Santa Claus Is a Lie We Can Safely Tell Our Kids

Santa is increasingly under attack. And that saddens me.

In this zero-tolerance age, parents worry about “lying” to their children about Santa, as if all lies were created equal, as if all lies are malicious.

Santa does exist, in the hearts of people the world over.

Part of the reason for the lie is that when children are young, they take everything literally. For example, my 3-year-old son is convinced that God is a man with a long white beard and flowing white robes, having dinner with Uncle Arnie. It is difficult for them to understand the spiritual aspects of God and of the soul. To ease children through this shift from literal understanding to figurative language, do we shield them from God? No.

Similarly, Santa may not literally have a long white beard and a red suit. But rather than deny his existence whole cloth, we can ease the transition from believing that Santa actually slips down the chimney to understanding the symbolic importance and the spirituality of St. Nicholas.

To claim, as some parents do, that once a child inevitably finds out that Santa Claus is, in fact, mom and/or dad, he or she will be irreparably angry and the parent will forever lose his or her credibility is an overreaction. Such a child has other, more serious, issues that go beyond simple anger at this benevolent lie.

Some dismiss Santa for other reasons. One friend boasts that his children never believed in Santa Claus. He wants them to know that he and his hard work are responsible for any and all presents. Another friend’s son asked Santa for an expensive scooter. However, Santa would definitely not be bringing that; she didn’t want Santa to get credit for giving that cherished gift. These people are actually jealous of Santa Claus.

And what if little Tommy next door received more gifts? Does that mean he was better? Sure, this is a problem, but if your young child is busy counting his presents and the neighbor’s presents, you have allowed materialism to set in quite early.

Is it fair that a child in a wealthy neighborhood receive more than a child in a poor neighborhood? Perhaps not. But Santa is at work even in the poorest neighborhoods.

Santa comes in the form of the Toys for Tots campaign, for example, providing new toys for needy children. Santa comes in the form of churches that prepare Christmas meals for the hungry. Santa comes in the form of my son’s preschool, which requests a monetary donation from each child for the school’s “adopted” family. Santa comes in the form of my daughter’s private school, which asks students to donate food in the spirit of JOY, where the “Y” stands for you. They are taught that they too are responsible for bringing joy and hope, for being Santa Claus.

So to those who are worried about losing credibility as a parent for lying about Santa Claus, relax. Raise children who understand gratitude, and you, as Santa, will rise in stature. In this season, let’s embrace Santa Claus, and in doing so, we embrace love, generosity, humility, joy and even God.