Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus:

[Aquila]

In my family we've always given gifts signed, "Santa Claus". And yes, telling our children and loved one's that Santa brought them presence is a time honored and beloved tradition among us. When my oldest became 6 they began to ask questions about Santa Claus, "Daddy, is Santa real???" I assured him that Santa is indeed real, and told him that I'd explain the whole story to him on his 7th Christmas. When that time came, I shared this video because it sums up everything in five brief minutes. I also shared with him some supplemental information that I had read on the topic. I hope you enjoy the history, and if you partake in the Santa tradition, I hope you gain a greater understanding of the truth regarding the custom. May you and yours be blessed this holiday season:

(*This is NOT an affirmation of any historical doctrine or position that may be held or may have been held by any historic church. This is simply meant to be offered as a bit of history for those who might find their lives and family traditions enriched by the information.)

[Michael The Disciple]

Typical of the wisdom of men. Take someone who did good things and change him into an omnipresent godman. He knows if you are sleeping, he knows when your awake, he knows if you've been bad or good....

He would probably turn over in his grave if he knew what men had made him into.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Typical of the wisdom of men. Take someone who did good things and change him into an omnipresent godman. He knows if you are sleeping, he knows when your awake, he knows if you've been bad or good....

He would probably turn over in his grave if he knew what men had made him into.

Yeah, I know. I think it's a bit creepy. I do understand their doctrine of theosis, but the veneration thing is something I can't see.

However, on a lighter note, the tradition of giving lovingly in the name of a great Christian man as a part of selfless and anonymous giving is apparently of "Christian" origin. In ancient times they didn't have television or radio. Most couldn't even read. Through traditions like these and the stories associated with them Christianity was introduced to many who would have otherwise never had heard. We're often hard on the ancients and all their man made "traditions". But I feel that if we look at it as one from their time, we'd realize how traditions like these kept the faith in focus throughout the year.

The "Santa" tradition is big in my family. I grew up with it and it was magical. As I grew up and learned what it was all about, I was sincerely inspired by it. I've continued the tradition with my kids and on the Christmas of my oldest's 7th year, I sat down and explained the entire story of St. Nicholas. I explained that "Santa" is a symbol and that he represents every good, noble, generous, and humble aspect of the Christian's heart... and that he is very much "alive" in those who follow his example. Santa is real, because we are all Santa. I encouraged them to be so moved by God's love and generosity in Christ that they too become "Santa" one day. My son, Noah, recently purchased a stuffed monkey for his little sister but he couldn't wait until Christmas to give it to her. He laid it on her bed after we had carried her sleeping little self upstairs and tucked her in. When she awoke she wanted to know who left the monkey for her. I started to say, "Well, that would be your little brother, who couldn't wait until Christmas." But, Noah chimed in before I could say anything. At now 10 years old, with a knowing smile, he said with a twinkle in his eye, "Santa must of brought it!" Addison replied, "But it isn't Christmas!" Noah answered her, "I guess Santa can come any time he wants to." I was moved by that. The lesson made it through. It isn't just about giving on Christmas, it's about giving whenever you find it in your heart to give at any time of the year. Noah's actions convicted me. Perhaps Noah understood far more about what being "Santa" is all about than I did. Out of the mouths of babes. lol

[FlamingZword]

Originally Posted by Aquila

In my family we've always given gifts signed, "Santa Claus". And yes, telling our children and loved one's that Santa brought them presence is a time honored and beloved tradition among us. When my oldest became 6 they began to ask questions about Santa Claus, "Daddy, is Santa real???" I assured him that Santa is indeed real, and told him that I'd explain the whole story to him on his 7th Christmas. When that time came, I shared this video because it sums up everything in five brief minutes. I also shared with him some supplemental information that I had read on the topic. I hope you enjoy the history, and if you partake in the Santa tradition, I hope you gain a greater understanding of the truth regarding the custom. May you and yours be blessed this holiday season:

(*This is NOT an affirmation of any historical doctrine or position that may be held or may have been held by any historic church. This is simply meant to be offered as a bit of history for those who might find their lives and family traditions enriched by the information.)

Good grief!

I never lied to my children and told them about the guy in the red suit.

my children grew up without that pagan myth in their little heads and knowing the truth never hurt them in any way.

