tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816286233655907006.post3643562416072256222..comments2023-08-24T11:42:21.155-04:00Comments on Two Square Meals: Santa Claus and the Gingerbread ArmyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816286233655907006.post-36329933529896161062007-12-09T22:58:00.000-05:002007-12-09T22:58:00.000-05:00Not that I presently have children, so I can't ans...Not that I presently have children, so I can't answer from that perspective, but if and when I do have children I'd imagine we'll do the Santa Claus thing. It was, of course, a vital part of my own childhood Christmas experience, until I got old enough to figure out that Santa wasn't real...although sometimes I still wonder! ;-)<BR/><BR/>I think, if handled responsibly, the idea of Santa Claus can be a beautiful *augmentation to* the Christmas season. At its root, Santa represents the selfless giving of the joy of the season. Tempered by the true meaning of the holiday, Christ's Mass, I don't see any reason the two cannot coexist.<BR/><BR/>That being said, I admire your desire to get to the root of the St. Nicholas story, complete with the spiced cookies and boots left out. As long as you continue to encourage open candor about this topic as Calvin and Hobbes grow up (and encounter schoolmates' questions), I think you'll get along just fine!<BR/><BR/>Three Cheers for old St. Nick,<BR/>MHMark Hornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14993467280543044104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816286233655907006.post-10827270001848054152007-12-09T21:44:00.000-05:002007-12-09T21:44:00.000-05:00Emily,That is so funny that Zachary thinks Santa i...Emily,<BR/>That is so funny that Zachary thinks Santa is a goblin! It must be even more annoying for you to have people ask him about Santa. Hello, out there! Not everyone celebrates Christmas! I guess that is hard to remember since most people don't consider it a religious holiday anymore.<BR/><BR/>Cath,<BR/>Yeah, I really like doing the St.Nick's day thing so much more. We still have presents on Christmas Day, but we keep it low key and try to focus on the Christmas story.TwoSquareMealshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01000292109449832461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816286233655907006.post-83164355124160375402007-12-09T21:04:00.000-05:002007-12-09T21:04:00.000-05:00I didn't grow up believing in Santa and can't say ...I didn't grow up believing in Santa and can't say that it was a big loss. Santa still brought us toys, we just knew it was a game. Ever since I've lived in Europe, I've thought that celebrating as they do on St. Nickolaus day rather than on Christ's day is a nice compromise, and I think I may do that when A is older. <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, I like what you say (or, imply) in that once we become aware of the actual CHRISTian things to celebrate during Advent, Santa does pale in comparison...Catherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07316677018586769316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816286233655907006.post-45627971092454268952007-12-09T09:49:00.000-05:002007-12-09T09:49:00.000-05:00The cookies look fantastic. I wish people would s...The cookies look fantastic. <BR/><BR/>I wish people would stop asking those questions about Santa. I actually had someone ask Zachary if Santa Claus was bringing toys to his house this year. He said no. She then asked if he had been naughty. Seriously?!<BR/><BR/>He thinks Santa is a goblin. No idea why, but he does.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000863597545070671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816286233655907006.post-74729597267607507132007-12-06T22:07:00.000-05:002007-12-06T22:07:00.000-05:00Rach,Sounds like you are doing some great things f...Rach,<BR/>Sounds like you are doing some great things for Advent. We started working on this last year, so that's why we are doing more. Sometimes I fear it is too much. But I like your idea of focusing on the Christmas story. "The Advent Book" is great for that. It has one part of the story for each day. You open a door on each page. The illustrations are beautiful.<BR/><BR/>I totally can't take credit for that photo. It is all about my new, fancy-schmancy camera. I have so many great photos of my boys now. Wish I could post them! Hope everyone gets well there soon.TwoSquareMealshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01000292109449832461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816286233655907006.post-8295742320865427572007-12-06T21:02:00.000-05:002007-12-06T21:02:00.000-05:00as if my comment wasn't long enough... love the gi...as if my comment wasn't long enough... love the gingerbread men and the way you closed that post! and great pic! good for you!Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06984230063212786405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7816286233655907006.post-35002734964478569662007-12-06T20:57:00.000-05:002007-12-06T20:57:00.000-05:00great post my friend. i appreciate that you respec...great post my friend. i appreciate that you respect both sides of the santa claus choice. i respect your humility and how you're obviously trying to flee self-righteousness in your choice.<BR/><BR/>i grew up doing the santa thing and don't think i have issues needing therapy either... at least regarding santa anyway! my dh did as well. while i don't have issues from it, looking back, i don't really see much point in it either... at least the way we celebrated it.<BR/><BR/>as we've approached the issue, we decided to skip it for this year. we're in a yr-by-yr decision and might add him in later. we're starting to add a few Adventisms to our season which is taking lots of time and energy since it's so new to us. so i can totally relate to the "no time left" thing. <BR/><BR/>right now, we're focusing on explaining various parts of the Christmas story each day... not getting into the waiting part of advent as much. might sound dumb since waiting/prep is the point of Advent, but for our being new, that's a big enough learning curve for us to conquer. we're actually officially starting our advent devotions/activities in a few days. we're slow. but at least we're getting started! <BR/><BR/>so, for now we're skipping santa not b/c we think he's evil or b/c we're trying to be really holy... but just to try to keep it simple with the Jesus story, to help make the our communication be as filled with Him as much as possible, etc. i do fear that if we were to bring santa in, it would confuse the issue and since he's mostly about gifts... i fear it would naturally become the main subject since of course we all want gifts. i'm certain others who are practicing the Santa thing are working it in healthy ways, and i'm totally respectful of that. i think this way just seems easier and works best for us, for now anyway.<BR/><BR/>we are totally with you on not wanting our kids to be the annoying kids that spoil the fun for others' kids... that's one issue/cost with skipping santa. we, too, aren't even telling our kids who he is just yet... for the same fear. i'd rather justin be ignorant than to be the one to spoil someone else's fun! not sure how we'll do this as he gets older.<BR/><BR/>oh, and i think doug and i are (perhaps selfishly) wanting our kids to know the few gifts we do are from us. goofy, i know.<BR/><BR/>i'd love to hear from someone who does introduce Santa Claus into their home at Xmas time. this is great conversation that welcomes unity that could potentially be a divisive one.<BR/><BR/>i love how you taught your kids about the real st. nick. very cool.<BR/><BR/>and with that, justin is waking up. again.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06984230063212786405noreply@blogger.com