Did you always believe?

[officepro4u]

Did you always believe in Santa?

I was never allowed to believe in Santa or the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, etc.

As I raised my children, I really felt like I missed out on a lot of the magic of Christmas.

My parents believed that allowing us to believe in them was lying to us. They were and are still deeply religious and felt that it was wrong to lie to us for all those years. They only wanted Christmas to be about Jesus. They also felt that they worked hard all year long and sacrificed to get us what we wanted and they wanted us to KNOW IT! They couldn't bear the thought of having us think "some guy" from the sky gave them to us. They wanted us to know it was from THEM.

I still ended up being a Christmas freak, but never believed in Santa. Until now........

I believe in the good that Christmas brings. I believe in the spirit of giving. I believe that the concept of Santa is pure. I believe that Christmas warms the heart.

I incorporated Jesus and Santa into Christmas for my kids! They got to ask Santa for the top three gifts they wanted. By celebrating Jesus' birthday, it was only fair that they not get anymore than Jesus got. This also helped keep them from making a laundry list of "wants". We told them that the other items that they wanted would come from us, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.

This worked wonderful for my children!!! At ages 13 and 11 now, they STILL ask Santa for their top three. They know about Santa, but still feel that Christmas wouldn't be the same if Santa didn't bring them their top three.

I thought it was a great way to incorporate Santa and Jesus so the reason we celebrate wouldn't be lost in the "gimmes".

So, my question to all of you.....have you always believed?

Diana

[Sunshine73]

Absolutely! Surprisingly, for a person who didn't like Christmas all that much (at all, really), my mother handled the whole 'Santa' thing extremely well.

I was raised with Santa Claus, my mom took me to see him every year, I wrote letters to him like most children, etc. When I got old enough to question the existence of Santa, she sat me down and explained how Santa is more than just a person, how he's the embodiment of a universal Christmas spirit and that we're *all* Santa Claus at Christmas time. She then followed that up by involving me in doing Santa like activities (shopping for my younger siblings, wrapping presents, etc.) It was really great and made me feel even more involved in the Christmas spirit!


Also, to my mom's credit, she was never concerned with receiving credit for the gifts given on Christmas. In fact, every gift under our tree arrived Christmas Eve and was brought by Santa. None of the gifts under our tree ever "officially" came from my mom. In fact, I think I was in high school before I realized that kids actually received gifts from their parents. Even now all the gifts under the tree at my mom's house still say "from Santa".

[Sanity Clause]

Until I was 10 and stayed awake one night and found that my parents filled the stockings.

[kgstyles]

I have always beleived and I still do. That's always been a foundation of Christmas in my family and I pass that along to my kids. Religion has never played a part in Christmas in my house growing up or even now because my family wasn't religious at all. I'm still not too sure on what exactly religion has to do with Christmas. It's always been about beleiving in Santa Claus and being with your family and friends. And the music, the decorations, and the spirit.......

[Annette1990]

I have always been a believer too. Also, having a faith and going to church we were also taught "the real reason" of the holiday. But we had Santa in our lives too. I am the same with my daughter. I guess I am pretty fortunate thou. For her only being 6 yrs. old she is not the typical I want I want. She is thankful for what she gets and there really isn't a time when she wants anything in particular because everyone else seems to have it. She is pretty grounded and I count my blessings for that. She enjoys Christmas and all it has to offer without getting to carried away. I think we have more fun telling stories about Christmas, the decorating etc. I have never taken her to church for christmas but plan to this year. I think she is at the right age and seems to ask allot of questions. I think it's great that you celebrate it all with your children. I can see how you feel as if you have missed out. But there is always time to start and I am sure it melts your heart now that you have gotten to start a different tradition with your own children. Take care and thanks for sharing your story=)

[Billy Battles]

I'm still not too sure on what exactly religion has to do with Christmas.


Christmas is the Celebration of Jesus' Birthday. I thought everyone knew that. I am an Agnostic so much that not only do I not know if there is a God. Not only do I not know if Jesus is the son of God. I don't even know if Jesus ever even existed. I do however know that Christmas is the Celebration of Jesus' Birthday.

[kgstyles]

Christmas is the Celebration of Jesus' Birthday. I thought everyone knew that. I am an Agnostic so much that not only do I not know if there is a God. Not only do I not know if Jesus is the son of God. I don't even know if Jesus ever even existed. I do however know that Christmas is the Celebration of Jesus' Birthday.




