Want to get drama out of a parenting community?

[velvetpage]

Ask if perpetuating a belief in Santa is lying, or is it okay for an eleven-year-old to still wholeheartedly believe in Santa.

Oy vey, the DRAMA. I know of at least two defriendings so far.

For the record: Being a Unitarian has really freed me up on this front, because I don't have to deal with, "If Jesus is real, why isn't Santa real?" I can truthfully say that Jesus (or God) is at least as real as Santa (possibly more) because they are both cultural myths whose purpose is to perpetuate certain core values - in fact very similar core values, though there are a lot of interpretations of Jesus that are expressing different ones. The story doesn't have to be literally true in order to contain valuable truth. In fact, its literal truth is irrelevant to its mythical truth. No one would ever think to argue that Aesop's Fables were literally true - but their value in perpetuating culturally-appropriate lessons is undisputed.

I'd like to see my kids make the gradual transition from believing all the parts of the story literally, to realizing that some of it is clearly not true, to realizing that its literal truth has no impact on why we do it. Santa is about charity, and love, and peace. He's a visual representation of those things. (We can de-emphasize the other things he represents in Western culture.)

Comments

[amazonvera.livejournal.com]

I used to believe that, too! Mostly because my grandpa did and still really does look exactly like Santa.

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

So does my FIL. He has the red suit, the white beard, the leftovers of a Dutch accent - the whole nine yards. He has a regular seasonal gig at a mall, and does parties and such during the holidays as well. He lives across the street from the school, and I wouldn't be surprised to find out half the kids that go to it believe that Santa lives across the street. I know a bunch of kids in Elizabeth's class believe that.

[hendrikboom.livejournal.com]

Every now and then some little kid recognises me as Santa. I walk past one and she turns to me. As I walk away I hear her waying "Maman, pere Noel!"

No. My winter coat isn't red. I seem to be identified anyway.

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

Something about Dutch guys with beards. . .