By Taylor Pittman. Required fields are marked *. That’s where Jesus grew up. We tell them that there really was a man named Nicholas who loved Jesus and loved to serve others. “Now I can get married, too.”, Then the girls ran to their father and said, “You must be the one who’s leaving all this money around. They know that there are some kids in their classes and in our extended family who think that Santa really does exist, and that it’s just fun to pretend. I’m not sure how we’ll handle it. Their responses were edited and compiled to make the book with stories of eight saints. We are not religious and so this is how we celebrate the giving, kind, generous spirit of Christmas in our home. Also, check out how to make Santa shaped little debbie cakes into St. Nick here! It’s the only way they know it exists. When people find out our kids know about Santa, we often get comments like, “Oh, how sad.”. It doesn’t mean that Christmas is any less “magical” for them. Detox your laundry routine! As with many things in our culture, Santa has his beginnings in a Christian past. I've spent the past decade+ creating a healthier home for my family. Oops. “I’ll stay up all night if I have to,” he thought. He knew he didn’t have money to leave just lying around the house. Many people just know St. Nicholas by the name Santa Claus. The modern story of Santa is about surveillance, stuffing your feelings down, and not expressing your emotions “You’d better watch out, you’d better not cry, you’d better not pout I’m telling you why. We still hang the included ornament each each and say a prayer for who ever reached out and everyone who needs someone to reach out. “I don’t believe it!” she said. Before you bring your child to a holiday party or dinner with his younger cousins, make sure he knows to keep his lips zipped when it comes to Old Saint Nick. I don’t have any children (not by choice), but I would explain in a similar way as well. Your email address will not be published. The second year, a few of my husbands co-workers bought our children a couple of gifts and left them on my husbands desk. Our oldest is 3 and it’s her first year to really understand the Santa concept. The little girl had a strong belief so she was fine overall. My son will still talk about listening for the reindeer and things like that due to what he has heard in school, but if I ask him what he knows about Santa Claus he, like your daughter, will say “he’s dead” and he’ll talk about how he’s one of Santa’s helpers because he gives gifts. I had a wild imagination and still enjoyed Santa even knowing the truth though. In this post, we tell how our family has gone about explaining Santa to our kids. It was a long trip, and Nicholas had to travel by boat. The "Santa talk" doesn't have to ruin the magic of the holidays. Santa Claus is also known as Saint Nikolaos (a well known saint from Myra, or a part of modern day Turkey). If you have a child who asks, ‘Is Santa Claus for real?’ Say, ‘Yes, Santa Claus is for real. We have always used Santa as more of a “Spirit of Christmas” figure. (I know plenty of parents have been able to do this successfully,though–and if you’re one of those parents, please share how you do Santa in the comments! Let's start with the truth: Santa Claus is real. Also, check out how to make Santa shaped little debbie cakes into St. Nick here! Nicholas can teach us that it is better to give than to receive and that we get more joy from giving when we don’t get anything in return. Dear Prudence, My child’s father and I split up when I was five months pregnant, and I’ve raised our 8-year-old son by myself. Granted, he did things a little differently for both of us. We do NOT judge you!! Before the birds and the bees comes the Santa talk. What is Santa’s favourite kind of cookie? Anyway, inside one of the stockings she found the gold coins. St. Nicholas is not a jolly, chubby man dressed in red who brings gifts and lives in the North Pole. Saint Nicholas was a man who took part in fulfilling needs for those he could and it caught on. This is pretty much how we handle it as well. Loving and giving unconditionally don’t come with strings attached. This is in no way a judgment on what other families do or how they handle Santa Claus. This little book was written by children—saints’ stories were told, then children in school rooms and Sunday classes retold the stories in their own words. Maybe he was feeling like a failure or something. That night, Saint Nicholas returned to do the same thing all over again. Explaining Santa. I live a long way from my family. Oh come on, he said. focus on Christ’s birth as the reason we celebrate Christmas, Buck Denver Asks: Why Do We Call It Christmas, Veggie Tales: Saint Nicholas, A Story of Joyful Giving. But I better be careful that nobody finds out, or else it won’t be a surprise.”