…
so if you are a Santaphile, or are otherwise sensitive about the slightest controversy concerning the guy in the red suit, please refrain from reading further, get some warm cider, and go watch the movie Elf.
For much of the US, the tradition has become Christmas without Jesus. I admit it is cute for us adults to see the innocence, excitement, and wonder children have around Santa Claus. But is there a hidden cost?
I am not going to belabor past arguments Christians have against Santa Claus: that Satan often disguises himself as an angel of light and Santa distracts everyone from the true meaning of Christmas; that the traditional way the wealthy US focuses on Santa imprints into children greed and entitlement; that Christians could emphasize Kris Kringle as a palatable alternative; nor will I mention the trope that if you rearrange the last three letters in “Santa” it becomes “Satan”—I would have to be an insensitive jerk to bring this up, so I won’t mention it.
Instead, I will approach Santa Claus from a different angle. Does the American version of Christmas subtly erode people’s capacity for wonder?
Wonder is, “To feel admiration and amazement; marvel.”
Little ones have all of this wonder in the miraculous abilities of Santa to know them and all of the other children around the world personally, fly to every one of their houses in one night and give them toys—it’s all quite magical. Then, inevitably, one day the children learn the Santa-wonder and awe they felt wasn’t real. Does somewhere deep inside them a piece of wonder wither because they learn wonder is based on falsehood?
It turns out the demise of wonder is a real loss. Research has shown wonder offers physical benefits including releasing oxytocin, providing perspective, balancing internal criticism, and reducing stress and distress. I would add wonder is an exquisite emotion that offers a positive connection to the reality around us. Wonder allows us to contemplate the vast beauty of the reality within which we are nestled.
So, wonder can give your children another sensation to maintain their mental health. To be sure, when they become adults they may be able to experience wonder in the intricacies of animals and plants or the vastness of the universe. For example scientific advancement and new understanding led Antony Flew, to change his thinking about creation and write the 2008 book, “There is No a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind”).
However, will your children know awe and wonder about the real point of Christmas—the verity that out of love beyond our ken, the Creator of everything that exists humbled himself to be born in a lowly human form to serve as a sacrifice for us? Will they have the capacity to wonder at this? Do you?
Now that you are past the frenzy of Christmas and have some time to stop and reflect…next year, would your little ones benefit if you place more emphasis on Jesus to give them the capacity to enjoy the benefits of wonder for a lifetime?
I hope this discussion doesn’t earn me a lifetime sentence on the naughty list.
https://www.mindful.org/the-science-of-wonder/#:~:text=Experiencing%20everyday%20wonder%20can%20help,time%2C%20perspective%2C%20and%20connection.
https://thebubblebox.com.au/blog/the-wonderful-benefits-of-wonder-for-your-family/#:~:text=Wonder%20helps%20children%20learn,understanding%20of%20how%20science%20works.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/03/well/live/awe-wonder-dacher-keltner.html
....corrected a couple of typos caught by Gladys
You just very eloquently and humorously put into words why we never told our kids that Santa was real. Our conscious reason was that we want our kids to trust everything we tell them. From the kids perspective, If we lie to them about Santa Claus, what else might we be lying to them about?
But what you are saying here more fully explains what we never thought clearly through - marveling, wonder, and the attack on that. The "magical thinking" about Santa Claus, then realizing it was a hoax, what a letdown! plants seeds of unhealthy skepticism, cynicism.
You make great points here for all Christ-following parents to consider.