to goodwill. In two separate accounts, he was even a bishop and a monk. (Seriously, look it up). In other stories, he is heavily connected to serving the poor, sick, and needy - especially people who lived in poverty. He has also been associated widely with the missions of the Salvation Army and Coca-Cola.
But why do people get so bent out of shape about Santa? I've heard people say, "Santa doesn't give my kids anything. We spend our hard earned money on this stuff." Okay...but then I have to examine people's motives for always having to let others know how much money they spend on Christmas and those who constantly remind their children about it too. More often than not it doesn't make children more appreciative to know how much money parents spend - it often makes them feel entitled or maybe ashamed. That speaks to our tendencies to overindulge during the season - not Santa Claus. (Thinking back, when I realized Santa wasn't real, I wasn't mad or sad - I just asked for more stuff. Smh!) Some religions even refuse to celebrate Christmas at all because it has become too commercialized or "pagan" in form.
Folks, Santa wasn't or isn't evil. He's just a cultural myth. In our house, we embrace Santa...for now. Why? He's fun and he's generous. We even leave him cookies and milk. Gasp! (Yeah, my husband has to eat them, but he's not complaining.)
I have a different spin than most on this Santa thing. Maybe instead of wondering about if Santa really exists - you can actually make him exist by "being the Santa you want to see!" If you want Santa to help poor people, then YOU help poor people. If you want Santa to give toys to needy children, then YOU give toys to somebody's children. If you want Santa to feed the hungry, then YOU show goodwill and feed the hungry. And guess what? You don't have to wear a red or white suit to do it. As a matter of fact, you don't even have to wait until Christmastime to do it. People are in need all year long. Don't get so caught up in making your list and checking it twice, that you don't fulfill someone else's needs in the process. But by all means, if you're going to reject Santa Claus based on theology and religious fervor, then don't be a hypocrite - throw the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and all things Halloween under the bus too...then back up.
Our child can embrace Santa for as long as she wants to because, well...she's a kid. Santa may not be real, but poverty, crime, and war - those things are real and will be a part of her adult world, unfortunately, sooner rather than later. I have no doubt in our child's mind that Santa Claus looks like a mixture between her two grandfathers because Santa is a figment of her imagination with a dash of realness added. I also have no doubt that our daughter is very clear about the true meaning of Christmas - it's to celebrate the birth of JESUS CHRIST. In the midst of all of this, we often forget that He is the REAL reason for the celebration of the holiday, both historically and spiritually, for Christians and dare I say it - non-Christians too. We should focus on teaching our children to have servant attitudes toward those who are less fortunate. That's what the ministry of Jesus Christ stood for and still represents. It's time to refocus Christmas.
In the midst of preparing for Santa's arrival (or maybe becoming Santa), don't miss the arrival (birth) of the Christ child, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord!"
Study Link:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2&version=NIV
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