Just a side note, as I feel you are correct that it is a parenting decision and not a right or wrong type of question.  But you did say you thought the patterns of teaching Santa or not were generally repeated.
My parents did not teach my sister or I that Santa was real, and we missed it.  We missed what everyone else had.  When our brother was born some 5 years later, WE taught him about Santa and kept it up as long as possible - I think my folks gave in at that point!
My mom’s reasoning for not teaching “Santa” was the bitter disappointment she felt when her mother, who would not tolerate ANY lies, and she was sure would never lie to her about anything, let her know Santa was not real.  She was not let down so much about Santa, as her belief in her mother and what she saw as a major lie. 
So - she was raised believing, and taught us to not believe, and all of us in turn have raised our children to believe!  Think you’re spot on with the rest of your points though :) Merry Christmas!

I was raised believing, and wasn’t upset when I found out Santa wasn’t real. My husband was raised not believing, and he is the staunchest supporter of keeping Santa alive for our kids because he feels like he missed out on some of the magic of childhood.  Santa is part of our Christmas season, but he is not the focus.

We were raised believing in Santa, until the one fine Christmas eve, back when my baby sister was 6 months old.  Dad drove the three of us middle kids to the toy store (ages 6, 7 & 8) on Christmas eve to pick out our own presents. Sure, I got some of the toys that I wanted, but not so sure that is the way I wanted to find out.  I would have preferred him sitting us down and sharing with us why we held on to the mystery of Santa coming for a visit, with the importance of learning how to be generous with others, especially with others who are less fortunate. I would have liked knowing how important it is then not to destroy other childrens’ belief in him.  Christmas is still magical, because of Baby Jesus!  Saint Nick is real and he loves us, as he always points us to Our Lord at this time of year. I send gifts at Epiphany now as a reminder of when it was that the wise men came.

Sorry, but i’m on the side of not lying to your kids.  If Santa isn’t real then is Jesus? Is God?  What’s the difference?  And why cloud the significance of the holiday with something that Satan (notice the antonym there??) has used to distract us from the real message of Christmas? His way is always to take something God has made and distort it and Santa is no exception.

I don’t know why we make this so hard.  Santa Claus IS Real.  He was a 4th century Catholic bishop, and He IS ALIVE in the communion of saints and in the Spirit of charity through Christ and His Church.  What we should be simply explaining to our children is that Santa’s memory is so beloved that even non-Catholics and Christians have embraced him in imperfect ways by changing his clothing and his focus on serving the poor year-round.  Yes, Virgina, there IS a Santa Claus.  Most parishes honor this by having some St. Nicolas “appearances” to remind us of the saint.  What a wonderful, teachable moment.  Not to deny Santa but to resurrect him and clarify him for all to see, embrace him, and fulfill our own call to sainthood.  Rather than “push back” we should “roll with it”.  Most of our traditions have a pagan origin/conversion ... so it’s nothing new for us to Christianize in a positive, catechetical way what we have been given in order to help others see.

Our situation is somewhat unique, I think, when it oomes to Santa.  Our homeschooled daughter has been raised to know that Saint Nicholas was a real person who did good things.  We celebrate his feast day with gifts in the shoes, a carrot left out for his donkey, all that fun stuff, and she knew from early on that “Santa” was not real, but fun anyway and not ignored since his origin was Good St. Nick.  We celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and enjoy gifts under the tree, etc.

However, we are now raising our grandson, not quite 5yo, who has been with us for more than half his lifetime now.  The one noncustodial parent who sees him at all rabidly fills him with Santa Claus expectations during their occasional visitation sessions.  She has taken him to stores and has told him that Santa *WILL* bring him this or that.  From her there is no sense whatsoever of Jesus’ birth or anything related, but only the material lust for just about everything he sees and a sense of entitlement that because he wants something, Santa Claus will pony it up. 

Of course we are lovingly teaching him what our faith tells us of St. Nick and Jesus, but it’s tough to soften and remodel what he naturally gravitates toward as a young child would.  Our young daughter—grandson’s aunt—has been a wonderful assistant in gently but firmly guiding her nephew toward the truth of Christmas without dashing his hopes of Santa.

