Explaining Santa to your Children

[Lilu]

Laiste inspired me to ask this ;)

My question is - what are your thoughts about Santa? How do you explain him to your children? Do you support the myth of Santa being a man who lives in the North Pole, makes toys, has elves, and uses magick to get around the world in 24hours? Or do you think it's better to be upfront with your children from the beginning, telling them that Santa is not really *real* but he is a concept of love and generosity and giving etc? Or whatever you think he stands for (pulling things out of the air here).

Thoughts?

BB
Lilu

[Avena]

I don't have children, but when I was reading your post I started wondering how my parents explained him to me... Can't remember... not even how I found out that he doesn't exist (you know, the way you were told he'd exist: old, bearded man, entering through the chimney...)

I probably wouldn't tell my children (if I had children) too early that dear Santa doesn't exist. But if they'd ask like "Mom, mates in school/kindergarten told me there is no Santa, is that true?" I most certainly wouldn't lie to them, but explain it in a way a small child does understand, just like you said that he is a concept of love and generosity and giving etc.

[Swanspirit]

The legend of Santa Claus has it roots in the Old Gods who rode the skies with the wild hunt ...... Wotan and the other GODs of the Wild Hunt......some Fundamentalists are so aware of the pagan element in Santa that they condemn him as (where have we heard this before ) a minion of Satan.....
check this out............
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS AND THEIR PAGAN ORIGINS

Because the festive aspects of the German-American Christmas, including the tree, were considered pagan, the
Puritans in New England shunned them until about 1875. They were not entirely wrong!

It is generally acknowledged that the Christmas tree is of German origin. In the pre-Christian era the oak was the
sacred tree for the Germanic peoples. Legend has it that the missionary to the Germans, St. Boniface, in order to
stop sacrifices at their sacred Donar Oak near Geismar, chopped the tree down [725 A.D.]. He is said to have
replaced the oak by a fir tree, adorned in tribute to the new-born Christ. Ironically, the evergreen tree has been
ascribed magical power by the Germanic peoples as a representation of fertility. Today, the fir and its next of kin
enjoy the highest degree of popularity. The Christmas tree custom has spread across large parts of the world.

The church also placed Christ's birth at the time of the winter solstice and fostered as the bringer of gifts St.
Nikolaus, the bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, who died on December 6, 343. Christian symbols and earlier historical
layers of Germanic mythological figures began to meld, or to live side by side. Consequently, the old German God
Wotan, riding the wild skies with his retinue, emerged out of the pre-Christian past.

To this day Nikolaus traditions vary as widely from region to region as his guise and name. He appears as St.
Nikolaus (mainly in Catholic areas), Klaus, Nickel, Sünnerklas, Seneklos, Pelznickel, Knecht Ruprecht,
Weihnachtsmann and Christkindl (in mostly Protestant areas). He is afoot or astride a white horse, a reindeer, a
mule, or even a goat. More diverse than those of the saintly Nikolaus are the many legends and traditions
surrounding his often wild companions: the Zwarte Pitt, Hans Muff, Schimmelreiter, Krampus, Leutfresser,
Rumpelklas, Schmutzli. A religious myth whose source was in a Semitic nation, was subsequently developed by a
Mediterranean people, and finally superimposed on the quite alien mythologies of the Northern Europeans. The
result is a wide array of coexisting customs, Christian and Germanic.

Part of the modern American picture of Christmas is that of a magnificent sleigh pulled by eight reindeer carrying a
bushy-bearded Santa Claus. The eight reindeer have only been in Santa's service since 1822. That is when
Clement Clarke Moore, of Troy, N.Y., wrote his decidedly secular "'Twas the night before Christmas..." Moore's
knowledge of popular views of Christmas was based chiefly on the St. Nikolaus customs brought to the area by
Dutch, German and Scandinavian immigrants. In the German-speaking countries, and Holland and Belgium as well,
December 6 is the most distinctive children's festival of the year. The shops are full of many-shaped biscuits, gilt
gingerbreads--sometimes representing the saint--sugar images, toys and other little gifts. On December 5, small
children place their shoes on a window sill or in front of the door. If they have a fireplace they will hang their
stockings there. In the morning they will find small gifts, an orange and an apple and a small toy.

