Do You Believe
By p1kef1sh
@p1kef1sh (45681)
November 20, 2008 6:57am CST
I have a friend here who recently posted a discussion asking about ways to tell her children that Santa Claus is not real. I love this friend and I hate to see her misled. The truth of course is that Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas or whatever you call him locally is most certainly real. He lives at the North Pole of course, with Mrs Claus and the elves. Obviously they are all very busy in the build up to Christmas, and although he does enlist the help of grown ups, it is he that comes along and arranges presents under the tree etc. That he is magical there is no doubt. In these days when fewer people have chimneys he manages to get through air ducts, letter boxes and vents. Most importantly though, it is his magic that he sprinkles around and makes many of us feel "Christmassy". He does this remotely so that we don't even have to see him to feel that way. I realise that the US still hasn't had Thanksgiving yet. Which as everyone knows is nothing to do with giving thanks for the harvest, but to welcome and thank Father Christmas for another Christmas that will be with us all soon. So do you believe or has a pre-revelation Scrooge grabbed your soul?
15 people like this
50 responses
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
20 Nov 08
Well as nice as it would be to believe that he exists I have to say that no I do not believe in him. I guess I am a little scroogy though, I used to adore christmas so much it was the time when I would make everything so special for everyone especially my kids. But when bad things happen they normally happen around christmas and it kind of took the shine away. This year though I have looked forward to it a bit more so maybe I might start believing in santa again. My kids still believe and the youngest oldest one is now 8 and so that is good going, my eldest is 17 and I think he was 10 when he found out the truth!
3 people like this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
20 Nov 08
You are right, that is why I have made more of an effort this year, I have even bought new decorations which is something I have not done for quite a while!
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8539)
• United Kingdom
20 Nov 08
I don't think your friend should tell her children that Santa Claus isn't real. Of course he is. I would like to know, however, why he is also known as Kris Kringle in the US. We call him Santa, Santa Claus, St. Nick, etc. after Saint Nicholas because of some sort of card giving thing he did with orphans or something but I don't know any Kris Kringle. Maybe there really are other Father Christmas's in different places.
Anyway, yes, I believe in Father Christmas - that's a song isn't it? Yes it is, by Greg Lake (of Emerson, Lake and Palmer). He apparently believes in Father Christmas too but the song was a protest against the commercialisation of Chrismtas.
Sorry, I got lost for a minute. I would never tell my children than there is no Santa Claus. If they choose not to believe then that's up to them but Christmas is much more fun when Santa is real.
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8539)
• United Kingdom
20 Nov 08
I am well aware that the US and UK are both made up of people from all over the world. I only said US because it is the only place I know where Santa is known as Kris Kringle.
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
20 Nov 08
pumpkinjam, Remember the US is made of people from all over the world. We know Santa Claus by many different names.*S*
Come to think of it, there are people from all over the world in England, too.
2 people like this
@littleowl (7157)
•
20 Nov 08
Hi p1ke..so you do still beleive in Santa Claus? Well far be it from me to disillusion you...but I think he misses me out with the the Christmassy magic but not the thanks for the harvest and New year...hugs littleowl
2 people like this
@littleowl (7157)
•
20 Nov 08
Guess it is a bit of both p1ke...I love the giving and receiving the happy times with my family but of recent my son works over the Christmas period and has his dinner there, my daughter will come up for a day with my grandson but apart from that am on my own most of the time the rest of my family I have to visit before Christmas as they live in London, in a sense its just another day for me...hugs littleowl
1 person likes this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
20 Nov 08
Oh, I very much believe in the spirit of Santa Claus. I think that he is much like ghosts and angels, you may not see him, but you just KNOW he's there.
2 people like this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
20 Nov 08
Personally, I think we should carry that spirit with us all year, not just at this time of year. I know it is hard to do that, sometimes, with things the way they are in the world, but, wouldn't it be nice if that warm,loving, giving spirit lived in the world all the time?