Ultimately we decided not to “do” Santa mainly because of my feelings. My husband could have gone either way.  As a child my melancholy temperament let me to feel lied to about Santa, the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny. I really only remember one magical moment of truly believing in Santa as a child the rest of the time I was just not convinced because of the logistics. Same with the tooth fairy and Easter bunny. Of course, I remember asking questions, but never being quite convinced. I also became a mother at an older age through adoption (42) and by that time was so “over” the commercialism of Christmas that I really wanted to keep our focus on the faith aspect of the holy day.  I put candy in my daughter shoes for St. Nicholas’ Feast Day—she knows it me—and I explain how people took St. Nicholas and started the story of Santa Claus (Saint = Santa, etc.). We have stockings come out Christmas morning.  My daughter’s temperament could totally believe in Santa—she’s very sanguine—but I just can’t get over the lying aspect of it.  I also didn’t like how Santa seems to pull a bit more greed out of kids with the Christmas list and asking for a million things.  We try to keep gifts low key. Scrooges? I don’t know, we’re just doing our best :)

Oops, sorry for that typo.  That should have read “when it comes to Santa.”

I forgot to add that I was also raised believing in Santa, but with virtually no religious training.  When my mother told me finally that there was no Santa Claus, I was very angry at her and at the situation.  She told me because she was afraid that an older child might tell me.

My longish answer is here:
http://karenedmisten.blogspot.com/2008/12/to-santa-or-not-to-santa.html and basically it says that we do “No Panic” Santa. When my oldest daughter was little, I spent so much time fretting over things like this. She’s 17 now, grew up with St. Nicholas stories and Santa magic, and knows that Jesus is real. She has never confused them or resented the fun we’ve had. So, that’s our take.

And (please forgive all the links) here is my favorite illustration of the issue, from my then-six-year-old:

http://karenedmisten.blogspot.com/2008/12/secular-meet-sacred.html

Many years ago I taught at an international school in Japan.  My class was fourth grade although I also taught music and English as a second language.  One day not too long before Christmas, I received a delegation of two Hindus, a Moslem, a Taoist and the lone Catholic in the class.  The question was, “Do you believe in Santa Claus?”  My answer, “If, by Santa Claus, you mean the Spirit of giving with no hope of a ‘thank you,’ yes, I do believe in Santa Claus.” 

As the delegation walked away, I heard,“See, I told you she believes in Santa Claus!” Also, “That’s *not* what she said.  I do believe in that great Spirit of anonymous giving, but, like many other concepts, it takes a lot of teaching!

Thanks for posting, Danielle. I have been engaged in quite the dialogue with several folks at the office regarding this very topic for the past two weeks, and as you can imagine, passions abound on both “sides.” You share a great perspective that I will share with the group.

We told our children from the start that we were celebrating Jesus’s birthday with gifts from Santa and a special dinner. There was a time [after questions about who Santa was] when we told the story of St. Christopher. Then the time came when our daughter [age 3] was actually “afraid” of Santa because a relative, dressed as Santa came to visit her in person Christmas morning. One look and she screamed her head off and I had to convince her that he was Uncle Herb, dressed Santa. Of course there is still talk amongst the kids and in 1st grade the nuns had the worse looking Santa and she looked at me and said,“there really is not a Santa is there” and I said no, it is what he represents. So they knew from the start that having gifts from Santa was a birthday celebration for Jesus. I always had a Creshe under the tree also. Actually she was so happy to know that Santa was not a real person.

Danielle, my story is similar yet different. It was the Easter Bunny that I quizzed my mom about because we got candy and the kids down the street got roller skates and the like. I asked why, and my mom said “Maybe their Easter Bunny has more money than ours.” Now, I was old enough to think that through and after a minute I said “You’re the Easter Bunny!” A moment’s hesitation and then, “You’re Santa too.” My internal reaction was a feeling of “Wow, look at what my parents are doing for us kids (5 at that time, with two more in the future)”. I was more than a little bowled over at the effort and expense they went through to make those holidays happen, and my overwhelming sensation was of gratitude for their sacrifice, and a determination to help however I could. I also understood at a certain level that Santa was an outgrowth of a sense of wanting to do good things for others, and I didn’t find any conflict between Santa and the birth of Jesus. (Granted, some of what I just wrote developed over the next couple of years.) My point though is that my experience was a good one, and that sense of magic is something that I have always tried to evoke each Christmas, especially for little kids, and now my grand kids. They can’t understand the majestic mystery of Jesus, but they can understand being awed and filled with wonder. These sensations simply need to be redirected at the right times to help introduce them into a maturing sense of wonder in the gift of Jesus. We all crawl before we walk. I think properly handled the whole Santa experience can be very positive in the growth of a child’s understanding of how things should be.
FB

I second what Steve wrote.