Forty years after Moore first published his poem, the illustrator and political cartoonist Thomas Nast created the
American image of Santa Claus, a combination of Moore's "jolly old elf" and the Pelznickel of Nast's native
Bavarian Palatinate. Nast, the son of a Bavarian army bandsman, was born in Landau, in 1840, and came to New
York with his parents at age 6. In 1862 he joined Harper's Weekly, primarily as Civil War correspondent and began
to produce politically acclaimed cartoons and war sketches. He was asked by a publisher to illustrate a book of
holiday poems that included Clement Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Combining imagery from Moore's
verse, and his childhood memories of Christmas, Nast created a rotund, bearded, pipe-smoking figure in a woolly
suit and cap, carrying a large sack of toys.

In many regions, and also in the U.S., the festivities originally attributed to the gift-giving St. Nikolaus have been
transferred from December 6 to Christmas. The giver of gifts is the "Weihnachtsmann" [Santa Claus] or the
"Christkindl" [Christchild, an angel]. The latter, misunderstood by Anglophones, became "naturalized" as "Kris
Kringle." Christmas customs are perhaps the nicest example for cultural transfer and adaptation resulting in an
American tradition with a German touch.

Time Line of Religious Beliefs

500 AD------------------1500 AD
-----------------------/---------------------------/----------------------
Pagan/Germanic
Christian
Catholic
Protestant


Culture = beliefs, customs and traditions held by a group

Ruth Reichmann
Max Kade German-American Center, IUPUI


and then read this and TRY NOT TO LAUGH TOO HARD......... I wouldnt want anyone to hurt themselves........ SANTA CLAUS

Santa Claus is a mythical god. He has his roots in ancient pagan times though his most recent disguise
is to adapt the appearance of "St. Nicholas". This scheme of course is Satan's doing. And Satan
works in the hearts of men.

The appearance of St. Nicholas has been altered through the years for promotional reasons,
probably by some heartfelt tall tales told by some foolish fascinated fat fathers.

Satan's aim is to confuse, to lead each one on a dead end journey, to keep all from ever learning the
truth, to deceive. In this instance, if we look at the origins of Santa Claus and his Christmas
celebration, we see that December 25 was, since ancient t imes, the celebrated birthday of the Sun
God. It still is only it goes by a different name. Pagan festivals are common at this time of year in
many parts of the world. Christmas was not the date of St. Nicholas' birth and more importantly nor
was it the date of Jesus Christ's birth.

When studying religion and ancient customs one is led to wonder why Jesus is even mentioned here,
except that Constantine, a Roman Emperor of the fourth century, imposed the observance of the
birthday of Jesus on the 25 of December, then imposed this on t he public. One had to follow or be
persecuted.

Unlike an inanimate object, Santa Claus, the American invention based on a "saint" Nicholas, dictates
behavior over the season. Most of the customs can be traced back to pagan idolatry and these are all
anti-Christian by definition.

Christian customs are described primarily in the pages of the Old Testament. Some customs
pertaining to christmas are also mentioned there but are noted as pagan customs, that is against God
or against God's instructions.
( This last bit was on a page with no source provided..... )
I LOVE SANTA...... what a PAGAN!!!! so we have a graet deal to offer our children in the way of a worldwide universally blessed figure of a pagan to give our children as a pagan gift for Yule .. Christmas . ... or what ever you celebrate....
Love and Pagan chariots filled with gift giving jolly old pagans
Swannie

[Avena]

I knew the christmas tree was pagan, but Santa Claus a god and even a god like Wotan? Very interesting and good to know! ;) But I hardly can imagine old, cuddly Santa being part of the wild hunt ...

[Sequoia]

this is a very special thing that I've kept with me a long time, and what I plan to tell my children someday. I got it from little house on the prairie.

