Others went as far as banning any of the slightest representations of him from their own yuletide celebrations. No Santas on the trees. No Santas on wrapping paper. They were emphatic when the subject came up: Santa wasn't welcome here. Nothing would take the slightest bit of the spotlight from the main subject of Christmastime observances, they would insist.
On the one hand, I could understand that people wanted to preserve the original message of Christmas. On the other, it seemed like something was off in this anti-Santa worldview.
For me, I've become comfortable with and allowed all my kids to believe in the magical elf until they figured for themselves that he is make-believe. They had pictures with Santa, wrote letters and emails to the North Pole, and left him cookies and milk by the fireplace on Christmas Eve. I developed the attitude that Santa is actually a healthy part of a child's Christmas. Even after they have grown beyond their magical thinking stage, we still set up Santa figurines around the house in December.
My reasons for this are the following:
- Imagination is a significant ingredient to spiritual growth. Jesus taught in parables. Poems with their inflated imagery fill the Bible. The prophets almost always bring us their messages in highly symbolic imagery. There's a reason for all this: God is beyond our ability to comprehend or put into words. Spiritual truths need pictures that explain, in an approximate way, what is real about God. Letting a child enjoy the Santa myth until they find out the truth exercises their ability to accept a belief that cannot be "proven" scientifically. Some parents might be concerned that their children love Santa more than Jesus, but I love how C.S. Lewis responded to a mother whose 9-year-old who confessed that he thought he loved Lewis' famous lion Aslan (patterned after Jesus) more than Jesus. Lewis' brilliant answer? " … [He] can't really love Aslan more than Jesus, even if he feels that's what he is doing. For the things he loves Aslan for doing or saying are simply the things Jesus really did and said. So that when Laurence thinks he is loving Aslan, he is really loving Jesus: and perhaps loving Him more than he ever did before."
- Santa is imperfect, but echoes the gospel. There are parts of the Santa myth that are clearly unfaithful to the gospel--you don't always get what you deserve. Santa can lead us to unusual focus on ourselves and on materialistic greed. However, the basic example of Santa--someone who gives gifts to people and surprises them with love--is true to what the Bible teaches us about God. I believe that Father Christmas mirrors the Heavenly Father more than many devoted Christ-followers wish to admit.
- By allowing my family to enjoy the Santa fun, I model for them how to be part of a culture without allowing it to dictate their beliefs. So many things about the Christian faith are difficult to embrace in our increasingly secular society. Our teachings about many things are so far from where the majority of our society stands. There are many parts of the larger cultural norms that Christians can't take part in at all. I don't think Santa is one of those things. Why add one more superfluous distinction to being a Christian, especially one that is marked by giving and joy? How does it help us to show our world a God of love if we are known as Santa-haters?
- Santa is not a denial of anything about Jesus or anything else in the Christian faith. After all, when people think about Santa, they associate it with Christmas. Christmas is the celebration of the coming of Jesus to the world. Sure, Santa can lead to a tilting, over-emphasis on what should be avoided--self-centered and materialistic greed. It can teach children that the measure of joy is found in consumable goods. But I am not suggesting here that parents surrender to our culture's excesses. I'm suggesting that Christian parents should set up boundaries and help their children to find balance in these important celebrations.
What about you? Do you secretly read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" but never tell that to people you worship with? Do you have a Santa figurine collection? Do you show it off or keep it hidden? How do you keep Christ at the center of your family Christmas celebration and also enjoy other holiday traditions? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
P.S. Some of the Santa-detractors go further than denying Santa! They have gone to rejecting trees, candy canes and exchanging gifts. There are reasons why I think this is imbalanced, but I'll need to cover that in another post! Also, you can learn more about my thoughts to do with holiday-related traditions by clicking here to see another post.