SPIN OFF POLL ...WILL YOU RAISE YOUR CHILDREN TO BELIEVE IN SANTA??

Whatever your answer is, please explain

I was not raised to believe there was one, so I would never raise my children that way either.

Yes I will. This famous Letter to the Editor explains my reasons better than I can...

Dear Editor—

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.


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I was raised to believe in Santa and would absolutely want my children to be raised that way. The magic of being a child on x-mas morning in my house was amazing and I can't wait to see and feel that excitment from my own children.

Even when I found out there was no santa, i was never mad at my parents like a lot of my friends were. It didn't really change how I looked at x-mas. My parents and family always focused on making sure that we knew the real reason for the holiday season

JennRenee...couldn't have said it better!

I voted maybe...I can't keep a secret that well...and I didn't like lying to my mom pretending that I believed...


but if i do...there will be santa and parents gifts

Nope. We are Jewish. We don't do the whole Santa thing. Okay, so maybe that's kind of cheating, but I know many Jewish families who do include Santa into their Chanukah celebrations. I had a friend in school who was Jewish and believed until she was almost 11. I kept telling her there is no Santa for Jews (I was such a party pooper) and she said there is for her. I always thought it was kind of strange, but to each their own I guess.

Heidi

I can teach my child how to celebrate the season w/o believing that Santa Claus exist. We call it the seson of giving, but the only thing a lot of Americans do is put themselves in to more debt by trying to give every single person someting.

If you really want to prove there is a Santa Claus give the whole year thru, people are always in need not only at Christmas time.

What if we cannot afford it, does it mean we still cannot celebrate and enjoy the season? I would prefer to give back than sit around and opening presents, that is just me tho' I was raised seeing my grandmother being this way, giving back to others all year thru. I did not enjoy the season any less than the next child and I did not have any presents under any tree to open on December 25th

I checked maybe. I have not given it much thought.

I think I would have to have a conversation with mychild about the true meaning of Xmas, not this commercialized version we see now.

I probably will tell them how Santa came about and why he is considered to represent the holiday. I know it sounds jarbled, but I am still trying to figure it out myself.

I want to be realistic, but at the same time keep his/her childhood innocence.

yes, I think every child should believe in the good things in the world.

I wish life was still that simple,,,,,a time when being fat is jolly, when you can eat cookies all night, have the ability to fly around with rheindeers who's noses light up,,,,and a time when you can be everywhere in the world in one-night, oh and know exactly who's naughty and nice.

I don't think you should take that from a child.

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Posted by jenny2penny

yes, I think every child should believe in the good things in the world.

I wish life was still that simple,,,,,a time when being fat is jolly, when you can eat cookies all night, have the ability to fly around with rheindeers who's noses light up,,,,and a time when you can be everywhere in the world in one-night, oh and know exactly who's naughty and nice.

I don't think you should take that from a child.

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I totally agree. Kids grow up too fast...let them be a 'child' and believe in the magic. JMO

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Posted by 2nd-time-around

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Posted by jenny2penny

yes, I think every child should believe in the good things in the world.

I wish life was still that simple,,,,,a time when being fat is jolly, when you can eat cookies all night, have the ability to fly around with rheindeers who's noses light up,,,,and a time when you can be everywhere in the world in one-night, oh and know exactly who's naughty and nice.

I don't think you should take that from a child.

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I totally agree. Kids grow up too fast...let them be a 'child' and believe in the magic. JMO

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My thoughts exactly

Jenny2penny said it best.
There will be plenty of time for reality. Let them have the magic while they can.

Absolutely!!! I believed in Santa till I was 13.

We most definately will I was raised believing in Santa and it was so magical!!

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Posted By Message Imagin916

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remember how exciting it was to believe in santa claus as a child, and I would want my child to have that same experience. Like someone else said, they grow up so fast. Let them be a child and enjoy it while it lasts.

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Ditto!


I love the magic of Santa!

Yes I will
I see nothing wrong in beleiving

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Posted by jenny2penny

yes, I think every child should believe in the good things in the world.

I wish life was still that simple,,,,,a time when being fat is jolly, when you can eat cookies all night, have the ability to fly around with rheindeers who's noses light up,,,,and a time when you can be everywhere in the world in one-night, oh and know exactly who's naughty and nice.

I don't think you should take that from a child.

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Agreed! Believing in magical things is part of what being a child is all about. Perhaps part of the problems we have in the world today are caused by parents being too honest with their children and not allowing them to dream. My children were raised believing in Santa and my granddaughter is as well. She is 8 and still believes.

But to each his or her own.

OMG YES!!!!!

I cant wait to give my children the magic of Santa!

It was the best time in my life when I believed in Santa...my mom made it so special for us!

I agree with what so many of the others said too...let them have their magic..they grow up way too fast..let them believe for as long as they can..its the best feeling.

I cant wait to have my kids waking me up early christmas morning with that sparkle in their eye because 'Santa' had been there...this is what I have always wanted out of life.

I remember my entire childhood being a magical one..from Santa Claus right down to the Easter bunny..imo..this is what children should be looking forward to and believing in..we dont let our children be children as much as they should be..

So yes...I will definately teach them to not only believe in the figure of Santa Claus but I will lead them to find his magic and all that goes along with Christmas..I cant wait!!!