When my child asks me if santa is real, I'm going to tell him/her that yes, santa clause is indeed real. Because, in a very real way, santa is the spirit of christmas. He may not be a living breathing man (weeeeeeel . . .it could happen ^_~), but that feeling of unselfishness, of giving and love and holiday cheer. . . that is what santa clause is.

If I can find the book, I'll directly quote it, but that's about the jist of it. ^_^

[Lilu]

I like what you've got going there Puma. Hubby & I have talked about what we one day will tell our kids when we have them, and we pretty much agree on telling them straight out that he isn't real - for various reasons that aren't really related to the topic.

I would encourage the use of Santa as a "spirit of Christmas/Yule, of giving and showing love to people" because to me, that is what Santa represents - and I just bought the most BEAUTIFUL Santa doll I've seen in forever, in white and gold robes *drool*, Santa is a big symbol of giving - not just with presents, but giving of the spirit and love etc - to me.

Thanks for posting the info above Swan, do you have the URL for those pages? I'd like to bookmark it.

I have also read another interesting article in the past entitled, "When Santa was a Goddess" or something like that. I've gone looking through my bookmarks, but I don't know where it is!!! :eek: So, here is another article which I found of interest that you might like.

Santa's Many Faces: Shaman, Sailor, Saint.
http://www.widdershins.org/vol6iss6/04.html

BB
Lilu

[Swanspirit]

when i went looking for that ...... found this which I think is a completely fair christian approach to Santa where the author says ...... The Origin of Santa Claus and
the Christian Response to Him

Pastor Richard P. Bucher

It's my turn to author an article that claims to penetrate the dark
and obscure recesses of the origin of Santa Claus. How shall we
understand the Santa Claus phenomenon? Is it pure paganism
foisted upon an unsuspecting populace? Is Santa Satan in
disguise (there is after all, the same letters in both names, as
some guardians of evil remind us). Or is Santa a Christian after
all, since he really is St. Nicholas, a Christian bishop of the
fourth century? So which is it? Is Santa Claus harmless or
hellspawn or something in between? Though knowing his origin
can't decide all these questions, it still is an important point of departure.

Actually, the truth of the matter is that the modern Santa Claus is a conglomeration of sources, a
legendary being that has evolved over the years. Along the way, pre-Christian legends, the story of St.
Nicholas, Dutch immigrants to America, Washington Irving, Clement Moore, Thomas Nast, and the
Coca-Cola company, all made their contributions.

The Saint Nicholas Connection

It is well known that the name "Santa Claus" comes to us by way of the Dutch "Sinter Klaas," which in
turn, was a form of Saint Nicholas. Our modern Santa Claus took his name from the Christian Saint
Nicholas so we need to begin with a look at this Christian bishop of the fourth century.

Throughout history Nicholas of Myra (d. 350) has been one of the most beloved saints even apart from the
Santa Claus context. In fact, George McKnight claims that both in the eastern and western Church,
Nicholas is "the object of extreme veneration, to a degree unequaled in
the case of any other saint."1 The first historical record of his veneration
is the fact that the emperor Justinian built a church in his honor in
Constantinople around the year 540. Nicholas is the patron saint of entire
nations, including Greece, Russia, Sicily, and Lorraine, and many cities
throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, and Italy. He is also
patron saint of children, bakers, merchants, and mariners.

Ironically, very little factual information is actually known about this most
popular saint. In the words of Weiser,

there is scarcely any definite historical fact known about
him except that he was bishop of Myra in Asia Minor; that he was
cast into exile and prison during the persecution of Emperor
Diocletian and released by Constantine the Great; that he died in
Myra about 350, and in the year 1087 his body was
brought by Italian merchants from Myra to the city of Bari
in Italy, where his relics are still preserved and venerated in
the church of San Nicola.2

The Feast of St. Nicholas on Dec. 6 has been observed with great enthusiasm throughout Medieval
Europe over the centuries. This enthusiasm was due to the many legends that had grown up around
Nicholas: that he had distributed gifts to the poor at night through their windows, had fasted while a baby,
had helped dowerless maidens, saved a city from famine, had aided a ship in distress, etc.3