I understand that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birthday but for me growing up in a house that didn't associate religion with Christmas, I don't understand how people can celebrate Christmas focusing more on their religion than on Santa Claus and family and so on...... the idea is just foreign to me.

[Minta]

I grew up believing and I still believe!

As a child I was raised with both the religion aspect of the holiday along with the magic of santa. I took part in the church christmas pagent for many years as a child, went to see santa and wrote santa letters.

Trying to install the same belief and magic into our children.

[holidaytwinkle5289]

i used to believe when i was younger.
to tell you the truth, my parents did the same thing
when me & my family became christians,
they tried to tell me that their wasn't no santa claus.
i eventually grew out of it.
but i still like to make believe !!

[JOHNOR]

.They got to ask Santa for the top three gifts they wanted. By celebrating Jesus' birthday, it was only fair that they not get anymore than Jesus got. Diana

what a fantastic idea, that should be made into a rule by government!

as for santa, i still believe, always have, always will!

[officepro4u]

I thought it was a great idea when I came up with it, LOL! I just wanted to incorporate everything that was important. Plus, it made my mom happy!!

I believe in Santa too!!!!!!

[Head Elf]

I grew up believing in all the childhood friends, tooth fairy, Easter Bunny, Cupid and so on.... Santa was always my favorite. I would sit on his lap every year while growing up. I don't think I ever stopped believing, but I knew that parents bought presents and such.

I still believe in Santa... I love to watch the little kids go up to the Santa and have that innocent look and the wonderment of the Christmas season. The smiles that they bestow on him and the questions they ask. When they get down from his lap and how they explain to mom or dad that he is so nice and he listened to them and so on. When I was growing up, we would listen on the t.v. that an unidentified flying object was coming into the United States air space and how the air force was ordered to shoot that object down when we (the kids) knew that it was Santa. My dad had a field day with that one. Freaked me out as a kid. Then they would tell us that they identified that it was Santa and Christmas was saved. How could you go to sleep after that? I still watch the radar on Christmas Eve.

[sugarplum fairy]

Yes, I have always believed.

[reindeerelf]

I always believed in Santa Claus. I grew up in a house where Christmas was the celebration of Christ's birth and Santa led that celebration. There was always at least one Nativity set and plenty of reminders of Santa and his sleigh and reindeer. As I got older I learned that Santa originated as Saint Nicholas who led the early Christian community in Lycia ( now part of modern day Turkey) serving as Bishop of Myra until 343AD. He was well known for his kindness and generosity especially toward children and he continues in that spirit today as Santa Claus.
If anyone is interested in the transition from saint to Santa I think you will greatly enjoy The Autobiography of Santa Claus edited by Jeff Guinn.

[JanaBanana]

I grew up in a non religious home, but have always beleived in Santa. :D
Now that I am married with children of my own we tell our children what the true meaning of Christmas is (Jesus) and they also believe in Santa... (well the younger 2 do) The older two still play along so as to ruin it for everyone... like you all say here, he is the big fella that has a heart of gold and who wouldnt believe in his kindness? He represents so much and I will always believe in him

[Head Elf]

As I said before, I have always believed in Santa Claus and the magic that it offers. I also have a frim foundation in a book religion and the birth of Jesus. Now that I am Wiccan (still searching) I celebrate the Yuletide and the season for what it is. With the birth of Jesus and the joy that surrounds that, Santa and the Children and the joy and happiness that surrounds that. I never met the real Santa and I never met the real Jesus, but I keep them and other deities close to me. All I know is that I was always told that Christmas made old people young again and little children wondering what if.... Saint Nicholas and all the other names he goes by is still doing the work of one supreme being. God/Goddess or what ever you call it.

[haagarr]

Yes I have always believed in Santa

[LittleMissLaura]

I have always believed in Santa. We did the christian thing too, but Santa is always there. And elfs! When I was little i even glued my wishlist to the window so the elfs could really see what i wanted :D

[ChristmasSpirit76]

When I was real young around 2 or so I was scared of Santa. After that though I believed in Santa even though I was raised in a christian household. We combined the religious aspect and the secular aspect. Even at 30 I still believe in Santa and the Magic of Chrstmas. At a young age I knew that it wasn't just Santa bringing the presents. To this day My mom will still sign it Santa and we also started a tradition of not just the regular from Santa,Mom,& Dad but we would use the elves, the reindeer, frosty, rudolph, yukon cornelius,scrooge, the penguins, and a bunch of other little cute names
. :rudolph:

