Christians, do you do the Santa thing with your kids?  If so, why?
970110
First let me appauld you for taking a stand. I myself am a father also and we don't celebrate Christmas in sense of what world does for the season. I personally don't do it because it has been so commericalize and this is an attack of the prince of this world. The devil has done anything and is willing to do anything to take Christ of Christmas. He has been successful with removing prayer in schools, removal of the ten commandments in the judicial system and etc. In turn he has replace it with same sex marriages, the flaunting of homosexuality on every media market available, lewd television shows and basically the I'm going to do me attitude of many people in this world. Don't be confused, this should be in no way shocking. People for years have been carrying on the legends of lies from, the easter bunny, the tooth fairy, santa claus and a host of other falsehoods. John chap 3:19 (paraphase)says man loves darkness rather than light because his heart is evil. The Christmas of this day for the most part does not glorify God in any sense. It's a numbers game that is all about money. The more we sell the fatter our wallets. It has created a bigger air of greed in the world today. Just look at all the choas over video games, elmos and etc. People are getting hurt over this foolish. This breeds violence, hate,envy, jealousy and so on. God can surely not be please. Please don't expect the world to understand or make the difference. This is the job of us so-called christians. The salt of thee earth as the bible refers to us. Many people love the lies because their father the devil is the father of lies. Many Christians celebrate christmas in the way of the world because many of them are afraid to stand up, some just don't know any better and some are just self professed christians who don't follow the way of the Lord. This isn't a honest or just world so expect any better. Strive to be the best you can be and try to help who you can on the way.Thank you and If you want to listen and be apart of a Bold Bible Based Ministry. You can check my friends and I at www.StandupMinistry.com We are available in the tri-state area on the radio. Station 970am Thursday 6-6:30 eastern. You also podcast previous show all day anytime of the week. Thank you.\nLet the Word of God be our final authority
969619
Santa's not real?!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! My parents told me Santa wasn't real at a very young age. My family was very religious and they didn't want me to Skew what they felt was the true meaning of Christmas(Jesus) So I never really took the news that hard...the problem was getting me to stop telling other kids Santa wasn't real. I felt it was my 5 year old duty to tell them the truth...needless to say not many people liked me in kindergarten.
954633
Thank you for saying :"some of you".  I think your question is a very good one.  I purposefully did not tell my children about Santa Clause or the Easter bunny when they were little.  The Bible says "Because they receive not the love of the truth, for this cause God shall send them strong delusion."  I think these "lies" are perpetuated by the masses so they won't have to think about the birth of One who can forgive their sins, or One who was resurrected from the dead to give eternal enjoyment and Bliss in His presence. The easterbunny has its roots in pagan fertility rites. A lie is a lie is a lie.  There are no "white lies".  Who is "the father of lies"?  Who is "The Way, the Truth and the Life"?  The two can not have communion together. "Whatsoesver is not of the truth is a lie". "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin".  I think you are doing a wonderful job in raising youre children by telling them the truth.  It is becoming harder and harder for Christians to raise their children as day by day the forces of worldliness and anti-Christ well up in "public opinion" angainst Christian doctrine.  You are doing what Jesus wants you to do.  Christians in many cultures have had to undergo persecution and ridicule but it has only caused the "true church" to grow stronger, and the "little white lie" church to be exposed as what it really is: lukewarm hypocrites which Jesus said He will spew out of His mouth.  Be brave, continue what you are doing.  Jesus said, "they that overcome shall receive a crown of Life."\nRead Revelation! <smile>.  # 8^ ) 3
296982
I think that any child should experience the magic,and wonder of the Santa Christmas tradition to a certain age,and then told the TRUE story of Christmas when they can understand it.Let the child enjoy his or her childhood.It goes along with the Tooth fairy ,Easter Bunny,and in my case,George Bush!
792192
i think Santa clause is the biggest load of lies but if the children love him he should stick around as long as possible you cant beat the looks on their faces when they see what"Santa" left them
1001388
I don't know how unique it is....but my older kids are really (I mean REALLY starting to question how real Santa is) And I have two younger kids that still believe in Santa and will for sometime.\n\nFor the last few years we put flour down in front of the fireplace. And we let the kids do this.  When they are asleep we get one of my husbands boots and make BOOT tracks or Santa tracks to the Christmas tree. \n\nIt does make a little mess but the vaccum cleaner, get it right up.\n\nMy kids are ALWAYS amazed at it!  But it is our tradition and one that will be carried out for at least 8 more years.
4617
who doesn't?? Santa is the greatest man alive!! He gives free presents just to make us happy and to spread holiday cheer. i think that if more people started to actually take Santa seriously christmas wouldn't get as much bad press as it did last year (crimes & such):(
1187867
Yes I believe in Santa Claus. There was a fellow who went around doing good deeds for people named Saint Nicholas. He was became a Saint in one of the branch of the Christian Religions. He lived in Turkey during the 4th Century and he was best known for his good deed to a poor man who had three daughters all of them wanted to get married but the father had no money for a dowery for each of his daughters. So that none of them would become prostitutes, Nicholas as he was called at that time went to the man's house and through an open window placed money in each of the daughter's stockings. Hence the idea of putting gifts in one stockings. There is a shrine to him in Bari Italy. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of archers,children,prostitutes, lawyers and pharamacist plus a few other people in different trades. So yes there really is a Santa Clause and he wasn't made up by coke-a-cola.