2 people like this
@carmelsuarez (329)
• Philippines
20 Nov 08
Nope! I dont believe in santa clause either. They are not real. he is just a make believe. I would never tell my kids that sanat is real because they are simply not. sorry.
2 people like this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
21 Nov 08
I do believe in Santa
"He's seen in the smiles
The whole world is sharing,
He's found where there's friendship
And loving and caring,
He's felt in warm handshakes
When people are meeting
He's heard in the cheer of
A Christmas time greeting
His spirit's behind all the
Gifts we receive
He's everywhere, always
To those who believe!"
1 person likes this
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
20 Nov 08
Call me Mrs.Scrooge I dont beleive. I see too much greed and anger at the shopping centers i think ole saint nick is being phased out here in Minnesota anyways. All people do is whine and complain. Its to cold, theres not enough snow, i have no money, i want this, i want that, thats too much yet im gonna buy it anyways.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
20 Nov 08
You have to transcend the commercialism and tune into the vibe Minnie (I'm starting to sound like Huggy Bear). It's the spirit that counts. You don't need a single present for it to be special. If I recall correctly you received a wonderful present a few months ago.
1 person likes this
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
20 Nov 08
Oh dont get me wrong im more than happy with what i have. I just see the world crumbling around me and forgeting what christmas is all about. Once i get my tree up ill feel better about it im sure just right now all i see is the comercial side of the holiday.
1 person likes this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
21 Nov 08
I hear you minnie, but this does make me sad. The overly commercial aspect of Christmas is here in Ontario too.
If you get the chance, check out the link in my response above. I find 'this' a big help in my holiday spirit each year. 
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
21 Nov 08
you are funny. Seriously, I told my kids at a very young age that there was no Santa. it was not an easy thing to do because as I child, I remembered the magic and anticipation of the season so much. Unfortunately, being a single parent and no child support....I really could not let my girls believe that the reason that they got so few gifts under the tree was because they were not "good". I had to tell them the truth. I explained to them that the "spirit" of Santa was real and yes it was. In times when it seemed that I worried about putting each meal on the table...somehow, I was able to come thru and at least put some gifts under the tree for them. Beyond the gifts, we always had such a great time at this time of year. We worked together making gifts and drove around at night checking out the lights. We still kept the magic even tho they were well aware that santa was not going to be leaving them huge gifts under the tree.
1 person likes this
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
21 Nov 08
I find this very touching, sid. I grew up poor, but my sister and I still loved Christmas. We believed in Santa, but he often left us very small gifts, and we were satisfied.
As a widowed single parent since my daughter was two, I know what it's like to struggle as you've shared here. She did believe in Santa though, until she figured things out for herself. She was always happy with what Santa and I provided, in the way of gifts.
Thanks for this discussion, p1kef1sh. I'm thoroughly enjoying it. 
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
20 Nov 08
Of course he enlists the help of grown ups and anyone who can fly through the air in a sleigh does not need chimneys. That was a tradition that changed but he gets in through any vent he can find and he spreads his magic dust.
We need more magic in this world.
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
20 Nov 08
I believe! Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. I loved how people smiled more and were more courteous during this time of year. I loved how they gave more and shared more. Things are not as they were when I was a kid, of course. People are so much into "things" that they don't always see the people around them. But it's still a magical time for me.
2 people like this
@mz2981 (36)
• Qatar
20 Nov 08
I believe in Santa Clause. My family had this tradition to put sacks in the window pane, we don't have chimney. Now that we are adults, we still do those sacks hanging even though I am the one who put the candies in there. The spirit of giving that counts, its does not matter if Santa Exist or Not. But the spirit of sharing and having fun with your family while eating those chocolates insidee the sacks counts.
