Logo

scrim Pinion · 12-21-2007, 11:44 AM

I have a question for y'all. But first, a story:

When I started the 6th grade, I had a homeroom, and we often had short essay assignments in homeroom wherein we were asked to write on a particular topic and some of us would be asked to read aloud our essays for the class. One of the very first topics was "describe when you first found out there was no Santa Claus."

Born a smartass, I decided to write an essay describing how up until the very moment my teacher had announced the topic, and nobody seemed shocked by it, I had believed Mr. Kringle to be very real, and I was devestated to learn otherwise.

Now, one can attribute the massive failure of my attempt at humor to a lack of sophistication in my writing ability, or that of the audience, but whatever the cause, I had successfully established my role as a pariah for years to come.

Aaaaaaaanyway, my question is this: If you have kids, do you perpetuate the Santa myth? If you don't have children, would you? Is the Santa fantasy a harmless bit of play, or an example of why adults shouldn't be trusted? Is commitment to honesty worth sticking to in this case?

Discuss

Squeedoo S · 12-21-2007, 11:48 AM

Err, when it comes to Santa, if I had children, I would tell them the history about St. Nick, but I wouldn't perpetuate the Santa Claus myth. I dunno, if I had been telling my young children ( who look up to me as the person who knows everything so there), that there was a Santa Claus and then a few years later say, "Oh, sorry! There is no Santa Claus. I lied to you from birth to six years!" Yeah...that would be pretty awkward.

Sarah Nerd · 12-21-2007, 11:52 AM

I have a 4 year old, a 5 year old and an 8 year. We believe in Santa. It's good fun and magic for Children. Some of my fondest memories as a child revolve around things like throwing carrots on top of our trailer (yea I'm true trash) for the reindeer. We never had much money when I was a kid, but we always had wonderful Christmas times. It's always been a big deal to my mom. I thought Santa was magical and amazing and I'm not taking that feeling away from my own kids.

Mukatsuku · 12-21-2007, 11:52 AM

I have been asked by my students this question this week. For the young ones I said, of course there is and for the older ones I said "who knows?"

I don't go for the lying to kids for all that time because firstly I don't hold it against my parents, and secondly, my mother kept telling me god existed and still insists on it, at least with santa they admitted he doesn't exist, finally

Sarah Nerd · 12-21-2007, 11:56 AM

I guess how you celebrate it or believe has a lot to do with your upbringing and theres no right or wrong here.

scrim Pinion · 12-21-2007, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah Nerd

Some of my fondest memories as a child revolve around things like throwing carrots on top of our trailer (yea I'm true trash) for the reindeer.

AWWWWWWW

Jellin Pico · 12-21-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah Nerd

I have a 4 year old, a 5 year old and an 8 year. We believe in Santa. It's good fun and magic for Children. Some of my fondest memories as a child revolve around things like throwing carrots on top of our trailer (yea I'm true trash) for the reindeer. We never had much money when I was a kid, but we always had wonderful Christmas times. It's always been a big deal to my mom. I thought Santa was magical and amazing and I'm not taking that feeling away from my own kids.

I have to agree here. I remember the indescribable excitement of Xmas eve, putting out the cookies, forcing myself to sleep and LEAPING out of bed in the morning to see what was under the tree. I remember one eve I was trying to stay awake all night to see Santa. I was determined!! ADAMANTE!!

Now I still haven't a clue who did this, my parents or just some person in the neighborhood, but somewhere around midnight I heard sleigh-bells ringing outside. (probably some person in the neighborhood who wanted to make kids happy) I cannot describe how excited and happy that made me. Like a thousand "It's the ICE CREAM TRUCK"s all rolled into one shocking moment.

I just cannot imagine denying little kids that flavor of magic.

scrim Pinion · 12-21-2007, 01:38 PM

I see the appeal of having kids believe in magic, but it can backfire, you know:

One year, when I rushed to inspect the plate of cookies and cup of Diet Pepsi I left out for Santa (Mom loves her Diet Pepsi, and had it on good authority that Santa gets tired of milk after a while. Maybe it made him gassy), I announced that I had discovered definative proof of Santa's existence in the form of a grey hair left on the glass!