14096
I feel you.  One of the things I do with my daughter is to put on a Christmas "show."  We dress up in silly costumes and take turns singing songs to each other.  Toys and other "things" will be forgotten, but the time you spend with each other will not.
891715
Every year on christmas eve "the birds" (santas) leave new pyjamas on our beds to let us know Santa has left the north pole. Since I moved out 2 years ago mum arranged for my fiancee to leave new pjs on my bed for me, I think its a really lovely tradition that i'll carry on when I have children of my own.\nMy dad used to wrap up useless presents to give to all the adults, like used spark plugs etc, all the kids thought it was hilarious, even more so because it infuruated mum.\n\nI really like suprise presents, santa would hide a few "extra" presents around the house with our names on them... usually something we really wanted, and a few unexpected things.
905324
I have two boys--they are still young but I love doing this with them.  Since, I already know they are going to get plenty of gifts we start out early--the week after Thanksgiving.  We sort through all of their toys and pick out their favorites (about 5-10).  If the other toys are in a great condition we donate them to a local church or another organization that we may come across.  This is a way to teach them the importance of giving to the less fortunate.\n\nWe decorate the Christmas tree the first Sunday of December.  We are not November decorators.  I really enjoy that.  We all get together and make a really big deal about it.  We put on Christmas music and go around the house adding our little decorations all over the place.  They boys get an ornament every year.\n\nWe make it special to make Santa a belief but also focus on baby Jesus.  I enjoy getting their gifts from Santa.  We will be getting them only three gifts from ourselves this year to represent the three gifts baby Jesus got from the wise men.\n\nWe read stories (Twas' The Night Before Christmas, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, The Miracle of Christmas, A Christmas Carol, etc..) all the way up to Christmas.\n\nWe have a special advent calendar which we use for the kids to count the days down...it's a fun tradition to see my oldest get excited as the days count down.\n\nWe live away from family so we do our own thing for Christmas.  On Christmas even we have a tradition English roast.  We don’t really have a Christmas dinner but soup and sandwiches--it’s a little different but ehh--we like it.  It lets us relax on Christmas day without the worry of cooking a big meal.\n\nThere are so many more things that we do but I doubt you really want to know more--I’ve written a lot already.  I love Christmas.  Tradition, giving, and Christ are very important to me--I make sure to include that with all the excitement of Santa, gifts, and “fun” things that Christmas involves.
317286
No, I did not, but I do want to go to Church.  The problem I have is that I have a disabled child and two other children.  We did go once and it was awful because we spent the whole time trying to keep our child quiet.  The other two boys were OK and could go off to special groups for the children.  It was quite a stressful experience, so now I try to pray at home.  A pity really, because I wanted my children to grow up knowing all about Church and the meaning of Christmas and Easter.
1154856
Excuse me! I'm Santa Clause, and I don't appreciate you asking this type of question, and unless you want coal in your sock this coming X-mas, then consider rephrasing the question;) LOL
711889
Yes! My church does this every year. It's such a great ministry. These kids have nothing compared to us. It's a wonderful opportunity to be involved in something like this.
805060
Mine is very similar to yours - except that on Christmas Eve we spend the evening with my side of the family doing our gift exchange and dinner. My dad stayed with the kids during Midnight Mass last year, but maybe they'll go this year - who knows? (That's up to my husband, since I'm in the choir). The next morning we all wake up and the kids excitedly head downstairs to open gifts. I am alway amazed that they wait until we are all down there (and happy, too) before they start! The in-laws usually come over for the noon meal and more gifts. Then my husband and father-in-law take over all of the electronic toys and play to their hearts content. Our neighborhood also has a longtime tradition of luminaries - each year on the same date, most houses (it's voluntary, but the more, the better) set up the paper sacks with sand and candles lining the sidewalks, and light them at dusk. The streets are closed to traffic, and people walk around enjoying the sights and togetherness. Several people open their homes for hot cocoa or cider, soup or sandwiches; there are also carriage rides and the Boy Scouts always have a tent set up in the center park with more hot cocoa and cookies. "Santa" and his wife make an appearance and hand out candy canes to passersby. It's very nice, and brings back the simplicity of a bygone era. Carolers often tour the streets, joyfully singing in the cold. The candles continure to burn all night, until they've burned themselves out. Combined with the hushed glory of Midnight Mass, I'd have to say that if that was all I got for Christmas, I'd be more than content!\nMerry Christmas!
735017
This is the fourteenth year I have chaired a neighborhood "Spirit of Christmas".  Friends, family, neighbors and co-workers donate money and we "adopt" children less fortunate than ours.  We purchase clothing, books and toys - wrap and deliver them before Christmas from Santa's Elves. This year we are shopping for 35 moms and their children.  The mom's are doing everything they can to graduate and make a better life for themselves and their children.
714050
I spacifically remember in grade school that I would argue with the other kids about how obsurd santa was. I don't ever remember thinking that he was real. And my parents say that I never did. even when I was little they said I argued with them about it. I think it's disgusting that we spend so much effort lying to our children and convincing them that such a great holiday is all about free toys. . . But it is funny to tell them he's not real and watch them cry!