Because of the gift-giving legends associated with Nicholas, it was held (especially in Belgium and
Holland) that on the Eve the Feast of Nicholas, the bishop himself would come from heaven and visit
children in their homes, giving gifts to those who had been good. Nicholas, decked out in full
ecclesiastical garb (bishop's vestments, with miter and crozier), would arrive on a flying gray horse (or
white donkey, depending on the custom). In some variations of the legend, he was accompanied by
Black Peter, an elf whose job was to punish children who had been bad.

It is held by some scholars that the legends of Nicholas as gift-giver drew in part from pagan, preChristian
sources. For example, the Teutonic god of the air, Odin, would ride through the air on a gray horse
(named Sleipnir) each Autumn - so did Nicholas; Odin had a long white beard - so did Nicholas; a sheaf
of grain was left in the field for Odin's horse - children left a wisp of straw in their shoes for Nicholas.4
Others claim that attributes of the Germanic god Thor, the god of thunder, were transferred to Nicholas.
Thor was supposedly elderly and heavy with a long white beard; he road through the air in a chariot drawn
by two white goats (called Cracker and Gnasher); he dressed in red; his palace was in the "northland;"
he was friendly and cheerful; he would come down the chimney into his element, the fire.5 No definitive
correlation has ever been found between the "visit of St. Nicholas" and pagan gods such as Odin and
Thor. However the similarity is striking and some relationship seems likely.6

After the Reformations of the sixteenth century the Feast of St. Nicholas was abolished in many
countries. Throughout northern Germany, for example, the Protestants encouraged veneration of the
Christkindl (Christ-child) instead, who, it was said, brought gifts to children on Christmas Eve. As an
example of this, a Protestant Pastor of the seventeenth century complains about parents who put
presents in their children's beds, telling them that St. Nicholas has brought them. This is a bad custom,
he says, "because it points children to the saint, while yet we know that not St. Nicholas but the holy
Christ Child gives us all good things for body and soul, and He alone it is whom we ought to call upon."7
Despite this new emphasis, the Nicholas legends prevailed in many places, especially among the Dutch.

Santa Claus in America

When the Dutch established their colony of New Amsterdam in America in the seventeenth century, they
brought with them the traditional "visit" from Sinter Klaas (St. Nicholas) on the eve of Dec. 5. Weiser
thinks that when the English later took over the colony and renamed it New York, the English children
began longing to have a kindly "Sinter Klaas" of their own that would bring them gifts. But because the
English Protestants did not observe saints days, the Sinter Klaas visit was moved to Christmas Eve and
observed then.8

Author Washington Irving (1789-1853), most famous for "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van
Winkle," is important for the information he gives us on the Dutch version of Sinter Klaas in the early
nineteenth century. Washington's 1809 work "The History of New York (also called the "Knickerbocker
History") was a satire on the transplanted customs of the Dutch of New York city. The "History"
contained several references to the legend of St. Nicholas as observed by the Dutch. The St. Nicholas
described by Irving was an old man in dark robes who arrived on a flying horse on the Eve of St. Nicholas
to give gifts to children.

In his Folklore on the American Land,9 Duncan Emrich tells us of the next evidence we have of the
American evolution of Santa Claus. It is a little know poem, "The Children's Friend," first published in
1821. The poem went beyond what Irving had written, mentioning for the first time a flying sleigh and a
reindeer. The poem begins:

Old Santeclaus with much delight
His reindeer drives this frosty night.
O'er chimney tops, and tracks of snow,
To bring his yearly gifts to you...

