Should we be taught to believe in Santa Claus as children?
What does believing in Santa really mean? What does it say about our inner
selves? These are all questions I’ve come to consider this holiday season.
I very much believed in Santa Claus when I was growing up.
It’s not like my parents went to extremes to keep us believing, but they had us
leave cookies and milk for Old Saint Nick and carrots and cheese for his
reindeer. We even left our lights on on Christmas Eve so
Santa could find our house.
For some parents, Santa is a good way to get their kids to
behave. If they start to do something bad, parents can throw out the “if you’re
a bad boy/girl, Santa will put you on the Naughty List, and you’ll get coal”
excuse to get them to be good.
On the other hand, believing in the man with the white
beard, rosy cheeks, and big round belly inspires imagination in children. It
reminds us of the endless possibilities in life. In a world consumed by consumerism, it's sometimes nice to be reminded of the childlike wonder we all once had.
But what does believing in Santa Claus really say about us?
To me, believing in Santa isn’t necessarily about believing in the idea of the
man himself, but rather simply believing in something.
In this day and age, we have become so distrusting and skeptical of one another
and the world around us. We often forget that there is good in this world, we
just have to look for and believe in it.
So when I am older and have kids of my own, I will tell them
about the whimsical and jolly man who travels around the world to deliver
presents to people of all ages. And as they get older and begin to question the
concept, I will let the truth unfold. I will tell them that no, Santa is not
real, but that doesn’t mean the spirit of Christmas isn’t to be celebrated all
the same.