. St. Nicholas helps move focus to giving and caring for others, rather than on what we will be getting. I believe our hearts have room for Jesus and Santa. Created with Sketch. You know, they didn’t have washers and driers like we do now. That night Osman saw. We’ll hang stockings tonight, they will receive some treats and some stickers/crafty things/socks in their stockings, and 1 gift each (2nd hand wooden blocks this year…) By doing the gifts early in Advent we can then move on to anticipating the truest gift of Jesus. In 1822, he penned the classic, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” better known today as “The Night Before Christmas.” Artist Thomas Nast illustrated the book, creating the figure we now know as the jolly Santa Claus. That night after dinner, Nicholas went to Osman’s house and peeked in the window. How to handle it is a decision that each family must make for themselves. “Oh my God, we need Your help. Santa left my husband’s presents unwrapped and piled in front of the tree. How To Explain Santa To Your Child, From Parents Who've Been There. I hate that I have to even say this, but our current cultural climate appears to think someone is inadvertently judging you if they have a different way of doing things. St Nicholas goes back centuries (Picture: Getty Images) The image of St Nick started to evolve over time, and it was the poem of one minister who helped solidify the modern idea of Santa. "We explain to the kids how the name Santa Claus actually came from St. Nicholas, and that's why we celebrate his feast day," said Grams. I’ll explain why in a moment. God gave us the greatest gift of all when he gave us his son. Created with Sketch. Thank you for sharing what your family does! But his real name is Saint Nicholas and he was a great bishop and all the stuff about the jolly red fat man in the suit, that’s for fun. Jesus Christ gave us the ultimate gift of Himself and gave us the gift of giving, sharing and loving. Created with Sketch. We take pictures with Santa. All of a sudden she got very excited. Many European countries actually celebrate St. Nicholas Day during the first couple of weeks of December (the date depends on the country) in memory of his service and sacrifice. Santa always wrapped my presents and had them under he tree. St. Nicholas Day Activity: Letter To The Christ Child He is depicted as an elderly, stately and serious man with white hair and a long, full beard. “Now I can get married. Before there was Santa Claus, there was Saint Nicholas, known traditionally as the bearer of gifts. Santa in red and white came from the Coca Cola company. She recommends starting the process when your child is around 6 or 7 years old, or "whenever you see that dawning suspicion that Santa may not be a material being." You are now old enough. Here is what IS important. . There comes a time in every parent’s life where they have to have the dreaded “talk”. We couldn’t figure out how to tell our children about Santa that would not require us to make up things and create more stories to cover those things. Nikolaos is a saint that was born in 270 A.D. and helped anyone in need. “Oh, Father Nicholas! I do not think you are lying to your kids if they believe Santa is real or anything like that. They write letters and make lists. What to tell kids about Santa: One mom is sharing a way to talk about Santa with your children in a way that won't leave you all traumatized. What a fantastic surprise. From Saints for Kids by Kids, by the Reverend Robert Charlebois, Mary Sue Holden and Marilyn Diggs Mange, Liguori Publications, 1984. Or not because we expect anything in return. No matter what he got, he shared with his friends. Santa Claus, Sinterklass, Father Christmas, the legend, is … We have decided to focus on the story of the real person behind the Santa Claus legend, Saint Nicholas. “But please don’t tell anybody. The gifts that Nicholas gave were not based on the girls’ behavior, and the gifts that we give our kids are not based on their behavior. As an Amazon associate, I receive a percentage of qualifying purchases. ☺️ She is very matter of fact with most things.). While the modern figure of Santa derives from St. Nick, you’d hardly find this patron saint of children making toys in the North Pole. Throughout your life, you will need this capacity to believe: in yourself, in your friends, in your talents, and in your family. It was a long trip, and Nicholas had to travel by boat. New York Sun's newspaper reported it in 1897.There are historical records about St. Nick going all the way back to the 3rd Century. Being a Santa isn’t … That is my intake on it and it has worked well for me. You’re probably wondering if the title of this post contains a typo. If they ask you if he’s real, don’t say that he is. we’ll have to try your other resources. Turning whatever Santa stuff you find into St. Nicholas- find the directions to do so here! Kids can handle the duality of knowing that Santa is/isn’t real all at the same time. “Do you think it was your boyfriend?” the third sister asked. You might even think I have something to do with it. While he was walking into the supermarket, he heard two wealthy men talking on the street. But, in reality, we are happy with the way our