Archive through December 09, 2003
TV ClubHouse: Archive: Anyone NOT recognize Santa in your Christmas celebration?:
Archive through December 09, 2003
Cathie | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 09:28 pm     I found a delightful book last week, "The Autobiography of Santa Claus" by Jeff Guinn. I actually bought it to give my mother for Christmas and ended up reading it and keeping it for myself, so I have to go back and buy her another one! The story of Santa is delightful and fanciful, incorporating historical characters (including Amelia Earhart, who moved to the North Pole to coordinate Santa's flight patterns.) It emphasizes the true meaning of Christmas as a celebration of Christ's birth, and presents Santa's mission of sharing with others to make this holy time joyful for all. |
Carrie92 | Monday, December 08, 2003 - 11:36 pm     We celebrate with Santa - but we don't let Santa get all the credit. Our son only gets 2-3 gifts from Santa - and his stocking. We also emphasize Jesus in our celebrating. Although we are kind of lying using the Santa myth, we tell him that Santa brings gifts to kids to remind them of the even better gift we have in Jesus. I wasn't traumatized when I found out - for me it was just part of growing up. I have such fond memories of going to bed on Christmas Eve with my brother and sister and we would lay completely still and try to breathe as quietly as possible so we could listen for sleigh bells. I started to get suspicious when I recognized my parents handwriting on gifts from Santa, plus they used the same wrapping paper! I thought it was kind of neat that our parents had created this fantasy for us. I still love watching Rudolph and other Santa movies at Christmas time. And yes, on Christmas Eve I still look up into the night sky. But in the silence of that night I mostly think of Jesus' precious birth in that humble stable and know that somewhere, angels are singing. |
Joesmom | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 09:08 am     Hey guys, thanks for all the thoughtful and thought-provoking posts!! I'm fairly new around here and have started only 1 other thread, so wasn't sure if I would get much of a response. Guess I picked a good subject!! I really struggle with lots of "little" things about raising my son. I appreciate you all chiming in, and look forward to reading more! |
Meridian | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 09:55 am     Those of you who are caught in the Santa or No Santa dilemma seem to be missing something deeper. While I can see that you want to emphasize the "religious" aspect of the season, I believe that you are forgetting that Christianity is just that... a belief. What is the difference between one myth and a fairytale? For some, Christianity is a "fact" but, it is no more or less "true" than Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, or even Santeria or Ifa. Each one relies on faith to exist. Faith requires an element of belief. Why should the acknowledgement of one idea be considered less than another? Some of you will avoid Santa this year for the "sake of not lying to the children." Yet, you still put up a tree, decorate your house, give presents, etc. What you fail to recognize is the origin of the holiday predates the Christian allegory. Christmas is a PAGAN celebration. From the red and green (which represents menstrual blood and fertility) to the tree (symbolic of the penis), the concept of the holiday celebrates conception. Do you think holly and ivy are native to Israel? How many of you have explained that reality to your children? Early Christian churches adopted and incorporated pagan festivals, especially Saturnalia, in order to drum up support for their ideology and ease in adopting recent converts. In fact, Christianity was considered another cult because it absorbed current myths of the time (Sol Invictus, Mithras, etc.). It is amazing to see the same devout Christian who publicly decries heathens ironically celebrating pagan festivals. You wonder about the impact of a parental deception regarding Santa when your churches have "neglected" to tell you this truth which undermines the essence of their teaching. Which betrayal cuts more? Believe what you will. Have faith in what beings you peace and solace. However, understand the origin of both. http://www.hope-of-israel.org/cmas1.htm (christian site, but informative) http://www.essortment.com/in/Holidays.History/ (various holiday origins) http://www.ecauldron.com/yuleindex.php (wiccan understanding of yule) |
Maris | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 10:07 am     And the symbolism of a fat man in a red suit putting toys under a tree?????????? I shudder to think what that means. |
Grooch | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 10:11 am     ROFL!!!! Thanks for the laugh, Maris.  |
Fruitbat | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 10:26 am     Thanks Meridian. Very good post. |
Wink | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 10:31 am     Maris I actually laughed out loud at that one. Thanks for the morning chuckle. Very interesting post Meridian. |
Tabbyking | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 11:58 am     too funny, maris...and i don't want to think what that symbolizes! ------------------------------------ when i was little our one santa gift each was left unwrapped, so no paper to match up with other gifts. we would come home after midnight mass and santa would have come. there were bikes and dollies and rocking horses and tonka trucks. with 7 kids, it looked pretty cool! we did christmas eve opening of gifts with our kids, too, but the stockings were filled after everyone went to bed. that way, the kids got up in the morning to get their stockings and took them back to bed. dh and i got to sleep in a little on christmas morning, rather than having to get up at 6:00--kids already had their presents from the night before! i always took bites out of the carrots and i made a little hoofprint out of linoleum and would mix a little mud up and have dirty reindeer footprints on the kitchen floor near the party eaten carrot. it was a dickens of a time once my step mom came along because her family always had to wait til christmas morning and their santa gifts were wrapped. so my little brothers went from one tradition to another (everything had to be step mom's way. i mean, everything!) what was hardest for the little kids was that on christmas morning stepmom would sleep in til 8:30 or so and then take her shower and do her hair and full make-up (for pictures) and the 5 little kids would be sitting on the staircase, not allowed to go downstairs until she was ready...which was usually at least 9:30 or 10:00. they would sit for 2 or 3 hours!! we recognize santa in this house, but we don't recognize stepmom anymore...when my father passed away, she went through every cent in a year or so and vanished out of our lives. |
