A barrage of people will flat out tell you that it’s a lie to tell your kids that Santa Claus exists.
Let’s debunk that classic myth.
Santa Claus was a real person.
According to the history channel, “the legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. Admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends. It is said that he gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick. Over the course of many years, Nicholas’s popularity spread and he became known as the protector of children and ‘the gift giver.'”
For more on Santa Claus’ colorful history, check out National Geographic’s historic fact check here.
“The Shame on You” Mentality
Many folks continue to have a “shame on you” mentality for telling children that Santa Claus is real.
Let’s be clear, Santa Claus IS and WAS real.
Do not let anyone shame you for telling your kids that he existed.
The Truth of His Existence
Here is what I have told my own children and maybe it will help in explaining it to your own.
Me: Remember Tyler, your cousin, my nephew, who passed away way too young? He was real, right?
Kids: Of course he was Mom.
Me: You understand that just because Tyler is no longer with us on this Earth, does not mean he did not exist, right?
Kids: Yes, I remember how he would play with us and how much you loved him and all the stories you told us about him.
Me: Yes, his memory lives on through all of us. It’s our job to live and breathe his spirit and celebrate his life while we are still here on this Earth without him.
Kids: Kind of like Santa Claus, right?
Me: Yes, it is no different for Santa Claus. Just because he isn’t here on this Earth anymore, doesn’t mean we simply forget about him and what he stood for. People carry on his tradition of being a “gift giver” and spreading goodwill during the holiday season in his remembrance. Year after year, we celebrate what he stood for and honor his memory by carrying on the custom of giving gifts to one another. Everyone who has passed is worth celebrating and it is no different for Santa Claus. He offered us a guide on how to lead a good life helping others.
This dialogue has given me peace of mind in telling my own kids that Santa Claus is, in fact, real; and end with this reminder:
There truly is no better way to live out the holiday spirit than to honor someone else’s memory.
Thank you for this article. I appreciate this perspective and some language to consider. Have a Merry Christmas!
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