There is universal consensus that the person most responsible for shaping the American version of Santa
Claus is Dr. Clement Clark Moore, a theology and classics professor at Union Seminary. What did Moore
do to earn this honor? He wrote a simple poem for his children in 1822 entitled, "A Visit from St.
Nicholas," that begins with the now famous words,

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

There is a legend that Moore wrote this poem on Christmas Eve, 1822, during a
carriage ride to his home in Greenwich Village and that the inspiration for the St.
Nicholas in his story was the jolly Dutchman driving the carriage. Closer to the truth is
the observation of Emrich that Moore was probably inspired by Irving's Knickerbocker
History and "The Children's Friend," which he almost certainly would have read.
Specifically Irving's description of Dutchmen in his story was Moore's inspiration for St.
Nick, claims Emrich. It must also be said that it is possible that Moore was familiar
with the stories about Odin or Thor that were mentioned above.

In any case, in describing St. Nicholas, Moore went beyond anything that had ever been said yet. It was
Moore who increased the number of reindeer to eight and gave us their names. It was he who explicitly
described Santa going up and down the chimney leaving toys in stockings hung by the fireplace. Moore's
St. Nick was "chubby and plumpa right jolly old elf;" he carried a bundle of toys on his back; "he had
eyes that twinkled, dimples that were merry, cheeks like roses, a broad face, and a little round belly." It's
interesting that Moore's Santa was also a small elf who flew in a "miniature sleigh" pulled by eight "tiny"
reindeer.

The poem wasn't published until a year later, and that secretly, without Moore's consent. He didn't think it
worthy of publishing. Many others did, however, as it was an overnight sensation. Only 15 years later did
he permit it to be included in a volume of collected works.

It was Bavarian illustrator Thomas Nast, that gave us the picture of Santa Claus, now
so common. Nast, the "father of American political cartooning," drew more than 2200
cartoons for Harper's Weekly from 1862 through 1886. Many of these were of Santa
Claus at Christmas time. Before Nast, St. Nicholas had been pictured as everything
from a stern looking bishop to a gnome-like figure in a frock (as he had been pictured
in the first edition of Moore's poem). Nast was clearly inspired by Moore's 1823 poem,
but he also added additional features to the Santa Claus evolution, such as Santa's
home at the North Pole, his workshop filled with elves, and his list of all the good and
bad children of the world.

Believe it or not, the Coca-Cola company also contributed to the modern Santa Claus. Beginning in 1931
and for 35 years, Coke ran advertisements that featured a human-size Santa (not elf-size) drinking Coke.
These ads contributed much to the modern image of Santa Claus (and the drinking of coke!).

Conclusion

When conclusions are drawn about the origin of Santa Claus, extreme statements should be avoided.
This short article has shown that the modern Santa Claus has been shaped by many factors and is a
conglomeration of myths and legends. I feel compelled, however, to make several observations.

First, it is absolutely inaccurate to claim that "Santa Claus is a Christian" or that "Santa Claus is St.
Nicholas." Though it is true that the historical St. Nicholas was a Christian man, the preceding has
shown that the modern Santa Claus has nothing to do with Nicholas of Myra, other than his name. The
modern Santa Claus has been greatly influenced by the custom of "the visit of St. Nicholas," in which the
saint would show up on the eve of his Feast Day to give gifts to children. But the custom of his "visit" is
certainly not based on the historical man; rather it is based on legends attached to him, and it is possibly
based on preChristian myths (about Odin, Thor, etc.). It is also a rather silly and misleading argument to
state that "Nicholas was generous and Santa Claus is generous, so the same spirit permeates both."
Right!

Second, it is also absolutely inaccurate to claim that "Santa Claus is pagan" without any further
explanation. We need to be clear what we mean by "pagan." If by "pagan" we mean "non-Christian" then
the statement is accurate in the sense that I gave in the paragraph above. However, because "pagan" has
such a pejorative sense to it, I prefer to say that "Santa Claus is a fairy tale" along the lines of the tooth
fairy - which leads to my next point.

Third, the real problem that Christians should have with Santa Claus is that he has been associated with
Christmas. When we survey the history of the evolution of Santa Claus, the critical point occurred, in my
opinion, when the St. Nicholas visit was transferred from Dec. 6 to Dec. 25. Christians would have no
major problem with a make-believe custom about St. Nicholas bringing gifts on his own day. Christians
do (or at least should) have a major problem with moving the St. Nicholas thing to Christmas and, even
worse, calling it Christmas!