[officepro4u]

When I was real young around 2 or so I was scared of Santa. After that though I believed in Santa even though I was raised in a christian household. We combined the religious aspect and the secular aspect. Even at 30 I still believe in Santa and the Magic of Chrstmas. At a young age I knew that it wasn't just Santa bringing the presents. To this day My mom will still sign it Santa and we also started a tradition of not just the regular from Santa,Mom,& Dad but we would use the elves, the reindeer, frosty, rudolph, yukon cornelius,scrooge, the penguins, and a bunch of other little cute names
. :rudolph:

That sounds like fun!! I want an elf name cheesy

[kerst]

In Belgium we don't have a Santa. Instead we have Saint Nicholas who visits all children on December 6 with lots of toys and candy and I sure believed in him. I started believing in Santa at the age of 20 when I lived in California and learned all about this wonderful man.

Christmas here is all about the birthday of Jesus and gifts are exchanged but don't come from Santa. I do put up my stocking every year and hope.....

[whychristmas]

I'm a Christian and a Santa believer (well at least St. Nicholas!) I grew up in a Christian family and we had a Father Christmas (being in the UK!). In fact when I was a kid we had a big 'Father Christmas curtain' that was hung on the front door and it was a tradition that on Boxing Day (26th) I had my photo taken in front of holiding some of my pressies, so it was a kind of a 'Christmas height chart'!

I am an Agnostic so much that not only do I not know if there is a God. Not only do I not know if Jesus is the son of God. I don't even know if Jesus ever even existed. I do however know that Christmas is the Celebration of Jesus' Birthday.

Billy, there's at least as much 'real' evidence (in documents, etc.) that Jesus lived as that Julius Ceasar did! The Romans really liked keeping records of things, especially legal stuff.

[Seasun]

When you guys say you believe in Santa, do you actually believe that there's an old, long bearded man, living in the North Pole, who drives across the sky on Christmas Eve on
sledge pullled by reindeers? and that he chutes himself down chimmneys to deliver toys around the world?

[kidzrme]

I grew up with Santa, but also knowing why we celebrate Christmas. My parents made Christmas extra special for me and my siblings. We have always had a very close family, and when I was growing up we never knew who would be with us Christmas morning. On many occasions we would wake up and find someone that we knew(or didn't) that did not have any family, or had nowhere to go for Christmas. My parents always made sure that that person had a couple of presents as well. They would also stay for breakfast. It really taught us the importance of giving and sharing. It helped us to grow into caring, loving adults.

[reindeerelf]

Seasun, that Santa is always there for us when we are young. Later on we recognize him as the spirit of giving and good cheer. For me both exist at the same time. It's an alternative reality with a circular rather than a linear time line.

[novelist]

:-PI come from a religious family. When we were kids, we knew about both aspects of christmas. WE were taught about Christmas as being jesus' birthday, and told about Santa. My parents always made a big deal about Christmas in our house. I have so many wonderful memories growing up.

[ChristmasBroadband]

When you guys say you believe in Santa, do you actually believe that there's an old, long bearded man, living in the North Pole, who drives across the sky on Christmas Eve on
sledge pullled by reindeers? and that he chutes himself down chimmneys to deliver toys around the world?

I don't believe in a physical man that literally comes in everyone's houses each year. But I do believe in the entity of Santa, that brings joy to kids (and adults) every Christmas. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without decorations of Santa around my house. I like to watch the kids in the malls getting their picture with Santa. It brings back so many memories of those few magical years where you literally believed in Santa. Even though I don't literally believe anymore, to say that Santa doesn't exist isn't accurate either. I love the response in "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus":

"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

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical 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 childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external 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, 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 lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."

[trackrebel]

I have always been a believer in Nikolaus and Weihnachtsmann (Santa Clause) as well as Jesus Christ....since I remember I pretty much knew the reason why we celebrate my favorite holiday, but I also believed in the Weihnachtsmann....my mom would send us outside, to run around the little yard we had....so that the Weihnachtsmann could bring the presents....:D.....we always broke every world record running around that yard....and when we came back...we had to walk around again...when they were finally settled putting the presents underneath the tree the door to the living room was closed....and my pops or moms rang a little bell...that was the sign for us to come in...and boy was I always happy seeing the lit tree, the presents, the music....just great...

to clarify why our parents put the presents underneath the tree while we were awake...and during the day...I am from Germany...we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve...on the 24th of December...and most people don´t do it in the mornings....so presents are being put there during the day and are not there already when the kids wake up

[Ms_Speedy_Elf]

I think that I was in the 4th grade when I stopped believeing . :-?

