Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus:

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by ApostolicKitty

All I saw was some dude trying to justify teaching baloney to his kids. You titled the thread as if Santa exists. He doesn't. Christian leader? Nope. Catholic.

I didn't read your overly long posts. They start to read like adults in Peanuts cartoons after a while. I'm like Snoopy scratching my head.

"Santa Claus" is a transliteration of "Saint Nicholas". He is indeed a historical figure. And yes, there is a Christian tradition of giving in his name as part of anonymous giving. Those are simply facts. And those facts are what I taught my kids.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Award Winning Post from a woman telling a man to MAN UP.

Bravo!

Please see standing ovation gif below.

But her post wasn't a true account of what the point is. The point is that "Santa Claus" is an American English transliteration from the Dutch "Sinterklaas", meaning "Saint Nicholas". Regardless of how anyone "feels" about that, or any subsequent additions to the tradition, it is a "fact". Saint Nicholas is considered a historic figure and was an early leader of the church, that is also a "fact", regardless of what anyone "feels" about it. It is also a "fact" that the tradition of giving in Nicholas' name was started by early Christians as a way to give anonymously but calling to mind an example of Christian generosity and charity. When addressing the Santa Claus tradition with my kids, I taught them the "Facts". When grandma Dorothy (a rather secular woman) gave my son a present and said, "Honey, look what Santa brought you." He smiled, and said, "Thanks grandma!" She said, "No honey, Santa brought this for you." He then went on to explain the truth behind "Santa" in a rather simplistic way, "Santa is St. Nick. He was a preacher that gave people things when they needed them. After he died, people kept the giving alive by giving in his name." She looked at me with a bit of amazement, and I smiled.

What part of that is teaching my kids "baloney"?

[Aquila]

There is even a tomb where Nicholas is believed to have been laid to rest.... people visit it all the time:

[Aquila]

Now, if my extended family weren't so into the "Santa" tradition, I'd probably not have even bothered with it. But I ensured that my kids know the history behind the tradition. And, no, they don't feel "lied to". They feel that they simply understand the tradition far better now than when they were younger. They also see the fun in how little kids are amazed at the notion, little kids that will also grow up to know the history of the custom....if their parent's aren't so dumbed down by secular culture or radical fundamentalism that they can't relate the history to them.

[KeptByTheWord]

Aquila, I do applaud you for telling your kids the history behind it all. That is far better than the myth of Santa and all that goes on with that now. We don't do santa at all, never have, and don't intend to, but I understand why you would teach your kids so if the santa tradition is entrenched in your extended family. Thankfully we don't have that problem in my family. I think you have handled it as best as you can.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Aquila, I do applaud you for telling your kids the history behind it all. That is far better than the myth of Santa and all that goes on with that now. We don't do santa at all, never have, and don't intend to, but I understand why you would teach your kids so if the santa tradition is entrenched in your extended family. Thankfully we don't have that problem in my family. I think you have handled it as best as you can.

It was the best way I could address it without being a sour puss. Frankly, the only way NOT to really celebrate the traditions of Christmas 100% is to deny the kids gifts and treat it like just another day, as they watch the festivities and other kids get showered with blessings in other families. For many JWs that I know, this was something that began the wedge between them and their faith. Why give culture that much power to empower your kids to resent you and the faith you hold as a family? So, I just embraced it, and focused on the historical "truth" behind the traditions.

I believe in DOMINION. I don't believe we should run and hide from elements and traditions in our culture, even if they are "pagan". Rather, we should take them, redefine them, and use them to glorify Jesus.

I look at it like this.... to denounce Santa as an elf and a pagan fabrication is as much of a lie as telling kids the Jolly Old Fat Man with 8 reindeer is actually real. The truth is that the tradition is rooted in the love and charity of an ancient Christian pastor from the city of Myra, a bishop named Nicholas who yes, was eventually listed as a "Saint" by the historical church. And yes, the truth would be to tell them that giving gifts in his honor was a Christian tradition started by Christians who wanted to essentially continue his works of charity, especially during the difficult Winter season. And that's why we have Santa Claus and the tradition of anonymously giving gifts in his name. In most cases, kids aren't dumb. They'll realize it wasn't a "lie", it is simply a tradition whose understanding they eventually grow into.