Never forget the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus Christ not an imaginary figure who does not exist.

Now we say Happy Holidays.Where do we see the birth of Christ in advertising,movies,etc,etc. Let’s face the fact that the Lord has slowly been removed, if not expelled from the consciousness of people. Christmas is becoming a secular celebration as is Easter.

Organizations, such as the ACLU, are telling us we cannot say,Merry Christmas but we can mention the name of Allah. We are being told that we need to be tolerant of those who do not share our values that we don’t want to offend anyone. What about our being offended that our freedom of speech is slowly being taken from us.

Have a blessed,holy and Merry Christmas everyone.

Fr. Ed Wade, CC

In my childhood Papa Noel was part of the celebration of Christmas along with the Christmas tree and the Nativity figurines. The presents would arrive as a surprise and all called to celebrate. The family tradition was to bring baby Jesus in a procession and put him in the manger,then each member of the family would present baby Jesus their prayers, intentions and Christmas carols before opening the presents. On the other hand, we learned that Saint Nicholas was a real person and the spiritual reality of the Communion of the saints in Heaven, that for God nothing is impossible and that good behavior is rewarded. One year with my cousins, we learned about the three Magi and put our shoes out on January 6 and the following morning we found a few coins. Now I see that Santa Claus, Saint Nick, or Papa Noel is a symbolic messenger of permanent values that can help parents to teach their children the meaning of the virtues, Faith, Hope and Charity.  Faith is to believe in the invisible things of God; things that are not to pick and choose but an integrity of love and meaning that cannot be bought or sold.

My main reason for not encouraging believing in a guy in a red suit coming down our Chiminey is that Jesus Christ REALLY IS present in the Eucharist.  I don’t want ANYTHING to weaken my credibility with them on that point. I do tell them that the spirit of Christmas gets in people’s hearts and that special miracles do happen at Christmas. We celebrate St. Nicholaus and I talk to them about how the Santa thing got started, but I halt it at them thinking some guy in a red suit comes.  I explain to them that people do that for fun.

I see everyone’s point about mixing faith and magic, and to some extent I never really gave it that much thought.  I agree that I surely don’t want my children to question the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist after learning that Santa isn’t real.  Yet, I confess that in our home we do Santa. I love the innocent, wide-eyed magic that Santa brings.  I admit I watch The Polar Express and almost become convinced all over again myself.  Part of me still believes in Santa Claus!  (There, I said it.)  Childhood slips away so fast, and the sense of wonder is gone so soon.  We spend Advent actively preparing for the Savior’s birth, and my children know that Christmas is about Jesus.  But for now anyway, we also enjoy waiting for Santa.  I know those days are numbered since my oldest is almost 10, but I will be sad to see them go.  The world could do with a bit more wide-eyed wonderment and excitement.  By God’s grace, that wonderment will make a permanent home in our hearts and each time we receive Christ in the Eucharist we will be amazed.  :)

Steve is spot on.  I never had an issue because my parents taught us all good things come from God and that Santa was St. Nicolaus who worked for Jesus.  As all the saints work for Jesus.  Kids at school or school itself might have said Santa but our parents corrected us and told us the gifts (and they were labeled as such) were from “Nin~o Dios” (Baby Jesus) and some people forget or they use short-hand.  Then eventually we figured it out and we realized Mom and Dad also work for Jesus and the transition was natural.  We had enough real true blue miracle stories in the faith and year round to know that Saints do show up and they help us like they helped my parents. 
On a side note it may be easier have a big family to influence a child.  So that you know that what the family believes is reinforced and not whatever some kid in school or teacher says.  That’s why Catholic cultural traditions are beautiful if cousins do the same etc. It’s harder when you’re out on your own.

When I was in second grade, after figuring out that the “St. Nicholas” that was profiled in “Treasure Chest” (a Catholic comic book) wasn’t like Santa Claus (the saint was tall, slim, and clean-shaven.) I asked my parents about that, and when I was told the truth I cried “You lied to me all my life!”—and eventually I spent some years as an Agnostic.
But I think that the story of Santa Claus is good for kids—they spend their early years not feeling obliged to thank anyone they can see for the gifts they receive, then learn to test what they’re told.

What I think is really dangerous to the religious development of kids is being “spiritual” (cheap) about the gifts you give them.  You don’t have to spend yourself into the poorhouse, but being “spiritual” only teaches kids that religious fanatics are killjoys.

