When my daughter was about 6 years old, she asked me, "Mommy, if all the presents are made at the North Pole, and Santa is supposed to bring them to us, why do we have to go shopping for presents?"

Now before I get bashed for the answer I gave her, let me first explain that I was raised as a Jehovah's Witness (until I was 17) and we didn't celebrate Christmas and there definitely was no such thing as Santa Clause. I was picked on big time as a child because of it, and trust me, it was not a fun time for me having to defend myself because of it.

So in answer to my daughter's question, I told her that Santa is a very busy man with lots of presents to give out and sometimes he needs a little help. So he asks the parents and Aunts and Uncles and any family and friends to help out so that everyone can get a present. I also told her that some people can't afford to get that much, but that everyone should appreciate whatever it is that was given to them. This answer seem to satisfy her, and she even made the comment "So if I don't get everything I asked for, it's not because I was bad, it's just because you didn't have enough money." I told her that was exactly right! I figured she was better off hearing that explanation then me just saying there was no such thing as Santa Clause and that me and her family buy all the presents. I didn't want her to have to go through the torment that I went through as a kid.

Since then, she has told everyone that explanation and not only has no one ridiculed her for it, but the kids respond with something like "So, that's how he does it" and the parents seem to like the explanation as well.

So I guess my question to everyone is do you tell your child/children if there really is a Santa Clause or not? Or how would you respond to the question my daughter asked? Do you have your own belief system in what Christmas and Santa Claus is all about?

You mean, there ain't no Santy Claus???

This is easy.....

Santa: Old grey haired Dude who hangs out with midgets and pulls stuff out of thin air.

Gandalf: Old grey haired Dude who hangs out with midgets and pulls stuff out of thin air.

Santa is Gandalf (Lord of the Rings movies)

Got no time for the presents this year cause he gotta battle the forces of evil. So The parents gotta pull up his slack.

You mean there is?

Hey, that works for me!

Well, SURE! Big fat guy, red suit, buncha hair on his face....I see him every year.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.... I like it!

why perpetulate the lie?Santa Claus is an Idea not a real person. Be truthful now and you will not have to be thought of as a liar by your kids

Tell her that Santa Claus is actually based on a real man who lived in the third century named Nicolas. He was imprisoned by the Roman Emperor Diocletian who ruthlessly persecuted Christians. At this period in history, the prisons were already so gosh darn full of bishops, priests and deacons that they booted his ass, sparing him in effect.

Thats where we get the Legend of Santa Claus today. Its based on a real man.

It's interesting how sensitive this subject can get. I believed in Santa Claus until late in grade school.... probably 5th grade or so. I didn't think there was any way in hell my dad would buy me all that stuff.

Raising my own kids, we kept santa alive long after they started to question it. But it was done in fun.... kind of an "I know there's no Santa.... I know you know there's no Santa but we're gonna pretend there is and leave just a shadow of doubt" kind of thing. When each one got old enough, they came over to the other side, they got to join in on creating the illusion and playing the game with the others. We used to say that that's what santa really is. To this day they make us enforce some of those rules and rituals associated with Santa.

Oh, you mean the guy that is able to make his rounds to all the malls, department stores, and parades all at the same time?

Oops, double post

well yes but That St. Nick bears little resmblance to what is todays St. Nick

When my kids were little my son could never understand how Santa could be at the Mall in town and be at another store across town.

I came cross a book called "The land of the 1000 Santa's". This book explains how Santa was feeling under the weather one year and Mrs. Claus was frantic trying to figure out what to do.

Well they had very little paint, very little ribbon, and almost out of everything. The candy santa machine went crazy spitting out all kinds and shapes of candy santas.

So Mrs. Claus went to the Wizard of the 7 winds and asked for his help.The only help the Wizard to give Mrs. Claus was an old used magic wand, but he couldn't remember the magic word to make it work.

So Mrs. Claus took the wand back to the North Pole and she tried saying every magic word she could think of.


Abbracadra...nothing happened

Alakazo.....nothing happened.

Then she pointed the wand at the candy santas and said ALAKZAM. In that instant all the candy santas came to life.

Mrs. Claus had a wonderful idea, she kept most of the Santa's at the North pole to help the real santa out and sent the others to Malls, shopping centers and department stores. This is why Santa can be at the Mall and at Macy's at the same time and why they are all different shapes and sizes.



I have always loved this story and still read it to my kids today and they are 22 & 21 now with children of their own.

Thats the whole point. Its only the guilt related unabashed spending agenda perpetrated by the marketing and advertising community that created this "Santa Claus" figure to be ingested and consumed by the general public in the hopes that they spend a lot of cash on useless gifts.

The true story of who Saint Nicolas was is not that at all. Of course my family was a bunch of sticklers for details and historical accuracy.

Oh yeah, and then I can watch her get teased and picked on by all her peers, not to mention the parents who would ridicule her as well!

I'll take my chances with the explanation I gave her, thank you.

Hmm Must have been Catholic and required to read "lives of the saints" as a child like me LOL

No. Not at all. I grew up in a secular household and to this day, I am not Christian. I am not interested in that theology at all.

No. My parents were highly educated and spent a lot of time explaining the historical significance of events to my brother and I.

Must have made great conversation at the dinner table

Granted, the Santa Claus that we've come to know has nothing really whatsoever to do with the reason for the season, and the myth and/or legend that has perpetuated through time has become quite farfetched in respect to who the man really was. But that's part of the magic of the holiday.

There's the operative word -- Magic. While the man may not necessarily exist in reality, if he is kept in your heart, then he's as real as you or I. People live the reality of ordinary life all year long, so I personally can't see any reason why anybody shouldn't be allowed the indulgance of keeping alive a childhood fantasy, even if it IS just an illusion. Santa Claus affords all of us the opportunity to escape the stark black-and-white reality of the world to be able to see a world of beautiful color, if even for just a little while each year.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and blessed wishes to all, even if you don't celebrate.