To me, that is the TRUTH about our customs.

[Aquila]

It's kinda like sex. When my kids were too young to understand the details we simply told them that mommies and daddies "cuddle together in bed and mommies get a baby growing in their bellies". Now, of course, my kids are 10.... and they can probably make most adults blush with the truth of the matter. lol

But no one would say we "lied" to them by making the truth an oversimplification.

[Aquila]

A good friend of mine saw some memes on Facebook about the "pagan" stories of virgin births among pagan gods celebrated around mid to late December. He asked me why Christians imitate pagans.

My answer might surprise some.

I explained that after the flood there was just Noah and his family. I explained how I believe that certain truths and prophecies were no doubt passed down by Noah to his children, and from his children to their children, and so on, and so on. These prophecies would include prophecies of the Savior's virgin birth. I then explained how I believe man's languages were divided at the tower of Babel. No doubt, this changed the very words and names used in these ancient prophecies. As entire language groups migrated and settled into various areas, their customs, understandings, and traditions drifted into more complicated religious traditions that became what we know as pagan religions today. But the truth is.... most of the most ancient pagan beliefs originated from a single divine truth. For example, every pagan religion teaches that a "Savior" would be part man and part god. Every nation and culture teaches that he'd be born of a virgin. Every pagan nation and culture even illustrates a great sacrifice that will be made for the benefit of man.

I then said, "Perhaps the REAL question should be, why are shadows of truth found in ancient paganism?" I saw the lights come on and he got it! He said, "That would mean that essentially all of mankind would already know the divine pattern that would be fulfilled in Jesus!" I smiled and said, "Yep, that's the point. All of mankind is without excuse."

I remember reading a story about a missionary who was living among an islander people and how they had an annual tradition in which they laid all the taboos and curses accumulated during the year on a chicken. They would then dress up as various kinds of spirits with face paint. They'd then dance and reenact a great drama wherein something had to be sacrificed to the gods to satisfy their wrath against man's taboos. Then a priest would dance up, lay hands on the chicken, and begin screaming all the taboos of the village, placing them on the chicken. He'd then hand the chicken over to those dressed as evil spirits and allow them to sacrifice it by cutting it's head off. The priest would take the body of the chicken as those dressed as evil spirits danced around a fire, celebrating the death of the chicken. The priest then took the dead body of the chicken and sprinkled its blood all over the village altar and pronounced forgiveness to the people.

Sounds real pagan doesn't it? Or... does it?

Later, the missionary spoke to the chief and learned the story that had bee reenacted before him. The missionary began sharing how he believed that there was only one God, and he then began to tell the chief about the life of Jesus. The chief became enthralled with the story of Christ and as the missionary began to explain the resurrection the chief began weeping. The missionary asked, "Are you okay?" The chief then said, "My good friend, I just realized that this Jesus... is my chicken!" It was through this understanding that the missionary reached many of these tribal members. Today, one of the words used for the "Savior" in their language has its roots in their word for that sacrificial chicken.

I think the big FREAK OUT about paganism isn't warranted. Personally, I think we can understand these ancient customs, beliefs, and stories in a manner that brings glory to Jesus and brings every nation, kindred, people, and tongue back on line with God. Yes, the Celts celebrated the evergreen as a tree that possessed eternal life, for it endured the winter and even lived for quite some time after being cut down. We have to realize, ancient missionaries used these customs to point these lost people to Jesus. Soon the tree began to represent the eternal life found only in Christ, the tree of life. The lights, the Light of the world. These things have become so far removed from their pagan origin, it is actually ridiculously unfactual to claim they are "pagan" customs any longer. Rather, they are now "cultural" customs... most of which no longer mean what they meant in their pagan contexts, but rather TODAY they have come to mean and symbolize the great truths of Christ.

[ApostolicKitty]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I believe in DOMINION. I don't believe we should run and hide from elements and traditions in our culture, even if they are "pagan". Rather, we should take them, redefine them, and use them to glorify Jesus.

Spoken like a good Catholic.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by ApostolicKitty

Spoken like a good Catholic.

Nope.... even Paul used this technique:

Acts 17:22-24 King James Version (KJV)
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Paul took their custom of providing an altar for the "Unknown God" to open the door of truth to them. He didn't curse that pagan custom, he properly defined it.