Santa Claus at Church

[DrumNFeather]

My two year old shouting out "Santa Claus!" during the sacrament prayer this past sunday notwithstanding, we had an interesting situation/conversation at our ward Christmas breakfast this past weekend.

There were 4 or 5 of us fine bretheren standing around and one asked if we were all sticking around for Santa. Another jumped in and immediately said, "no, we don't do Santa, we want the focus to be on Jesus." To which another replied, "so, you want someone dressed as Jesus to come and give them presents?" It got a chuckle, but the anti-Santa and his wife were dead serious about how much they don't like Santa.

There were several others that made comments about Santa not being a part of their Christmas plans either.

So, I guess the question is two or maybe three fold here. First, do you see any problem with Santa being at a ward-sponsored Christmas event? Second, how much emphasis do you put on Santa during Christmas time? Third, do you see much harm in the whole idea of Santa Claus?

I almost felt like it was a Santa vs. Jesus type situation where it has to be one or the other, which I thought was kind of silly, but hey, to each their own.

I'm a big believer in the magic of Christmas time for little kids. There's such a small window of time where kids truly fully believe that it seems a shame to not let them enjoy that and all the hoopla that surrounds Christmas while teaching them about Jesus at the same time. Seems like there is a proper balance there somewhere.

[Green Monstah]

We do santa, but I don't go to great efforts to make the kids think santa is real. For me, I don't want my kids to draw an analogy between Santa and God. E.g., They've never seen God (or Santa), they ask God for things (wish list/letters) they even thank God for things (cookies, milk, thank you note on Christmas Eve), and they're told that God gives them many blessings (gifts) for choosing the right (nice list). So when they say, "Santa isn't real," I say, "What do you think?" and when they lay it out for me, I say, "Sounds like you've got it all figured out."

[Surfah]

Santa is an anagram for Satan.

[Shaka]

Killjoy

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[Green Monstah]

Santa is an anagram for Satan.

Hack.

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[jay santos]

Serious post.

In my self righteous days, I used to be down on Santa. The wife helped me view Santa as like a helper for Jesus. Jesus is pleased with how Santa can thrill kids. And Jesus is pleased that the day we celebrate his birth is the day kids receive presents.

[TripletDaddy]

I'm in the Santa camp.

I don't get the anti Santa fixation at Xmas. We don't even believe that Jesus was born at Xmastime, so we aren't really celebrating his birthday.

[happyone]

Santa is perfectally fine with me. When the kids were little it was a great part of our Christmas. Watching my grandson (3) this year with Santa and the whole Christmas experience has been a real joy and helped bring some of that magic back.

[byu71]

As long as there is a nativity scene or at least a picture of Jesus there, I don't mind having Santa around.

For the purists, wasn't Jesus really born in April anyway. Ignoring Santa and focusing only on Christs birthday in December is also caving into tradition and not fact.

At least that is what I would tell those folks, counting on the fact they don't know that the April birthdate isn't actually church doctrine.

[Eddie]

We do both, but separate them.

I remember having Santa at ward Christmas parties growing up and it wasn't a big deal. The guy in the suit would pass out candy canes to all of the kids. Our current Bishop would never allow it. I'm OK with that - church sponsored stuff can be more churchy. It doesn't hurt my feelings to not have Santa there.

For my family, Christmas Eve is totally about Christ and His birth. We usually have a little family night-like program where we'll read the story in the scriptures, tell stories that are more spiritual in nature, sing religious Christmas songs, etc. Christmas Eve we celebrate Christ's birth.

Then Christmas morning Santa has come and we do all of the present openning, etc.

It doesn't bother me when other people do something different. But I like the balance that we've found.

I suppose it is kind of a separate but equal holiday for the two.

Some folks find this next bit strange - but growing up it never felt way out of place. When Christmas fell on a Sunday, my parents didn't like how the Santa part of the celebration and gift getting tended to have an overpowering influence on what they felt the Sabbath was supposed to be like. So as is done with a lot of holidays locally (4th of July, Halloween, etc.) as a family we celebrated the holiday the next day. I remember as a child writing a note to Santa asking him to drop off our presents on Monday instead of Sunday.

It was always a little bit of a letdown to hear what everyone else got for Christmas at church. But the magic still happened for me the next morning. Overall I wouldn't say doing this did any lasting damage. And it did let us know not only what my parents thought was the important part of the holiday, but that Sunday is a different day even when it falls on a holiday.

[Rickomatic]

I am fine with Santa. Santa is fun when the kids are younger. I have a problem with someone using Xmas. It is Christmas. You can't have Christmas without Christ.

[jay santos]

I am fine with Santa. Santa is fun when the kids are younger. I have a problem with someone using Xmas. It is Christmas. You can't have Christmas without Christ.

He is the reason for the season.

[pellegrino]

I am fine with Santa. Santa is fun when the kids are younger. I have a problem with someone using Xmas. It is Christmas. You can't have Christmas without Christ.

X is the first letter in Christ's name in Greek.

Christ = Χριστός
Christmas = Χριστούγεννα

does that change your opinion of it?

[happyone]

X is the first letter in Christ's name in Greek.

Christ = Χριστός
Christmas = Χριστούγεννα

does that change your opinion of it?

It did mine when I first learned of it

[Surfah]

X is the first letter in Christ's name in Greek.

Christ = Χριστός
Christmas = Χριστούγεννα

does that change your opinion of it?

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