Oh, how jubilent I felt telling my mother that I found a grey hair on the cup of Diet Pepsi. That's right, my rapidly-approaching-middle-age mommy dearest: A GREY HAIR!

Liona Clio · 12-21-2007, 01:40 PM

This thread needs the ultimate historical answer to this age old question:

Quote:

Originally Posted by From the Editorial Page of The New York Sun,
written by Francis P. Church, September 21, 1897

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

"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 scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except 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 measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as 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 child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with 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 you 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 men 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, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

12-21-2007, 11:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
scrim Pinion LOLitician I can haz ur vote nao? Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The bombed out radio station by the fissure, in the Wastelands Posts: 668 My Mood: SL Join Date: 2/11/07	Santa: Real? I have a question for y'all. But first, a story: When I started the 6th grade, I had a homeroom, and we often had short essay assignments in homeroom wherein we were asked to write on a particular topic and some of us would be asked to read aloud our essays for the class. One of the very first topics was "describe when you first found out there was no Santa Claus." Born a smartass, I decided to write an essay describing how up until the very moment my teacher had announced the topic, and nobody seemed shocked by it, I had believed Mr. Kringle to be very real, and I was devestated to learn otherwise. Now, one can attribute the massive failure of my attempt at humor to a lack of sophistication in my writing ability, or that of the audience, but whatever the cause, I had successfully established my role as a pariah for years to come. Aaaaaaaanyway, my question is this: If you have kids, do you perpetuate the Santa myth? If you don't have children, would you? Is the Santa fantasy a harmless bit of play, or an example of why adults shouldn't be trusted? Is commitment to honesty worth sticking to in this case? Discuss __________________ [

12-21-2007, 11:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
Squeedoo S And Now Presenting, Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brooklyn, USA Posts: 1,520 My Mood:	Err, when it comes to Santa, if I had children, I would tell them the history about St. Nick, but I wouldn't perpetuate the Santa Claus myth. I dunno, if I had been telling my young children ( who look up to me as the person who knows everything so there), that there was a Santa Claus and then a few years later say, "Oh, sorry! There is no Santa Claus. I lied to you from birth to six years!" Yeah...that would be pretty awkward. __________________ "Happiness never killed anyone, but you can die from being too uptight..." -- a song by Wai Lana (Ohgodiwanttohavethiswoman'sbabies... D: )

12-21-2007, 11:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mukatsuku worried homesick Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: 兵庫、日本 Posts: 10,310 My Mood:	I have been asked by my students this question this week. For the young ones I said, of course there is and for the older ones I said "who knows?" I don't go for the lying to kids for all that time because firstly I don't hold it against my parents, and secondly, my mother kept telling me god existed and still insists on it, at least with santa they admitted he doesn't exist, finally __________________ -- My Sims Exchange - http://www.thesims3.com/mypage/Mukatsuku My Photography/Graphics Design - http://www.zedpeejay.com Meet-me wiki - http://meetme-english.wetpaint.com

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

12-21-2007, 11:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
Sarah Nerd I BUY LAND Feels most comfortable around misfits. Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: O-hi-o! Posts: 9,593 My Mood: Harpoon Lagoon Champion! SL Join Date: August 05 Business: Sarah Nerd Mainland Holdings Awards: 2	I guess how you celebrate it or believe has a lot to do with your upbringing and theres no right or wrong here.

12-21-2007, 01:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
scrim Pinion LOLitician I can haz ur vote nao? Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The bombed out radio station by the fissure, in the Wastelands Posts: 668 My Mood: SL Join Date: 2/11/07	I see the appeal of having kids believe in magic, but it can backfire, you know: One year, when I rushed to inspect the plate of cookies and cup of Diet Pepsi I left out for Santa (Mom loves her Diet Pepsi, and had it on good authority that Santa gets tired of milk after a while. Maybe it made him gassy), I announced that I had discovered definative proof of Santa's existence in the form of a grey hair left on the glass! Oh, how jubilent I felt telling my mother that I found a grey hair on the cup of Diet Pepsi. That's right, my rapidly-approaching-middle-age mommy dearest: A GREY HAIR!

Logo

Site Navigation