kids have learned about St. Nick. I wasn’t expecting it to feel funny but it does. Yes, they are kids, so it is a struggle at times, but we want to always direct them to the idea that we are celebrating the best gift ever given. The great schism (1054) officially separated the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. Is this still a struggle? “(Santa) also understands that there is a subjectivity around how nervous people feel, so if you let him know, he will take your family into consideration,” Schafer said. The historical St. Nicholas points us to the generosity in the gift of God’s very self in the baby Jesus. We also let them know not to burst any kids bubbles who might believe in Santa. Nicholas gave freely to meet the needs of people around him, fulfilling the commands of Christ to aid the poor. It's a big job, and it's an important one. I know that I’m old-fashioned and I grew up in a more simple time. . I want to thank each if you who have replied to my question. Nicholas inherited a large amount of money and used much of his fortune to help the poor. When he did it, the weather settled down and became still, just like the time Jesus did it with Peter and the apostles. In fact, he barely had any money at all. God doesn’t give us His love because we earn it or deserve it, but He gives it unconditionally. Some friends and I were just having this conversation recently! I’ve always told him that Santa Claus exists. This was just a quiet town in Turkey that seemed more like a small neighborhood. The same goes for our gift giving. His parents were really wealthy, and they bought wonderful things for him. Encourages children not reveal the secret of Santa to other children. Merry Christmas! He became a priest after his mother and father died, and, little by little, he gave all of his riches away. Updated: November 3, 2020 Erin 16 Comments This post may contain affiliate links. She can’t fathom not believing in Santa, she thinks it ruins Christmas. I'm Erin. “Oh boy!” she said. I have a gift to give to my future husband!”. The fun of Santa is playing the “Santa game”: writing a letter to Santa, leaving out cookies and milk, having the gifts appear magically overnight! That is not a gift. Saint Nicholas was always looking for ways to help people. I've been trying to explain that it's a game. To find out more, read on! Don’t fuel your kids’ Santa obsession – Chances are that early on in your child’s life, by the age of 2 or 3, they are going to start an obsession with Santa… He saw Osman and his three daughters sitting around in the living room, talking. On December 6th many Europeans still celebrate Saint Nicholas Day. Download my FREE chart now! This time, instead of just looking around, Nicholas took a bag of gold coins from his pocket and threw them through the open window. This is a St. Nicholas day classic and not to be overlooked. That’s the reality behind the story of Santa Claus. It's lying to not tell them that you are wrapping the presents when they ask you. Nicholas gave gifts and aid in Jesus’ name, but he did die a long time ago. Santa Claus is derived from St. Nikolaos. As a child, I had only a vague idea of who St. Nicholas was. ... All around the world people celebrate St Patty's day - not just people from Ireland or of Irish descent. (I was 5. I get more joy out of giving than receiving, yet when I do receive I’m sure it brings joy to someone else. We tried explaining Santa to our very serious little 4 year old this year. When kids aren’t old enough to understand symbols or feelings, grown-ups have to explain it to them in a way that lets them see and touch something. Ready to ditch overwhelm & create the healthier home you desire? He was buried in the Church of St Nicholas in Myra. Uses the St. Nicholas story to explain why parents give children gifts and pretend they are from Santa Claus. Note: Before reading this piece, I want everyone to understand that this is how our family has chosen to approach Santa Claus and other mythical holiday figures. The first year, I came home from the store to find a box filled with gifts. St Nick was a wonderful example of how to spread that love this time of year. There were tidal waves, and the wind was blowing rain. You are now responsible enough. We weren’t comfortable with how commercialized Christmas had become and where the focus was going in our culture. Let’s consider what we can learn from God’s Word regarding Christians and Santa Claus—in light of the true meaning of Christmas. Each family is different and has unique family traditions–including the way they explain Santa!). Finally, the next morning the third daughter found her money too, and all three girls were able to be married. Santa Claus, Father Christmas, St. Nick—no matter the name, everyone knows the story of this plump, jolly, bringer of gifts. Christkind was modified to Kriss Kringle in the 1840s and became a popular nickname in some countries for Santa Claus. “No dowry, no husband.”