It just seems so sad when you find that there really isn't a Santa :cry:

[Rob]

I believed with all my heart and soul. Since I believed so much, I feel this is the reason I love the magic of Christmas. Just the thought of Christmas, brings me to a place of happiness, and magic.

Jesus is the reason for the Christmas Season in my belief, Santa just helps it along!!

I always love the illustrations of Santa kneeling down in front of Jesus, it says it all!!
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:va5I8xqM0Hw-rM:http://www.maryqueenoftheuniverse.org/media/26780.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.maryqueenoftheuniverse.org/media/26780.jpg&imgrefurl=http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/category/holidays/&h=500&w=450&sz=93&hl=en&start=1&usg=__DTnsHpGyGfMmGpyunnz8syyXp-Q=&tbnid=va5I8xqM0Hw-rM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=117&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsanta%2Bknelling%2Bdown%2Bin%2Bfront% 2Bof%2Bjesus%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG)

[HouseElf]

No. I was a born sceptic my parents would say!

At first we did not do 'Santa' we observed St. Nicholas Day earlier in the month (we still do observe this feast day). As my children aged and started school they started to ask questions, I remember when my middle son came home from grade one, all excited and said "Do you know that THIS Santa has elves that builds toys and he gives them to good kids for FREE!" Blew his mind lol

We slowly incorporated some magical elements into their lives, always with mischief and fun as a focus - and a good dose of honesty. They now try to trap a leprechaun each St. Patricks day (he does not like this so plays tricks on them) and has fun with the idea of an Easter Guinea Pig (my youngest sons idea when he was 3, it stuck). As for Santa, we decorate cookies for him each Christmas Eve afternoon, and watch his path on NORAD. They receive three gifts and a stocking full of gifts from Santa - and yes, they know a little that it is Mom and Dad - but they have fun and enjoy the magic :nice:

[ChristmasLovers]

I think I believed in Santa the "person" until I was 10 or 12, then it was all explained to me who he was. So from then on, it has been the belief in the spirit of Santa, and the magic it brings to the season, and the real reason for the holiday, being Jesus' birthday, was also explained. So to this day I, along with my family believe in Santa, the spirit and magic of the holiday. My son is only a year and a half now, so we have a while to explain everything to him. We have yet to decide to tell him if Santa is real or a spirit.

[ksrjreed]

I really was never allowed to believe. It's hard to believe when you are taken shopping for your gifts.

But now that I am a father I have let my kids believe and will not tell them other wise until they ask. Right now I have a 12 year old who still believes and until she asks or her friends ruin it for her she can believe all she wants. My biggest worry is once she finds out the truth she will ruin it for her younger siblings, I don't think she will and I hope she doesn't, as a parent I have realized that this point of childhood will be gone before we know it and that part of the fun of Christmas will be gone. I will have to wait for grandkids to enjoy it again. :rudolph:

[irishsnow]

Yes I always believed.

The most magical time of the year was waking up on Christmas morning and waking my family and then walking to the living room to see if Santa had brought us presents

[Rob]

I always believed, with all my heart and soul. I guess thats why I have such an attachment to Christmas all year long. It such a magical time, anytime when I am having a bad day, thinking about Christmas usually helps to get me in a better mood.
My dad is a baptist minister, and he always had us believing in Santa. We knew Jesus was the true meaning of Christmas, Santa just was the fun side of it. I guess the picture of Santa kneeling down worshiping Jesus explains it all.http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:BKBBtNW0gDgRmM:http://bp3.blogger.com/_88TNE4xA-xk/RXNCC8Pb91I/AAAAAAAAAAM/qrgJw9Kn-lM/s320/Santa%2Band%2BJesus.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bp3.blogger.com/_88TNE4xA-xk/RXNCC8Pb91I/AAAAAAAAAAM/qrgJw9Kn-lM/s320/Santa%2Band%2BJesus.jpg&imgrefurl=http://footstepsoflove.blogspot.com/2006/12/jesus-christmas-letter.html&h=283&w=320&sz=25&hl=en&start=4&usg=__CwOaI8z4opxSiAKl3a0SQTvSsNE=&tbnid=BKBBtNW0gDgRmM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsanta%2Band%2Bjesus%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3D en%26sa%3DG)