Yeah, I second Steve and Sarah. Here is an *excellent* source for sharing with your kids:
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38

There are a lot of things we do as a culture that are not “real,” and it doesn’t weaken our faith.  But they are important and represent something real. 

And this is worth a read for any adult:
http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/

With 6 children and a full time job, it was JUST TOO DIFFICULT for this mom to maintain the Santa persona lie.  I never said he wasn’t real, I just answered that Christmas was Jesus’ birthday and we gave gifts to each other because we couldn’t actually buy and wrap gifts specifically for Jesus.

I taught the story of St. Nicholas and the modern santa derivation. As far as all of the men in costume that appear at this time of year, they are just “helpers.”

“St.Nick soon will be there” says the popular poem. St.Nick. A real person. It is society that commercialized St. Nick,a very generous Saint. The word “Santa” means Saint. Claus being the shortening of Nicholas.
That he has been commercialized is a shame. That is does not exist is not true.

Correction:
...that he does not exist is not true.

Setting a child’s sense of wonder up for an inevitable betrayal is not the best thing for a parent to do.Let them learn the spirit of generosity and gratitude,not imagine an impossible stranger will provide at no cost.

Have no problem with Catholics and Santa. Experiencing the unconditional love of Santa gives children a point of reference for understanding God’s unconditional love.

When questioned about the veracity of Santa, I explain to my children that yes Saint Nicolas is real and very much alive in heaven, but that Santa as currently depicted is largely a Coca-Cola invention. We further teach our children how parents keep the legacy of Saint Nicolas alive so that they can know unconditional love.

Our children seemed to enjoy knowing what parts of Santa are factual and what is fictional.

Actually, I feel somewhat sad for non-Catholic Christians whose children see all the very much Catholic Christmas festivities, including Santa. In the early days of America, most protestants did not celebrate Christmas and passed laws against its celebration.

I wholeheartedly agree with those who advocate not lying about Santa.  My chief reason, however, does not seem to be common to them, for I do not oppose it on the grounds that it weakens faith, or that it secularises the feast of Christmas, or the like, though for all I know those reasons might be perfectly valid.  What is worst about lying about Santa is that it is lying: it is a perversion of our communicative faculties, as even homosexual acts are a perversion of our sexual faculties, and is accordingly a sin against our nature.  So, even if it were to enormously increase our faith or combat the secularisation of Christmas, saying that a jolly fat man from the North Pole returns every Christmas to distribute gifts to all children is wrong. Period.

I think this is a wonderful article.  Our family “does” Santa exactly like the author.  We have a joyful Christmas experience celebrating our Savior’s birth, while Saint Nicholas day is left separate (on the 6th) so that he, with all the rest of the saints can celebrate Jesus’ birth up in Heaven along with us here on Earth. 
We too, enjoy all the Santa stories.  My kids never “spoiled” the Santa thing for any of their friends either. 
I can’t believe how much negativity I’ve gotten from other parents because we don’t “do” Santa.  We have always had a very positive, and fun Christmas time at our house.

Even if santa represents St Nicholas it should not take precedence over the great festival of Jesus who came to save humanity. What happens is that the secular culture wants to detract people from the religious significance of Christmas and to consider the stories about gifts to children in the night or the preparation of cake, putting up a tree and sumptuous dinner are the thing. We christians should give all importance to Christ and everything ie santa. or Christmas tree should be subserviant to the real festival. However these days pomp and show through expensive santas, trees and dinner etc are on the main stage which we should correct

Louie E.,God provides “at no cost”. As a Saint,petitioning Nicholas is akin to asking the real “Santa”.

1) Saying Santa is an anagram to Satan is ridiculous. That would make all female Saints in Spanish evil, including Santa Maria.

2) @Steve: Indeed St. Nicholas and Santa Claus may be loosely related; however, St. Nicholas of Bari wasn’t the jolly St. Nick that we know. He was generous but also strict; intimidating enough to stop an execution and fiery enough to punch the heretic Arius in the nose at a Council of the Church.

