Believe in Santa Claus !!!
The tradition of giving gifts in the winter feast began in ancient Rome.
Saint Nicholas lived many centuries ago.
Because of his deeds Saint Nicholas became the patron saint of children.
The spirit of Saint Nicholas, and the tradition of the winter feast
were handed down to Santa Claus.
You say that Santa Claus is just a joke,
You say that Santa Claus conflicts with your beliefs.
Santa Claus has nothing to do with capitalism and marketing.
Santa Claus has nothing to do with shopping malls and parking.
You see the man in the bright red suit and say he isn't real.
If you take the time to learn who Santa was, and believe in who he is,
You'll understand it's not the man you see that counts,
but the feelings that you feel.
Santa Claus is real,
as real as a warm fireplace on a cold winter night.
as real as a smile that turns darkness into light.
Santa Claus is real,
as real as the spirit to give rather than to receive,
as real as human nature and the Will to Believe.
To believe in Santa Claus is to believe in childhood and charity.
To believe in Santa Claus is to be at peace with how you feel.
To believe in Santa Claus is to believe in the simplicity of love
and the complexity of human nature.
So if you do not believe in Santa,
then I guess you just don't understand,
The spirit of giving and the warmth of a child's smile,
is what makes us real.
This poem comes from an internet site dealing with Santa Clause.
The origins of Santa Clause go back to a fellow named Nicholas who lived in the fourth century. Two hundred years after his death, Justinian, (a Roman Emeror) built a church in his honor.
The reason I bring this up is that it is not a modern tradition but one that starts long ago.
The True Story Of Santa Clause
If you plan to raise a child within the christian belief then it is hard for a child to grasp the intangable meaning of God. Children start learning that Santa Clause is not real around the ages of 8-10. To them that is a godlike figure. It is easier after the child has learned "god mode" concept through Santa Clause. In essence it is a bait and switch tactic.
If your child is not raised as a christian but of another faith, then Santa Clause does not usually have the same meaning. This is in a large part where children learn at school that there is no Santa Clause. Whether you raise your child into a religion our not the concept of Santa is useful in them learning how to deal with intangable topics that can not be seen to be grasped. As children of this age it is not an easy task.
I still stand by the thought that a child should know the joys of Christmas. I fondly remember the days of believing that Santa was real. Of leaving cookies and milk on the table, of trying to get to sleep so Santa would hurry. I remember the mornings of Christmas when the family was asleep and stumbling into the living room where the Christmas tree was and looking to see if Santa had been there. These feelings are not things to be bought. They are precious to me and they always will be. They are revisited every time I see a Santa or a little boy or girl with the bright eyes of wonder when they first see the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.