[OakShannon]

Originally Posted by Stormster

What do you tell your children about Santa? How far do you go with it? I'm so excited to start! He's already fascinated with Christmas lights so I've been saying Christmas a lot to him. How should I introduce Santa to him? Unfortunately we will be at my fathers all through the holiday so there won't be a tree at home (he's Jewish) but we will still take him to see other trees and the lights and he will have a stocking there and presents.

I also get to dress him up for a Christmas party. It's all too wonderful!

PS DH calls him Father Christmas....how cute is that? ETA I do realize it is a religious holiday as well but I'm talking about the presents and Santa aspect for a little toddler.

Yup, that was pretty clear.

For some, Christmas is a very religious holiday. I'm one of them, so I get that completely. But Christmas is a wonderful, magical time for many families who are not religious. And, Storm, as someone who is celebrating Christmas for the first time with my own child, I completely feel your excitement. I can't wait until my son is old enough to get starry eyed at all the lights and stories and all of the traditions we'll get to share with him. It makes me a little teary just thinking about it. We waited so long to share this with our own child.

I hope you have a wonderful celebration with your little boy.

[binkybear]

wow ladies, I am not passive aggressive nor am I a drama gal. BUT if a thread evolves...as I've been reminded in the past that threads do "evolve" then I can respond just as those who originally posted.
Here the fact is that a moderator switched gears a bit on this one when lumping Christ and Santa into the nonreligious boat for a holiday that is in fact...no matter how anyone in this country or world want to spin it...a religious holiday. It is in fact based and celebrated because of religious beliefs. Comparing Christ to Valentines day is like me comparing Rosh Hashahah and Yom Kippur to a bank holiday. If you want to celebrate it and not respect that then it's fine by me and others, it's just a head in the sand total lack of thought and respect for those who do see that Christ being the key of and in Christmas. That's what that one liner in Fran's post placed out here and I think it's ok for me to speak to it.

I'm well aware that my views aren't generally appreciated outside of fun and fluff, but I respect others deep connections with their faith and wish that the favor would be extended, that's all.

[belleinblue1978]

Originally Posted by binkybear

wow ladies, I am not passive aggressive nor am I a drama gal. BUT if a thread evolves...as I've been reminded in the past that threads do "evolve" then I can respond just as those who originally posted.
Here the fact is that a moderator switched gears a bit on this one when lumping Christ and Santa into the nonreligious boat for a holiday that is in fact...no matter how anyone in this country or world want to spin it...a religious holiday. It is in fact based and celebrated because of religious beliefs. Comparing Christ to Valentines day is like me comparing Rosh Hashahah and Yom Kippur to a bank holiday. If you want to celebrate it and not respect that then it's fine by me and others, it's just a head in the sand total lack of thought and respect for those who do see that Christ being the key of and in Christmas. That's what that one liner in Fran's post placed out here and I think it's ok for me to speak to it.

I'm well aware that my views aren't generally appreciated outside of fun and fluff, but I respect others deep connections with their faith and wish that the favor would be extended, that's all.

So you're saying because I'm not the most religious person and I enjoy Santa and gift giving, that I dn't respect you? Wow, where do you get that?

For me, Christmas is a time to spend some extra focusing on giving to others, although I try to do that year round.

[binkybear]

Originally Posted by belleinblue1978

So you're saying because I'm not the most religious person and I enjoy Santa and gift giving, that I dn't respect you? Wow, where do you get that?

For me, Christmas is a time to spend some extra focusing on giving to others, although I try to do that year round.

Yes, that's exactly what I was saying (ah no, not really *sigh*).

I've got to get back to my Pagan Preperations gals, talk with you all at a later date.

[Fran27]

Originally Posted by binkybear

wow ladies, I am not passive aggressive nor am I a drama gal. BUT if a thread evolves...as I've been reminded in the past that threads do "evolve" then I can respond just as those who originally posted.
Here the fact is that a moderator switched gears a bit on this one when lumping Christ and Santa into the nonreligious boat for a holiday that is in fact...no matter how anyone in this country or world want to spin it...a religious holiday. It is in fact based and celebrated because of religious beliefs. Comparing Christ to Valentines day is like me comparing Rosh Hashahah and Yom Kippur to a bank holiday. If you want to celebrate it and not respect that then it's fine by me and others, it's just a head in the sand total lack of thought and respect for those who do see that Christ being the key of and in Christmas. That's what that one liner in Fran's post placed out here and I think it's ok for me to speak to it.

I'm well aware that my views aren't generally appreciated outside of fun and fluff, but I respect others deep connections with their faith and wish that the favor would be extended, that's all.

Heh sorry, I was just replying to the people who mentioned that Christmas is about Jesus. I just said it's not necessarily, and it's not always about Santa either. You don't have to agree, but I didn't intend to start a debate about whether or not only religious people should celebrate Christmas etc. That is way off topic.

The thread was about how to tell kids about Santa, so let's try to keep it in topic.