Many years ago, when I was a Dominican novice, I was given the charge of spending an hour a week with the kindergarten class at the Catholic school.  When Christmas rolled around I thought they would be interested in the ways I had experience Christmas in different places around the world.  I told them about how in Austria the children get chocolate devils and switches on Dec. 5th if they have been bad and how St. Nick fills their stocking on the 6th.  I told them about how in Italy they all attend midnight Mass and have feasts on Christmas and then on Epiphany (Jan. 6th) they exchange gifts.  That was too much for them.  All they could think about at that moment was, what about Santa?  I had not even thought this through.  No gifts of Christmas day meant no Santa.  I left and let the poor teacher pick up the pieces.
Now, as a father of four, we celebrate those traditions that I had experienced from around the world.  They are so much more rooted in our Catholic faith than the Santa tradition that grew up with.  We celebrate St. Nick day with stocking, no chocolate devils and switches though, as they are hard to come by in Colorado.  We attend Midnight Mass - that is where the ‘magic’ happens and you can see their eyes sparkle.  When we get home from Midnight Mass we put baby Jesus in his manger on top of all the pieces of straw the children got to put in each time they did something good or made a sacrifice.  They get gifts from grandparents on Christmas day - because you just can’t not give a kid a present on Christmas day!  Then, we celebrate Epiphany with much fanfare and exchange family gifts.  I think the Santa tradition has really steamrollered the celebration of Epiphany in this country.  Plus, Christmas around here lasts much longer.  We enjoy Santa, especially my 4 yr. old boy who has a particular affinity for the guy.  But they know he is like Dora or a character in a book, not real.  We tell them that other people do what they do for fun and that they should not spoil their fun.  But, in the same regard, it is not my responsibility to keep other people’s Santa lie going, so I’m not going to lose any sleep when one of my kids breaks the news to another child a little early.

Santa Claus is short for Saint Nicholas.  To say that Santa Claus is not real is FALSE.

Santa is a make believe character, not evil, but definitely not St. Nick!  To say otherwise is historical dishonesty at best!  He is sort of like a Thomas Hobbes leviathan creation for kids, only they get rewarded for being good, which of course means not being bad, not the good that = virtue.

Apparently I have to comment to stop receiving email notifications of comments, so disregard this comment.

I grew up believing in Santa Claus. And when I eventually found out who was really putting those gifts under the Christmas tree, i.e., my parents, ... it never even remotely entered my mind that the myth of Santa could possibly mean Jesus must not be real either. I saw no connection whatsoever. Maybe I’m just dense, I don’t know. I just had no idea that people stress themselves out over the subject of Santa Claus so much [actually I do].

To each his own.

Merry Christmas!

I like how you do Santa, Danielle.  I don’t have any children yet, but my fiancee and I were having a debate.  I don’t want Santa and he does.  Your way is a great compromise.

I was born in Puerto Rico, a small island in the Caribbean. I grow up beliving in Santa, Jesus and the three Magic Kings, as we called them. We celebrate Christmas starting the day after Thanksgiving until January 14. We exchage gift two times a year only. Dec 25 and January 6.  For me Santa brings gift to Jesus on Christmas Day and Jesus gives them to us on the night of Dec 24, Christmas eve. Then the Tree Magic Kings do the same all over on the night of January 5, Ephyphany eve.  My parents never reveal the secret to us.  I did the same with my kids.  It is about of growing up in the faith. We all need to learn to respect each other traditions and cultures. One day we all will reach that point of maturity in the faith that can not be hurry up in the children just in our adult life.  Merry Christmas!!!

I’ve got plenty to say on this subject…but since I’ve already said most of it please forgive me for simply sharing the links here:

http://redcardigan.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-santa-essay.html

http://redcardigan.blogspot.com/2010/12/no-lie.html

http://redcardigan.blogspot.com/2010/12/we-need-st-nicholas.html

I respect those who disagree or who chose to incorporate St. Nicholas differently than we did in our home.  But I do admire Leo Carton Mollica’s comment, even while I sincerely disagree with him: at least he has the courage to say out loud what many anti-Santa people actually think, which is that those who play the St. Nick game with their children are guilty of the intrinsically evil sin of lying.

Now, you would think that the Church would make it clear that no Christian is ever to pretend that St. Nick (or La Befana or the Wise Men or the Smallest Camel or any other cultural figure) actually visits one’s home and leaves gifts for children—or else that Christian is guilty of the intrinsically evil sin of lying.  It seems rather odd that the Church would be so careless of souls as to let all this lying go on for *centuries,* isn’t it?  Unless play-acting and fairy tales aren’t actually the same thing as lying, of course…

As I said in Mark Shea’s comment boxes, if the Church declares that playing the St. Nicholas pretend game with one’s children is the intrinsically evil sin of lying I’ll retract everything I’ve ever written on this topic, go to confession, do penance, and warn others not to fall into this hideous sin.  However, I don’t understand those who say, “Well, it’s lying, and I don’t want to lie to my kids—but you go right ahead and do it.”  If we really believe it’s lying, we ought to be like Leo, and unflinchingly condemn the “Santa sin” wherever we encounter it—which is why, as I said, though I disagree with him I admire his consistency here.