@mz2981 (36)
• Qatar
20 Nov 08
I believe in Santa. In our family we had this tradition to put sacks in the Window pane, since we do not have chimney. Even when we are adults, we still do the hanging of this sacks. The spirit of Giving that counts, Santa exist only if you believe in him. The happiness and the fun that those candies in the sacks brings is priceless.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
20 Nov 08
I disagree! Thanksgiving is to celebrate my birthday! Even when, like this year, it doesn't fall ON Thanksgiving!
No, I don't believe Thanksgiving is to thank Father Christmas for anything, but then again, of Fishy one, I am in the U.S. and it is OUR holiday after all!
I KNOW Saint Nicholas existed, he was an early saint in the Church.
I think your idea that Santa, Papa Noel, Father Christmas comes in and spreads the joy and magic of the season (and arranges presents) is a good idea - but why does he arrange them different under different trees? Why does he wrap somepeople's and not others? I had a friend who the Santa gifts were never wrapped, just put under the tree with a name tag, while family gifts were wrapped. Our Santa gifts were wrapped, but not under the tree until Christmas morning (or Christmas eve when dad got tired of the early morning wake ups as we got older!)
1 person likes this
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
21 Nov 08
r u a writer? you should write a novel and call the title, "Do You Believe" and the subtitle under it would be, "The Magic of Christmas." and make a story about everything you wrote here...i think it would make an interesting book.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
21 Nov 08
I really like that film. Very schmalzy. Thank you for the kind words. People do say that I should write from time to time but I see writing as a competitive business (I know I know) and only have to read a sentence that I think is better constructed than mine and that's it. I'm not a perfectionist, but I don't value my words enough to think that anyone seriously might want to read them, let alone buy them. I did get an article published in a magazine once having said that. At my first attempt too.
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
21 Nov 08
i have seen the movie, both versions, the black and white version and the newer colored version with dylan mcdermott and elizabeth perkins.
i like the black and white version better.
i dont think there is anything wrong with ur writing.
@cinderella2007 (2662)
•
21 Nov 08
You really are a big kid aren't you????
Of course Santa is real, people dont make up stories like that and it be a world wide story aswell. It must be true for everyone to know about him, where he lives, his wife, his reindeer's and busy elves. I know I dont put presents under the tree and they appear magically on Christmas eve.
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
20 Nov 08
I've always believed that even though Santa isn't a "person" persay hes a spirit...the spirit of giving. So in that sense he's real and magical. Its hard not to believe in the magic of Santa and Christmas when its always around at that time of year.
A kid at school told me that he wasn't real which i in turn asked my mom and my mom told me that Santa was the spirit of giving without expecting anything in return. To this day My parents still do Santa gifts for each of us and we're all grown up. Each year I put something under the tree for my family from "santa" and never say who its from.
1 person likes this
@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
21 Nov 08
Awwww ... it would be lovely to feel Christmassy, but I've always found it hard without the snowy stuff and coldness and ho ho ho. I love the big Christmas dinner with all the trimmings ... and my parents have always obliged - but some years it's SO hot we're all sitting there with sweat dripping from us as we shovel the pud and rum butter inside! For some reason, our kiddies didn't ever believe in Santa. It's strange - because we certainly didn't discourage them, and there was plenty of Santa propaganda around. Our second daughter (who only deals with FACTS) used to give us a frowny look when we put biscuits and drinks out under the chimney for Santa - there was no way she was going to believe - even though the jolly old lad always brought things for her. My husband and I were having a lovely time believing ... but nobody would go along with us. Not fair. When we get to the nursing home, hopefully the naughty night nurse will wear an elf costume to keep the old lad happy ...
@daceyp (327)
•
20 Nov 08
to me hes got to have been real at some point in time or where would the tradition of santa come from.all i can say to those who dont believe is if you have children then please for there sake keep this to yourself as the magic is ruined for them.
my oldest daughter said to me that she was starting to think that he wasnt real and i said this to her and now shes happy again.but did say to her if she doesnt believe then please dont tell her younger sister as it wouldnt be right
1 person likes this
