anybody else not do the whole 'santa' thing? *dilema pg3*

[Tezzy]

now i dont want to get slated, this isnt a jab at everybody who does the Santa thing with their kids and i certainly dont want to cause a debate.

im a christian and although i dont go 'Jesus' mad at christmas i dont do the whole santa thing with my kids or around my house.

for decorations we have snowmen and winter scenes and also we have a willowtree nativity set on the fireplace nothing over the top just some subtle things here and there.

the presents we buy are labelled 'love mummy and daddy', our kids will know we bought them and they will know why we celebrate christmas.. in a light hearted way of course until they are older!!

my MIL on the other hand is santa mad so our kids will have stockings at my inlaws house from 'santa' which my MIL will buy. im not going to stop her from doing this and i wont be making a huge deal over why santa doesnt come to our house.. itll just be something theyll grow up with i guess.

its not just a once a year thing for us we go to church regularly and have christian influences on a daily basis but nothing to heavy of course.

does anybody else not do santa? how do you do christmas? do you have any traditions?

as i said i dont want to turn this into a jesus vs santa debate

 

[Kitten]

We don't do Jesus, but we do do Santa, lol. I'm not a religious person but I went to a church school and was raised on the whole nativity/Jesus thing and I think it's important that kids know the origin of Christmas but I have to say I don't feel guilty that I celebrate xmas but not Jesus, but I feel like I should feel guilty about it, iykwim? Main presents under the tree are labelled by who they're from, but a stocking is hung and "Santa" fills it on xmas eve. I think I'll keep this tradition up for Theakston as I think it helps keep the magic of Santa but also keeps the "mummy and daddy bought you this because they love you" side of things. Not that presents represent love, but I don't like the idea of him growing up thinking Santa brings all the presents when I'm going to need to use the "Mummy has to go to work to pay for xmas" line now and then hehe.

 

[freckleonear]

I'm also a Christian and we don't do Santa at all. Having said that we don't like to turn it into a hugely religious thing either, as we don't actually know exactly when Christ was born and as you said it's not just a once a year thing for us anyway. Of course we'll teach our children about the true meaning of Christmas when they are older, but the incarnation is something to be remembered all year round really. I tend to see Christmas-time as a seasonal holiday to cheer up the winter, so we enjoy the decorations and special food, just without Santa!

 

[Tezzy]

its nice to know others dont do santa

 

[Kitten]

Lol that sounds well dodgy hehe. I find the whole sitting on Santa's knee in a shopping centre thing pretty creepy. In fact I find Santa himself a bit creepy. I think Santa is a very American thing isn't it? I don't really know anyone who does the presents from Father Christmas rather than who they're really from thing.

 

[sophie c]

we dont do jesus but deffo do santa

xxx

 

[sophie c]

ill also be doing a few pressies from santa clause lolx

xx

 

[Vickie]

we will do both. I loved growing up with "Santa", it made Christmas seem magical to me and we will definitely be doing the same for Hannah

 

[AppleBlossom]

Don't do jesus and I have been debating whether I want to do santa. One one hand it's sort of "magical" for little kids and it's nice for them to believe in. But on the other hand I don;t know if I want to lie to my daughter for however long lol my parents do do santa though and my younger sister still believes in him so I dunno lol

 

[Kiddo]

I'm Catholic and we'll be doing Santa (that sounds wrong but you know what I mean!).

When Harvey is old enough he'll learn all about the nativity and the true meaning of Christmas but I still believe that Santa/St Nicholas has a place in the celebrations. I think the two can co-exist.

 

[AJpeartree]

I love Santa, I think it makes childhood exciting! To each their own =)

 

[Laura--x]

i LOVE Santa! I love the whole suprise and magical feeling of Santa.

When i was little when id wake up on christmas day i used to go into my mum and dads room and they used to have to go downstairs before me to check 'santa' had been. I used to get SO excited when they said he had . I cant wait to do all that with Maisie !

 

[Tegans Mama]

We never really did the santa thing when I was younger, and I think thats why I'm so set on doing it for Tegan. Sorta to compensate for what I missed out on

I'm not Christian (my Mum's side of the family is not religious and my Dad's side are Jewish) so I have no issues with what Christmas is really about. Since I was bought up around Jews, I don't feel its right to teach Tegan about the Christian meaning of Christmas. I do celebrate Christmas, but I celebrate it as a cultural holiday, not a Christian one

 

[Tezzy]

ok i kinda wanted to hear from people who dont do santa...

 

[Becky]

When we were little we used to have a stocking but it was filled with more essential things like sock and shower gel! I know people that get HUGE presents from Santa and that is one thing I would never do!

x

 

[Eternal]

I havent really thought of not doing santa! its a good thought though. my hubby and i were discussing it yesterday about how to make sure the children know what chirstmas is really about.

we are religious and go to church ever week, its a big part of our lives, but that doenst mean christmas doesnt have to be fun. i kinda of feel that chirstmas eve should be a time to reflect on the real meaning of christmas and doing service for others etc and christmas day would be more just about family, traditions etc.

its strange when two people come together and both have different traditions, so its something i guess we will figure out as we go along.

again like someone mentioned Christs birth isnt actaully Dec 25th (i was unser impression it was in april, but may be wrong), but i think its still important to teah children the real meaning.

I will prob be slated for this but i do find it sad that children are not being taught about Christ and growing up not even knowing it as a story.

 

[Tezzy]

we have a fun christmas.. we dont go to church on christmas day and for us its a time to be together as a family,play with toys,have dinner together and generally have a really fun day.

maybe its just me that thinks that christmas can be fun without santa...

 

[Becky]

we have a fun christmas.. we dont go to church on christmas day and for us its a time to be together as a family,play with toys,have dinner together and generally have a really fun day.

maybe its just me that thinks that christmas can be fun without santa...

I think this is exactly what christmas should be about! Spending time with the ones you love! Not millions just presents and partys x

 

[Eternal]

we dont go to church on Christmas Day either, in fact i dont think it would be far to drag kids out of their homes to go to a service that they wont be paying any attention to. but on the other hand i think kids just get used to what their parents do.

i dont really see santa as a bad thing but i think its important to find the balance. if your kids go to church and its a big factor in your lives then they will know what christmas is about.

 

[xxannxx]

I sorta do both. LO is only 3 but he knows a bit about Jesus, and will be taught more as he gets older, but he also gets gifts from Santa.