If you don’t celebrate Christmas...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Christian.

I celebrate Christmas and it has nothing to do with a fat white man who lives in the North Pole and gives kids presents. If my kid asks me a question about Christmas, I’m telling them the truth. You better believe I’m not lying to them! And for what? so I can help you further obscure the real meaning of Christmas? No, thanks. Go proselytize elsewhere.

Ha ha! So you tell them that the son of god was born in a manger?! Too funny!

Idiot! Christ was not born in a manger. He was swaddled and the manger was his crib.

Wow. You totally missed the point. DP here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op why are you lying to your kid and want the whole world around him to lie to him as well?

There was once a person named st Nicolas who was remembered until these days for his generosity towards the poor and those in need.

But , really there is no old man with a beard driving reindeer sleigh flying in the sky giving out present for free all over the world.

Fantasy is fantasy. You can’t keep you kid in the world of fantasy forever. Reality will hit him sooner than later.

You’re totally missing the point. I see kids out of spite go up to kids and say stuff about how Santa is not real. Out of the blue. What is the purpose of that? It’s just not necessary.

[Anonymous]

“But , really there is no old man with a beard driving reindeer sleigh flying in the sky giving out present for free all over the world.

Fantasy is fantasy. You can’t keep you kid in the world of fantasy forever. Reality will hit him sooner than later.”

If you are not Christian then I would couch it as simply part of the other family’s Religion and it is very rude to tell other people that things they believe are not true and/or make run of them. That you would not want other people to do that about your faith so they should not do it to others. Yes I realize this is not a piece REALLY of the Christ story but it is so closely entwined with Christmas (a religious holiday) that I would present it this way to my kids to explain WHY they should not say Santa is not real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Santa isn't real. Stop lying to your kids.

Exactly. We're Jewish and my kids know Santa isn't real, because he's not. This isn't an issue of "different people believe different things" but rather "some people tell their children a story they know is not true." I have no problem with people telling their children that story but why would anyone expect my Jewish 4 year old to participate in your charade. He knows Santa is not real but is not yet old enough to understand to keep it to himself. What is it that I should do that won't leave my children felling badly

Bad not badly.

They are stories - Santa, Noah’s Ark, the Nativity, Paw Patrol, etc. “we don’t believe in Santa Claus” is enough for my kids. But don’t start with the “participate in your charade” nonsense. Like we don’t have ample Jewish charades!

Some Jews may have charades, our family doesn't. I explain that, for example, some people believe a story about oil lasting for 8 nights and that's part of why we celebrate Chanukah for 8 nights, but our family believes that's just a story. Everyone is free to believe whatever they wish, and to teach their children their family traditions but no one should expect that others will go along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop telling your children that the Jews killed jesus.

THIS. Also, stop having your kids throw Santa and presents in my kids' faces and make them feel bad. They aren't missing out on anything just because we don't celebrate xmas.

[Anonymous]

Please instruct your kid to stop asking the non-xmas-celebrating-kids what they did to not get any presents from Santa, or what bad/naughty things they did to get put on the bad list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't be so fragile. There are some (probably a small number overall) of Christians who have told me that I am going to hell for not accepting Jesus, that I am being a a stick in the mud for not celebrating Christmas and instead expressing a preference for a secular holiday, etc etc. I dealt with it and my kids will have to deal with it as well. And you and your kids will have to deal with not everyone buying into their belief system and holidays. If you don't like it, move to an exclusively Christian community somewhere. Sorry that America being majority Christian isn't good enough for you.

THIS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Christian.

I celebrate Christmas and it has nothing to do with a fat white man who lives in the North Pole and gives kids presents. If my kid asks me a question about Christmas, I’m telling them the truth. You better believe I’m not lying to them! And for what? so I can help you further obscure the real meaning of Christmas? No, thanks. Go proselytize elsewhere.

Ha ha! So you tell them that the son of god was born in a manger?! Too funny!

Idiot! Christ was not born in a manger. He was swaddled and the manger was his crib.

Uh, yeah. That's...nice? The little details of what is a fairy tale to many of us really do no matter that much.

[Anonymous]

Santa is a cultural phenomenon, not Christian. I have lots of nonreligious friends who celebrate Santa because it’s fun, and they do it around Christmas because that’s when you celebrate Santa. My family growing up and was not religious and we had a huge Christmas celebration because my atheist parents like Christmas traditions.

I actually think the people who are nuts about Santa are not terribly religious, so don’t understand why people here are acting like pushing Santa is pushing religion. And I don’t think celebrating Christmas/Santa makes you Christian. In fact, I think in more religious communities, there is an emphasis on Jesus at Christmas time. We are a catholic family and I talk about presents being a celebration of Jesus’ birthday, the wise men bringing gifts, etc. I don’t tell my kids Santa doesn’t exist, but when they ask about gifts or Santa I remind them about why we celebrate Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Eventually a kid is going to tell others that santa isn't real because that kid is a jerk--not because their family doesn't celebrate Christmas.

[Anonymous]

I’m laughing at this thread, as a Hindu married to a Jew looking at a giant Christmas tree we just put up. Who really cares? Do it your way. JFC!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And stop telling your children that those that do not have an Abrahamic faith are “wrong” and that only your version of the one true God is correct.

Really? You see this a lot in the DC area?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And stop telling your children that those that do not have an Abrahamic faith are “wrong” and that only your version of the one true God is correct.

This is not to be snarky, but you do realize that “Abrahamic faith” includes Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?

Yes, I do.

And these faiths all believe they are the only true way. One Abrahamic God only.

Do you think they believe the God a pagan worships is the same as their one and only true way God?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“But , really there is no old man with a beard driving reindeer sleigh flying in the sky giving out present for free all over the world.

Fantasy is fantasy. You can’t keep you kid in the world of fantasy forever. Reality will hit him sooner than later.”

If you are not Christian then I would couch it as simply part of the other family’s Religion and it is very rude to tell other people that things they believe are not true and/or make run of them. That you would not want other people to do that about your faith so they should not do it to others. Yes I realize this is not a piece REALLY of the Christ story but it is so closely entwined with Christmas (a religious holiday) that I would present it this way to my kids to explain WHY they should not say Santa is not real.

Santa has nothing to do with Christ or Christianity or religion or faith. What is wrong with you? it is like the Easter Bunny or tooth fairy. It isn't real and has nothing at all, zero, zilch to do with faith. You are woefully ignorant about Christianity. Many atheists and agnostics and people across a range of faiths get pictures with Santa or put presents from Santa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Santa is a cultural phenomenon, not Christian. I have lots of nonreligious friends who celebrate Santa because it’s fun, and they do it around Christmas because that’s when you celebrate Santa. My family growing up and was not religious and we had a huge Christmas celebration because my atheist parents like Christmas traditions.

I actually think the people who are nuts about Santa are not terribly religious, so don’t understand why people here are acting like pushing Santa is pushing religion. And I don’t think celebrating Christmas/Santa makes you Christian. In fact, I think in more religious communities, there is an emphasis on Jesus at Christmas time. We are a catholic family and I talk about presents being a celebration of Jesus’ birthday, the wise men bringing gifts, etc. I don’t tell my kids Santa doesn’t exist, but when they ask about gifts or Santa I remind them about why we celebrate Christmas.

It absolutely is Christian and your family was probably Christian before.