What About Santa?

by Dale Harcombe | More from this Blogger

21 Dec 2008 03:49 PM

On Saturday we had sirens blaring as fire truck and police trundled down our street. No, not a disaster, it was Santa in the fire truck waving and throwing out sweets to the neighborhood children that flocked out to greet him. It happens every year in our neighborhood.

What place does Santa have in the Christian's Christmas? Does he have a place at all? In a recent newsletter about writing for children I saw an article about Britain and the new range of comics called Christmas Crackers. These comics feature Santa and snowmen integrated into the Nativity story.

These were not produced by a secular publisher but by church leaders concerned about trying to make the Christmas story "fresh and relevant" to today's children.

But is this the way to go? What place does Santa have in your Christmas? Does he get a mention? Is he right up there along with the story of Jesus born in a stable?

I know some Christian parents who will not allow Santa any part in their Christmas. Their concern is that when children get older and find out Santa is a myth, they will assign the story of Jesus and the virgin birth to the same category. So, these parents have clearly told their children the Santa idea is something some people like to pretend happens. It is a game of 'make believe' unlike the story of Jesus which is true, God given and recounted in the Bible, Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, Isaiah 9:6-7 and Isaiah 60:1-3.

Others are happy to incorporate Santa as one part of the whole Christmas traditions of Christmas decorations, gifts, Christmas trees, etc. These people will likely encourage children to hang stockings up, write letters to Santa and leave snacks out for Santa and his reindeer.

Still others try and assign Santa a minor role in the Christmas festivities, which is not easy given that the world seems intent on making Santa the focus of Christmas.

Is the church in danger of heading the same way? The reasoning behind the UK Church leader's producing the Christmas Cracker comics that incorporate Santa into the Nativity story, because they are concerned that many children today do not know the real Christmas story - i.e., the birth of Jesus. Times story

I admit I have serious doubts about the wisdom of this approach of bringing Santa and the biblical Christmas story together. Do you think they belong together? Or should they be kept completely separate? What do you think?

Please visit these related blogs

Christmas Joy

Reason to Sing

Effective Use of Christmas Cards

Putting Christ Back Into Christmas

Learn more about Dale Harcombe

Dale has a passion for books and writing. She writes in various forms, from articles to poetry to fiction for children and adults.

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Pam Connell (2658) 21 Dec 2008 11:29 PM

Here's how we handled it: We told our kids true story of Nicholas, the bishop in the early church whose story inspired the Santa legend. (There is a children's video of his story made by the Catholic Communication campaign. Since Nicholas lived well before the Christian Church was split into different denominations as it is today, I don't think anything in the video is overtly "Catholic-promoting" except for the use of the term "Saint Nicholas').

We did use the above video with our children and showed them how the Dutch "Sinter Klass" of the early American settlers became "Santa Claus" in English. (Try repeating Sinter Klass several times very fast and you can see how.)

We explained that Nicholas was "a friend of Jesus" who liked to give presents on Jesus' birthday. I hoped that by the time the kids figure out that St. Nick is not the one leaving their presents today, they will think of me as a friend of Jesus as well.

Dale Harcombe (10137) 22 Dec 2008 01:32 PM

Thanks for commenting about how you handled this. Interesting how you tied in St Nicholas as a 'friend of Jesus', who liked to give presents on Jesus' birthday.