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by melissa_bear003

Santa is joy, and love, and excitement...and we can all use a little more of that.

I loved Santa Claus as a child. I loved everything about him and his trip from the North Pole to my chimney. I loved watching him on the radar when the local news station did the weather. I loved laying awake listening for his jingling bells. It was magical. I could never deprive my kids of the experience.

[lovemy2boys]

I just read something that somebody passed along this morning...it was an interesting look at the various customs of the holiday...

But the thing that stood out most to me was a simple sentence in the very beginning of the essay...

Christmas means different things to different people.

And that's the crux of it, folks. For some people it is santa and trees...For others it is family gatherings and presents...For others it is midnight mass and gift exchanges...For others it is a celebration of Jesus's birth...for others it is not.

And for those who don't correlate the day with Christ's birth...then what? Do we make them sit in their homes on that day and celebrate nothing? Tell them to keep their holiday cheer and their merriment to themselves?

Nope...We celebrate the day with our own beliefs and traditions...different things for different people...

Now back to Santa - I enjoy the jolly old santa that the children dream about, but I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the look of the old world santas! My mom bought me a Polish Santa Statue that is absolutely beautiful! Is it just me?

[Fran27]

Originally Posted by lovemy2boys

Now back to Santa - I enjoy the jolly old santa that the children dream about, but I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the look of the old world santas! My mom bought me a Polish Santa Statue that is absolutely beautiful! Is it just me?

Yikes! My culture is totally lacking. The only Santa I can picture is the chubby one in red with the beard!

[Stormster]

Guys listen. I AM JEWISH. This is my first Christmas with my son who is not Jewish. My husband is also Christian. I just enrolled my son at a very Christian Nursery School next year (in fact it's called The Christian Preschool).

I'm trying to figure things out in a mixed religious situation, i'm also exploring my own spirituality. I just want my son to have fun and learn about Christmas and wanted some to have some fun with it. That is why I specifically did not want to tie religion into this.

People write books about this topic! I just wanted help with a very "superficial" aspect of it.

[lovemy2boys]

Storm, I'd just pick and choose your favorite aspects of it...

For me, for some reason, it's bells...I am a bell FREAK! I have them everywhere on every door of the house...

I also love old world Santas, like I mentioned earlier...

I'd just "go with" what excites you, your DH and your little guy the most, then take your time and sort through the religious stuff later!

[lovemy2boys]

Originally Posted by Fran27

Yikes! My culture is totally lacking. The only Santa I can picture is the chubby one in red with the beard!

They are generally thinner (lol) and have long white hair and beards...Not quite Jolly - more serene, I guess...

Many times they wear long robes in marroons or dark greens that are trimmed in fir...

Sometimes they carry a large staff, sometimes they are surrounded by woodland creatures...

I just love them!

Here's a website with a few examples...

Old World Santas | Santa Claus Figurines and Hand Carved Wooden Santas

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by SupaModel

BTW - I grew up in apts and I used to wonder how would Santa get in our apt because we didnt have a chimney

The Vermont Country Store had magic keys in their catalog this year ( for kids without a fireplace ). They also had a great Santa kit that had a pair of wire rimmed glasses, a big black button with some red thread, and footprint kit. If I found Santa's glasses on Christmas morning, I would have been SOOO excited!

[lovemy2boys]

Originally Posted by Kat-L

The Vermont Country Store had magic keys in their catalog this year ( for kids without a fireplace ). They also had a great Santa kit that had a pair of wire rimmed glasses, a big black button with some red thread, and footprint kit. If I found Santa's glasses on Christmas morning, I would have been SOOO excited!

My kids LOVE their santa key!!! We hang it on the inside of the front door, and on Christmas eve when the kids spread the reindeer food on the front lawn, they put it outside...

In the morning, it's back it it's spot!

[SupaModel]

Originally Posted by Kat-L

The Vermont Country Store had magic keys in their catalog this year ( for kids without a fireplace ). They also had a great Santa kit that had a pair of wire rimmed glasses, a big black button with some red thread, and footprint kit. If I found Santa's glasses on Christmas morning, I would have been SOOO excited!

That's amazing!! I wish we had this when I was young

I told DH last night that now at least we have a fire place so DS never has to worry about that

[crick]

As it's been stated by several, including the OP, let's keep this thread on topic. Yes, threads evolve, but one or two comments on things doesn't necessarily dictate an "evolvement" of topic or to stray from it.

Also just want to make it clear, since it was brought up. When moderators participate in a discussion regarding their own opinions, they are doing so as member. Let's give them the freedom to do that...they are members first and foremost and have the right to participate in a discussion just as anyone else does. Being a moderator doesn't have anything to do with their own personal opinions in a discussion and they are allowed to voice them. It's why we have a team of mods so that we can participate in discussions we wish to do so and others (as I'm doing right now) can step in and moderate if needed. Anyone can say "get back on track", so let's not make that a discussion of "modding" or not.

If anyone has concerns about this, please PM me.

End Admin Commercial Break...go forth and discuss Santa.