Does it hurt kids to pretend that there is a Santa Claus?

[Riverrick]

Does it hurt kids to pretend that there is a Santa Claus?

Aren't we really lying to them the whole time, telling them that there is this guy out there who loves them and thinks about them and knows exactly what to bring them for Christmas?

And then one day we tell them that it was all made up, that he doesn't really exist. And like a favorite relative, he then just sort of dies.

Yea, I know its tradition and great fun for everyone, blah, blah, blah. But isn't is a pretty huge thing to lie about the existence of another person?

What do you think?

 

[GL]

I don't think there is anything wrong for kids to believe in Santa Claus. There are worse things to teach kids to believe in. Like the Republican Party for instance.

 

[mark1111]

It is a great way to learn the ways of life.

"a guy that loves you and brings presents, then..." get used to being dumped from your lover.

Parents lieing to you? You can't trust anyone in the real world, get used to it.

There are so many of life's lessons there, disapointing ones but the little young uns need to learn.

 

[BenF]

It's no more stupid than the grown ups who believe in the original reason for Christmas, and STILL don't get any more presents.

My little cousin is terrified of Santa - I mean really scared of him - his parents still haven't told him that he's not real. Difficult.

 

[kallipolis]

I once believed that Santa was all that I wished him to be. Now that I am beginning to grow up I have reached the conclusion that believing is always worth its wait, when we have learnt that wishful thinking can be rewarding.

 

[Marbas]

My little cousin is terrified of Santa - I mean really scared of him - his parents still haven't told him that he's not real. Difficult.

When we were kids, my youngest brother was scared of the whole Santa concept - a big fat beardy guy who sneaks down the chimney whilst you're sleeping - I told him the truth; Santa is a fictional character.

A few years later, after being subject to a bit of religious brain-washing at school, he was terrified of the whole Christian God-concept - a beardy old man in the sky who sends you off to eternal hellfire if you're naughty - I told him the truth; that particular God is a fictional character.

 

[poppy6785]

once your grow up you learn he is not real either by yourself or by friends telling you. There is nothing wrong with it and I dont think it hurts them at all. It didnt hurt me. Kids deserve to feel magical and have a good imagination and if you never told them there was a santa claus it would be even a really boring and unimaginitive life for them. There is nothing wrong with it and I dont get why some people feel that it is wrong...

 

[gabriel1]

No it does not. It's more about the spirit than the physical.

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measure by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest man that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank GOD! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

 

[Riverrick]

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus.

I haven't read that in a long time.

Its so beautifully written. Thanks!

 

[NedNickerson]

...You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest man that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank GOD! He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

No matter how many I have read that over the years, it never ceases to amaze what an inspired answer that was from the editor of The Sun, Francis Pharcellus Church.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes,_Virginia,_there_is_a_Santa_Claus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Pharcellus_Church

And here's something for the young at heart who still believe in Santa:

http://www.nonsenselit.org/carroll/santaclaus/index.html

Click on the first photo, and you can read all the way through, full screen...

 

[gabriel1]

I haven't read that in a long time.

Its so beautifully written. Thanks!

You're Welcome, I thought it was appropriate.

No matter how many I have read that over the years, it never ceases to amaze what an inspired answer that was from the editor of The Sun, Francis Pharcellus Church.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yes,_Virginia,_there_is_a_Santa_Claus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Pharcellus_Church

And here's something for the young at heart who still believe in Santa:

http://www.nonsenselit.org/carroll/santaclaus/index.html

Click on the first photo, and you can read all the way through, full screen...

Thanks for posting that last link. I'm saving them to read later.

 

[gaddou]

I think your brother is scared of bearded man. He would not like bear

 

[Nonimus]

I think your brother is scared of bearded man. He would not like bear

I got some fluff on my chin - does that make me a bear?

 

[mrblaque]

Small boy wrote to Santa Claus, "Send me a baby brother" Santa wrote back, "SEND ME YOUR MOTHER" Santa is such a HOE HOE HOE, MERRY XMAS YA'LL

 

[ronboy]

I still believe in Santa Claus.

 

[eddielee]

I don't think it hurts children to pretend there's a Santa Claus. I believed in Santa when I was a little boy.

 

[Croynan]

Fantasies are very important in the development of a child. They stir the imagination, allow children to express themselves, gives them ideas for other fantasies, and are a way of communicating with adults and probably more then anything else they bring a lot of joy to children.

Think of what a sterile world this would be for children without fantasies and especially Santa Claus.

eM.

 

[irish1]

Santa Claus is as real as anyone who can love a child.

 

[Swellegant]

I found the whole Santa Claus thing a terrible betrayal and would rather have not been led to believe in his existence. And my niece and nephew were brought up without Santa Claus (or the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy), and they seem quite well-adjusted... or as well-adjusted as a person can be with my sister for a mother.

But we were talking about this one day around Christmas time, and I was shouted down for thinking that the whole Santa Claus thing was dishonest and led to unreasonable expectations; everyone else thinks that it adds to a child's "sense of wonder," to believe in something unbelievable. I don't know that I buy that, but what do I know?

Still, I think reality is wonderful enough without making up a bunch of fairy-tales and trying to get kids to believe in it. And fantasy is wonderful, but we don't make children believe that their other fantasies are real, do we? Indulging an imaginary friend is one thing, but making up an imaginary friend and conning the kid into believing he's real?

It's like much meaner version of the Boy Scouts' Snipe Hunt.

 

[luminum]

I think it's just a fun thing to tell kids, like the easter bunny or the tooth fairy. Eventually, kids learn it's not real, but it doesn't matter.

I never felt that Santa Clause loved me. I just felt that he watched me and made decisions about what I deserved. So him not existing doesn't mean a loss of love, just that the presents i got even if I knew i hadn't been good, weren't coming out of his sack of toys.