Put simply, do the Santa Claus thing to your heart's content, but don't call it Christmas! For Christmas is
the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior, nothing more and nothing less. Christians are
rightly offended when the Santa Claus fairy tale is called Christmas instead. A good and practical
solution would be to move the Santa Claus holiday back to its traditional date of Dec. 6. But of course, it
is highly unlikely that this will happen.

Perhaps Christians should celebrate Christ's birth at another time of the year - especially since we do not
know the date he was actually born. January 6 is an improvement, but it is still too close to the Santa
Claus fest, in my opinion. Again, I won't hold my breath waiting for this to happen!

Ultimately it is impossible, of course, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ without competition from other
festivals and observances - no matter what date is picked. This is the reason why I have stated that the
main problem is not the competing festivals (e.g., Santa Claus) themselves; the main problem is calling
the competing festivals "Christmas." Our message to the world should be, "Santa Claus, in and of itself,
can be a fun custom. Just don't call it Christmas!"

December, 1999

Pastor Richard Bucher
AND I SAY OKAY ... I WONT LOL I WILL CALL IT YULE
Blessed Samhein
Swannie
Ps am still looking......for the other

[Flaire]

If and when I do have kids (if that ever happens :) ) I would tell them that Santa is the spirit of christmas.. I myself, don't believe in promoting a big fat jolly guy that delivers toys around the world.. I mean, sure it's good for the imagination, but really.. :apirate: Yeah, I'm kinda mean, but that's what I believe about him.......

[MammaStar]

Well, my son is right on the borderline of wondering if Santa is a real guy or not. Maybe I'm naive, but I grew up believing in a fat guy in a red suit, and that's what I've fostered for my son. Why? Because there is so much other CR** going on this world, that why take away from childhood. The magic feeling of wondering if there is some guy out there making toys for all the girls and boys over the world. Yes, I want my son to be involved in my faith. Yes, I normally, don't lie to my son. But Santa, at least to me, has always been a happy memory and the feeling I used to get around Christmas when I was young thinking of Santa, it still makes me feel good today. I may be 31 but there is still this part of me that believes in a fat guy in a red suit. Okay, so maybe now-a-days, he looks like Jerry Garcia to me, but that's me.

Being a kid is hard enough. The world is insane right now. Why take away a myth, that makes kids happy, from them as a young'un? They're gonna have plenty of time to be hardened as they get older.

Just my 2 cents.

[Swanspirit]

It absolutely amazes me ....that christians can have their saints.. and pagans can have their gods and spirits . and we have to "make excuses " for good OLD SANTA...... when to my way of thinking if he isnt an actual representation of a god that is so good hearted and magnanimous ... a giver of gifts to the young at the beginning of the yearly cycle .. the return of the SUN being one of those gifts.....then he is at least a spirit sent by a god .......
that we have to make excuses for him ......
OF COURSE HE IS REAL........ he is the SPIRIT of GIVING .........
The more I think of Santa ..... the more I realise that despite the christianisation of the holiday season..... that humanity reaches BACK into its early consciousness for the archtypes of the men who worshipped gods that were jovial...... loving and humanitarian and sexual.... in that he has a wife......
and if one were to postulate about a "triple god representation at this time of year ..... instead of simply the NEW YEAR represented as the newborn.... and FATHER TIME represented as the Old year..... that SANTA would be the PERFECT "Father God" giving to ALL........
see what happens when you get me theorising .........
Love and Light Reborn......in new thought
Swannie

[Margie]

We've explained to Erica that Santa can see you if you're good/bad, brings you presents at Chrismas, jolly old man in a red suit. The general main stream Santa that everyone knows. I never thought about the "magical" part of it but we might incorporate that this year. :)

[Yvonne Belisle]