. It wasn’t always this way: Santa Claus is a modern-day incarnation of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (in contemporary Greece), who lived in … Key Difference: Santa Claus is a big bellied man who gives presents to nice children on Christmas.St. When I was growing up my mom told me the truth the first time I asked. The gifts under the tree were gifts we gave each other. He lives in our hearts – not at the North Pole. So, Saint Nicholas prayed a special prayer. We did stockings, too. From St. Nicholas to Santa Claus: the surprising origins of Kris Kringle. There are a couple of good resources that we have used to help our kids understand this as well: St. Nicholas is a story about loving and serving others. The sky was dark and very cloudy. He tossed some more gold coins through the window. We had talked about who st. Nicholasville was and how giving to others celebrates his life and what he repeesented. We explain to our kids that Santa is fun to pretend and that ... too large to wrap or I was exhausted from last minute wrapping and it was easier to just put them in a stack for each child. This can be an uncomfortable time for any parent, having to decide whether or not to lie to your child or if they are ready for the truth. They just go with the flow and have fun with it. Don't Confuse the Fictional Santa with the Factual St. Nick. They know that Nicholas was alive many, many years ago, and he liked to help other people who were in need by giving them gifts or money. The next day the second daughter began to clean the house. Then he threw them in the window for the third daughter. But due to a tragic turn of events, he had lost all hope that his daughters would be able to marry and live a happy life. We both have  good memories of believing in Santa Claus and were not traumatized when we realized that he was not real. Every year we sneak around and leave stockings full of goodies for our family and friends on their front doors to find in the mornings. It doesn’t. My dad dresses up like Santa for all his grandkids. He knew exactly where Osman lived, and he decided to pay him a visit. Santa is the magic and love and spirit of giving to others. My Daddy asked me what I wanted for Christmas – I said the greatest gift that would make me happy is a bag of Gibble chips and some Snyders hard pretzels. As a child growing up in Southeast Wisconsin, Heather Grams thought St. Nick's Day was a holiday every child celebrated. St. Therese of Lisieux describes this tradition in her home in France as a small child and recounts how much she loved it. Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, St. Nick ... A big, fat guy in a red suit with a fluffy white beard. St.Nick aka Santa lives in the northpole (this side is if you believe in Santa) and kids send him a letter before Christmas of what they want for Christmas, and then on Christmas eve Santa goes all around the world and gives everyone presents! He only fills the stockings in our home and those are mostly filled with needed things, like body wash, shampoo, hair bands. Taking the time to learn about St. Nicholas' life and ministry might help your child understand that Santa Claus is based on truth. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. “We are all going to drown,” they screamed. Copyright © 2011 - 2021 The Humbled Homemaker  •  All Rights Reserved  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs, Long Pregnancy…FAST Labor! 1 Santa is an icon in modern culture, and his image is used to sell everything from soda to sports cars. She told me Santa was real like Barney.) When we had our children, we did the unwrapped presents by the tree, too. When it was time for them to go to bed, Saint Nicholas watched as the old man smiled and kissed each of his girls good-night. Our approach to Santa is very similar to yours. It really is so fun and teaches our kids about giving without expecting anything in return. “I just have to catch the person who is doing this.”. Santa To St. Nick Transformation. However, for her family this happened not on St. Nicholas Day but on Christmas Eve (similar to our American tradition of hanging the stockings by the fireplace). And, always put an orange in the toe of the stocking because my Dad told me that many times they would only get an orange for Christmas. Thank you for sharing this. 4 Heartwarming Letters to Explain Santa to Your Kids. Under a chair she found the money. Now Saint Nicholas was curious. Sinterklaas is based on the historical figure of Saint Nicholas (270–343), a Greek bishop of Myra in present-day Turkey. St. Nicholas Center All rights reserved, A St. Nicholas Story—Fiercest Little Animal in the Forest. If a parent does not feel comfortable taking this approach to Santa Claus (or the Easter Bunny, or the Tooth Fairy) the parent is free to leave out such stories from his child’s formation. It’s not hard to see how this tradition of gift-giving on Christmas Eve in connection with St. Nick and Kris Kringle evolved, but it still took a while for the current version of Santa Claus to develop.
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