The Santa Controversy
“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” These famous words are part of a poetic
response to a young girl’s innocent question.
To us they seem mere sentimentality, but I wonder if there is real
wisdom there for parents dealing with the “Santa Controversy.”
What I refer to is the challenge many Catholic parents face
regarding how to handle Santa during the Christmas season. I’ve heard arguments on both sides of the
debate recently. On one side are people
who say the traditions regarding Santa help open children to wonder at things
that go beyond what they can see. It is
also a proper use of myth to direct children to ultimate Truths, when Santa is
subordinated to and directed toward the birth of Jesus.
On the other side are those who would say that by going along
with the popular culture’s version of Santa, we are lying to children. If we tell them to believe in Santa, the
Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny, and later they learn that these things are
not real, will that not undermine what we have taught them about God? (Though I would say that if parents’ teachings about Santa can in any way be compared to their teachings about Christ, their spiritual life probably needs a bit of a jump start.)
I have heard many good points on both sides of the issue, and
though I have a few thoughts to add to the discussion, I can not pretend to
have any more of the answer to the dilemma than anyone else.
In our home, we do hang stockings for Santa, but we do not
promote the culture’s understanding of him as a jolly fat man who lives in the
North Pole with flying reindeer and a workforce of elves. (Though given the exposure our children get
from the prevailing culture, I know that they may hold some of those
assumptions, but we have not taught them.)
We celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas on December 6, and
our children know that he was a fourth century bishop who was imprisoned for
his faith, later released, and was known for his charity to the poor and to
children, especially at Christmas.
We teach the historical truths about St. Nicholas, and
emphasize his love for Our Lord and desire to serve Him and His people. (There is a nice animated video we use: Nicholas:
The Boy Who Became Santa.) We do
not emphasize Santa during the season beyond that, and we try to participate in
activities that direct attention on the Nativity.
Why, then, do we hang the stockings, and why do we not
directly dispel the parts of the customary tale that are not true? Are we not participating in the deception of
our children?
It’s true that I like the wonder our children display at
seeing their stockings, which always include at least one major religious item
in them. Long after they stop believing
those stockings are filled by a fat man in a red suit (unless I invest in some
red pajamas), I suspect we will continue the tradition.
I intend to explain to my children that the gifts they
receive from “Santa” are from him, as a representative of the Communion of
Saints who celebrate with them the birth of the Lord. St. Nicholas was a generous man, devoted to
Christ, who loved Christmas. It is in
his honor that we have filled their stockings all these years as a reminder
that the people of God, and the worship of God, are not confined to this world.
This is not the “right way” to handle the Santa Controversy,
but it is our way. I pray that it helps
our children in their love of God.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He is alive, in the presence of God, and he
gifts you this Christmas and always with his prayers, that one day he may
celebrate Christmas with you, in Heaven.