As some of you know I have 4 kids the oldest being 12 right now and the youngest 4. I have kept Santa alive for them and dispite other children telling my kids he isn't real my children believe in him. I have always told them Christmas is the celebration of the spirit of giving and that as long as something is real in your heart it is real. I just had my 10 year old daughter bring me her tooth and ask me to call the tooth fairy for her. The time that children believe in the magic of these things can be fleeting but the memories of that magic can stay with them forever. I know there will be a time where my children may be mad at me for keeping them believing for so long but I also know that they will remember waking with glitter on thier pillows and money under them. The magic of the christmas tree suddenly sprouting tons of edible goodies and presents under it and Easter baskets filled with goodies and eggs to hunt for. They will look back on those memories and realize how special they are and what went into making those things come alive for them and they will forgive. I have always treated christmas as the spirit of giving and Easter as a celebration of new life and an end to winter. I grew up in a house that was half jewish half christian so I guess I have a slightly different perspective. We have chanaka and passover too but we have them in memory of those who have gone before and in honor of thier beliefs. We have a house that we try to fill with magic and wonder I think we have done well with that.

[Sequoia]

yes, yvonne. Yes.

Children these days have so much of their "magic" taken away. . . some little three and four year olds laughing at the idea of a bunny with eggs, or a jolly old man, or even the tooth fairy. . . . . now whether my mom put that money ther or not. Whether my brother got more than me or not. That tooth fairy must've been there somewhere!! I know she was!!!! ^.~

The thing is, as pagans, our children may have a harder time than others. Because many of us belive in Magick, many of us belive in things that mainstream populations consider myth, lies, slight of hand, and overactive imagination, to name a few. At least, in their tenderer years, they can have the sort of "accepted magic." It's something special to share. And some of most memorable moments were at times like christmas.

I remember one year, the local radio station selected us to be the recipiant of "Secret Santa." For "disadvantaged" families, a man in a suit would come over with refrigerator boxes full of clothes and presents, for your children's age ranges. It was beautiful and special. Now, we weren't there when the secret santa came, unfortunately. But our landlord let him in, and you can imagine our surprise and delight when we came home to find boxes and boxes of gifts and clothes from someone named Santa. I still remember that. And the boxes themselves were wonderful gifts!! What playhouses we made of those!! ^__^ aah, the time when you could hand your kiddo a knife and let them carve a fort out of a cardboard box. I miss it. How the heck are you supposed to do that with safety scissors? -_-; just watch the kids, parents

^^;; oops I've rambled off-topic. Well, at any rate. . . . I'm all for santa :)

[Da Witch]

I have told my daughter the story of St. Nick and explained to her that, that is the reason we leave 1 present under the tree each year, to keep the spirit of generocity, love, giving and togetherness. I know that children need to believe in something but I remember when my aunt confirmed that santa wasn't really "real" for my cousin. My cousin started to cry because he was upset that his parents had lied to him for all those years.

[StormChaser]

I love ALL the storys of Santa, St. Nick.. etc etc etc.
So many names.. so many tales.

In my beliefs tho... yes, all the stories are true. 100% true.
Even though they contradict and differ.
It's all good. They remind me of what Santa is In me... awake all the feelings I feel.

Because Santa Claus, St. Nick, whatever you call him..
It's a spirit, emboddied in all the people all over who feel this warmth, this surge, desire to share love peace and joy with all those special.. very special people in thier lives. The desire to give to those with naught.. something to represent that even they too are beautiful beings.

We all sorta, become santa when we feel this way. He can be here all year, or not at all.. it's all what's inside you.

i know when I go shopping, or I am wrapping gifts with my special touches.. that I am ONE with "The Clause"

~Sarah Dove

[Yvonne Belisle]

Thank you so much for putting a good part of what I feel into words. I have told my children that as long as you really believe then he is real and that is because he lives within us I just never thought to phrase it quite that way.

[Emerald Sky]

The goddess Holda is sometimes viewed as a type of Santa Clause.

http://www.abcog.org/12days.htm


Here's also a link which talks about Odin as Santa:
http://www.angelfire.com/on/Wodensharrow/yule.html