Pamy | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 01:50 pm     Update on my 8 yr old Santa story...last nite I told him how proud I was of him for giving so many of his toys to needy children, that because of him many needy children would be happy. He then said why don't they just write what they want on a list. I said, unfortunely, their parents don't have a lot of money to buy them toys, he said but Santa could bring them as long as they believe. So, I guess he decided to keep believing..... |
Ocean_Islands | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 02:13 pm     I have a question for those who teach their kids about Santa Claus. How do you teach your child to give gifts at Christmas? If Santa is the one giving all the gifts, I guess the kid does not get anything for their parents ... or am I missing something? |
Zachsmom | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 02:17 pm     Who said Santa is the one giving all the gifts? Who said Christmas was all about "getting" gifts? |
Texannie | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 02:19 pm     In our house, Santa gives to children because he is following the teachings of Jesus Christ "it is better to give than to receive". To honor Jesus' message, we give to our family and friends. My oldest has been using his own money since he was 8 and buying presents for his family. I think they are getting the message that it's about giving and celebrating Jesus' birth. |
Pamy | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 02:39 pm     OI...Santa brings the big toys! My son gets gifts from Mommy and Daddy too. I usually put 'our' gifts to him under the tree week before so he can shake them and guess what they are. Then when he comes down on Christmas morning he sees more gifts under the tree (wrapped in different paper!) and stockings filled. "Santa" also eats the cookies and milk that my son leaves out the nite before. That's how my parents did it for me. |
Crossfire | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 02:41 pm     Santa was not the only giver in my house, he just...topped things up over night. Though stockings were his job. Being a two parent family during the Santa years, me and my sister were helped with the parents gifts by each parent respectively, I have no idea how that would work in a single parent household though. |
Brenda1966 | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 02:47 pm     OI, Santa doesn't bring all the gifts. When I was a kid he brought the "Big" gift, the one our parents wanted to surprise us with and not have us shaking while it was under the tree. He also brought a few stocking stuffers to keep us busy while dad slept in a bit. My parents, aunts, grand parents, etc. bought the other gifts and we gave gifts to each other and helped pick out gifts for relatives and each parent. I love the idea of waking up on xmas morning and seeing a "new" present by the tree. I'm doing the same thing with my daughter. One gift from Santa, the rest are from mom and are put under the tree before the holiday. While we always gave gifts to charity, my parents didn't include us in picking them out. That's one thing I hope to do differently and have my daughter, when she's older, help me pick out gifts for charity. I forgot to mention that I loved Meridian's post. |
Maris | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 03:01 pm     Yep Ocean you are missing something. Kids love to give gifts naturally and don't need to be taught. My bureau is filled with cardboard frames, wooden pencil cups, paintings on my wall, screwy looking ashtrays and all of them christmas presents. |
Julieboo | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 03:54 pm     Ocean, it's Christmas! Smile. It's supposed to be a happy time, no matter what your individual beliefs are. Give, be kind, enjoy the decorations. Life is way too short. |
Ocean_Islands | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 04:35 pm     Well, Jews might not think that, since they don't have Christmas. Since you said it is 'supposed to be a happy time' it begs the question about what to do with those who are not happy. I suppose that does not fit into your schedule for Christmas. Many news articles appear around this time mention that Christmas is difficult for many people. But no one seems to do much about it. This idea that Christmas is supposed to be 'happy' is so ... well, I suppose you will call me names if I say it. |
Pamy | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 04:39 pm     OI..many of us here at TVCH are giving to the needy this year, have you seen those threads!? I am sure everyone here does even more for people that are less fortunate but they don't post about it. <> |
Maris | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 05:11 pm     Ocean my sons best friend has Channukah and let me tell you the kid makes out like a bandit because he also makes sure he doesnt miss christmas at my house. I wouldnt say nobody seems to do much about Christmas. Just because we dont post nice little kudos to ourselves dont assume we are all a bunch of selfish <>. |
Hippyt | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 05:15 pm     Yeah,and why don't you take a look at the Holiday Exchange thread? See what good things the people here at TVCH are doing all over this country and Canada. |
Spygirl | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 05:19 pm     Let's ease up a little bit guys Ocean, you said they might call you names...look out! I do see your point...though I think there are lots of good things that happen during this time of year. Is it enough to help all those struggling? No, there are many who slip between the cracks, but it is at least a step in the right direction.
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Karuuna | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 05:28 pm     I think Ocean is right. Lots of people do not look forward to Christmas for many reasons. They are lonely, or have lost someone they love, or just never had much of a family, or many many other reasons. I imagine there are folks right here at TVCH that aren't looking forward to Christmas for many reasons as well. And it's even more difficult for those people because there is a societal expectation that you are *supposed* to be happy at Christmas. Rather than try to make it better, which we cant always do, I think it's also good to let folks feel whatever they need to feel this time of year. |
Ocean_Islands | Tuesday, December 09, 2003 - 05:30 pm     I agree that there are a lot of things to do to help other people, so that is my focus. |
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