Santa Claus, a Dutch Reformed attempt to create festiveness in a decisive move against papist saints that littered the calendar.  Blake has a good analogy with Hobbes and doing good to get good.  St. Nicholas is not Santa Claus.

Yasmin, unfortunately, Puerto Rico is a territory belonging to what was once a WASP establishment country that is now at war with God.  Sorry that you must be part of us.  Cling to Holy Mother that you may have culture.

I believe in Santa.  I know all of the technical details of both how he is St. Nick and how my parents are his elf helpers, but regardless of his physical lack of presence (outside of the saint’s remains), and perhaps inexplicably by my logic, he is real to me.  Maybe it’s just the “Spirit” of Christmas, or maybe I am drawn to truly believing in something, no amount of “He isn’t real” or “He doesn’t exist” will extinguish my belief in the giving spirit of Father Christmas, and I’m a 24 year old Republican!  Maybe I won’t be so excited when I’m not the one receiving from Santa, but I doubt it.

Ooh, I also really like Coca-Cola and will never fall for the he’s a capitalist invention.  I think his Coke remake is the handsomest version!

Mrs. Bean,

You’ve just described our family’s way of doing things exactly (woodstove, Dec 6th, Dec 25, Santa movies, etc). i might have been convinced that my mom wrote this.
God bless.
J.M.J

sounds to me like all the comments about lying to kids come from some trust “issues” people have.  they don’t sound reasonable at all.  i’m surprised to read some of these comments.  i had no idea there was an issue for Catholics, i thought it was a problem puritans, protestants, and atheists had but not Catholics.  to each his own on Santa but to the people who are freaking out about lying and historical inaccuracies, relax!  we, Catholics enjoy life and the good in culture.

Below is a great little article.

“Santa Claus is real. He lived and still lives as our brother in Christ, and anyone who tells a child otherwise is guilty of a grave injustice and an offense against truth.”

http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2010/12/walker-the-ambassador-from-fairyland/

“And why cloud the significance of the holiday with something that Satan (notice the antonym there??)”

You could also say that “Santa” is a antonym for saint.  I’m not sure where Claus came from.

Anyway, I too grew up “believing” in Santa until I was too old…or rather than my parents got too old to keep up the farce.  Right to the end, even after 33 years, it was fun pretending there really WAS a Santa Claus.

If only Rudolph were real too.

“I wholeheartedly agree with those who advocate not lying about Santa.  My chief reason, however, does not seem to be common to them, for I do not oppose it on the grounds that it weakens faith, or that it secularises the feast of Christmas, or the like, though for all I know those reasons might be perfectly valid.  What is worst about lying about Santa is that it is lying: it is a perversion of our communicative faculties, as even homosexual acts are a perversion of our sexual faculties, and is accordingly a sin against our nature.  So, even if it were to enormously increase our faith or combat the secularisation of Christmas, saying that a jolly fat man from the North Pole returns every Christmas to distribute gifts to all children is wrong. Period.”

How sad…
Give me a break Mr. Calvin.
And Amen Carol.

Santa Claus

San’ Na-Claus

Saint Ni-Claus

Saint Nicholas

That’s where Santa comes from.

He’s a lie just as much as those imaginary persons Jesus talked about in his made-up stories to teach us a greater truth.  Some call them parables.

I’m 50 years old and you people are telling me there is NO Santa Claus?

How am I going to deal with this?

I still believe in Santa, and I’m pushing 50 years old!  And since I believe, I encourage my children to do so also.  So far, we have never been disappointed.  He brings us presents every year, and inspires us to give presents to one another.
Recently, at a Catholic youth group, my 14 and 15 year old daughters were teased by their Catholic friends for still believing in St. Nick.  They came home rolling their eyes, saying, “Can you believe that these guys DON’T believe in St. Nicolas?  They probably think the Three Wise Men are a myth too!  I bet they don’t believe that St. Anthony can find things for you either.”  My wife and I gently explained to them that not everyone has the same devotions that we do, everyone has their favorite saints, and they probably just have problems with the Coca Cola Santa anyway.  They know St. Nick does miracles, often through his devoted followers: after all, one of these grumpy, older sisters was inspired this Christmas to make a present for an annoying little brother and write on its wrapping, “From Santa Claus.”  Now that’s a miracle!