If you lied about Santa, then what else did you lied to them about, the stork?

Dear Virginia, there is no Santa, it is a pagan myth, created to take away our minds from remembering the birth of Jesus, which incidentally did not even happened on Christmas, but which we celebrate on that day upon common Christian agreement.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by FlamingZword

Good grief!

I never lied to my children and told them about the guy in the red suit.

my children grew up without that pagan myth in their little heads and knowing the truth never hurt them in any way.

If you lied about Santa, then what else did you lied to them about, the stork?

Dear Virginia, there is no Santa, it is a pagan myth, created to take away our minds from remembering the birth of Jesus, which incidentally did not even happened on Christmas, but which we celebrate on that day upon common Christian agreement.

It's not a "lie". It's a tradition designed to remember a Christian leader who gave anonymously to those in need and stresses the importance of doing the same. We're all "Santas" or "Saints". My ten year old son can grasp this concept. I'm sure you can too.

Also, it has never taken away from remembering Christ's birth.

Lastly, no one knows when Christ was born. However, the early church was remembering Christ's birth on December 25th long before Aurelius tried to revive the pagan Saturnalia celebrations. Why? Because the ancient Jews had a doctrine known as "Integral Age". The doctrine taught that a genuine prophet (namely the Messiah) would die on the same day that he was conceived. So, the date of Easter was used to calculate the date of Christ's birth. The early church held to the belief that the date of Christ's death was March 25th. Now.... count 9 months from March 25th and what date do you get? December 25th! This is why early Hebraic Christians were remembering Christ's birth on December 25th long before Aurelius tried to revive the pagan celebration to overshadow the spreading Christian practice. As history will prove, the date of Easter was debated and the date was changed to April 6th. However, the date of Christmas wasn't changed with it. Therefore Christmas remained on December 25th.

Now, does this prove that Christ was born in December? NO. In all likelihood Jesus was not even born in what we call December. However, this does explain why the date of December 25th was chosen by early Christians and has remained the traditional date chosen to honor His birth.

http://www.touchstonemag.com/archive...id=16-10-012-v

[Aquila]

Here's an interesting fact concerning St. Nicholas. One of the most historic details of his life was his actions at the Nicene Council in 325 A.D. where the deity of Christ was being debated. Apparently, Arius argued that Jesus was not divine. This outraged Bishop Nicholas so much he is recorded as having physically punched Arius in the face for his blasphemy.

But that isn't the most interesting part of Bishop Nicholas' involvement at Nicaea.

The most interesting part of this is that Bishop Nicholas' name was stricken from the copies listing those who attended the council. Remember, three theological views were discussed at Nicaea: Trinitarianism, Arianism, and Modalism. We know that Nicholas wasn't an Arian, because he smote Arius for denying Christ's deity. However, the Trinitarians struck his name from the roster of authorized bishops. The only reason for Trinitarians to do this is if.... Nicholas was a Modalist.

Lastly, another clue as to Nicholas' theological position might be rooted in the fact that he was bishop of the city of Myra. Myra was a city that offered safe haven and provisions for Modalists fleeing persecution. So Myra had a rather large population of Modalists.

So.... the man from whom we get our "Santa Claus" tradition may very well have been Oneness! If true, St. Nicholas was an Apostolic! LOL!

[Jito463]

Originally Posted by Aquila

In my family we've always given gifts signed, "Santa Claus".

If your intent is to teach them about "Saint Nick", why do you sign the packages as "Santa Claus"?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Jito463

If your intent is to teach them about "Saint Nick", why do you sign the packages as "Santa Claus"?

Evidently you have no Dutch heritage. "Saint Nicholas" is "Sinterklaas" in the Dutch language. The Dutch brought the tradition to America. In American English it simply morphed into the loser form of, "Santa Claus".

So, essentially, the names Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas, and Santa Claus are all the same thing.

[Graham]

Interesting information in post #6. I can confirm that Jewish tradition about dying on the date of one's birth. Corrie Tin Boom died on the date of her birth and was given honor as (how do they say it?) one of the righteous among the gentiles - with special acknowledgement of her dying on her birth date.

[Evang.Benincasa]