I had declared last night the official ‘eat up all the leftovers’ night because we’ll be spending Christmas with my family. However, we already did a pretty good job of eating up the leftovers because no matter how I tried, I couldn’t concoct a meal (satisfying enough for Hubbs) out of this:
I guess he could have had beer and I could have eaten celery sticks…
Anyways, instead we opted to head over to East Coast Wings and Grill. We split green bean fries (so good, but then again what isn’t good when it’s deep fried and dipped in lava ranch?!)
and I enjoyed a grilled buffalo chicken salad with a Fat Tire on the side.
Evidently we weren’t the only ones craving an icy brewski, look who joined us…
I know, I know, Hailey doesn’t look excited at all, but in her defense, it wasn’t her first time meeting the jolly fellow.
Been there, done that. (Anyone else ever own a tiny-tee with that saying on it? Yeah… me neither… ;))
I digress…
There were a lot of kids at East Coast and I loved watching their eyes light up as they all shyly approached Santa to say hello and give him a hug. Watching children light up at the sight of Santa warms my heart. It’s magical.
Which got me thinking…
I’ve seen a lot of anti-Santa talk flying around this season. I’ve seen it referred to as having a ‘Santa-light’ Christmas. Parents refuse to acknowledge Santa or flat out tell their children he is a lie. Why?
Some say it’s to focus on the ‘reason for the season’ while others say they refuse to lie to their children.
I know that Christmas is a celebration of Christ’s birthday. Going to the church service, setting up the nativity scene and singing all the wonderful Christmas songs (Oh Night Divine, anyone? LOVE.) clearly highlight the reason for the celebration of Christmas.
But what else comes along with this yearly celebration? To me, it’s about spending time with family, it’s the time of year when strangers smile a little bit more at one another and there seems to be magic in the air. And for me, that includes the magic of Santa Claus, who embodies the spirit of giving at Christmas.
Are there some parents who allow their children to only focus on Santa and do these children end up as little brats who only think Christmas is about getting presents? Absolutely. But I think they are in the minority.
I grew up with Santa Claus, and I treasure the memories I have of putting out milk and cookies and carrots for the reindeer and being amazed in the morning that they had been eaten. Did I receive gifts from Santa? Definitely. But my favorite part of Christmas was and still is the coziness I feel when I get to spend time with my family around the fireplace, snacking on our traditional recipes, sipping on warm beverages and chatting for hours because life gets so busy that we don’t have time to indulge in together time very often anymore.
I’m front left… would you expect anything else?
Now that we have a daughter, David and I get to form her traditions. Do we plan on including Santa? Ab.Sol.Utely. But will that be our main focus? Not a chance. I hope to teach her what I know and feel about Christmas… the birth of Christ, the warm feeling of giving, togetherness, thankfulness, creating memories and the joy and magic of Santa.
I completely respect everyone’s right to their own opinions and traditions about the celebration (or lack there of) of Christmas. In fact, I don’t get offended if someone wants to wish me a Happy Hanukkah- I think it’s wonderful! Happy Hanukkah to you, too! Or, happy Kwanzaa, is that’s what you prefer.
I just wanted, with all the negativity about Santa flying around, to make it clear that
I believe.
What are your thoughts on Santa?
Do you plan on Santa being a part of your family’s Christmases?
Lee says
Since I don’t have kids yet, I honestly don’t know. I was raised Jewish and my husband was raised Christian. I think that when we do have kids, we will celebrate both, however I am honestly not sure how to handle the santa situation. I guess we’ll include it, not sure. I’m also not sure what I thought of santa as a kid. I mean, my parents definitely didn’t tell me he was real, but I don’t necessarily think he told me that he wasn’t either. I think they just told me that we don’t celebrate Christmas.
Brooke @ Veggie Table says
Haha – your fridge looks just like mine at the moment! 🙂 Happy holidays to you, Hubs, and Hailey!!
Shari says
I think your “I believe” is the most important message of all. No matter what holiday we celebrate (Hanukkah for me), it’s all about believing – in family, in faith, in miracles, in hope.
Merry Christmas to you!
Lauren says
I love the way you put it! “it’s all about believing – in family , in faith, in miracles, in hope.”
Happy Holidays!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
Green bean fries? Yes, please!
I was raised Catholic and my family is still very much religious and practicing for the most part. I’ve drifted over time though, last year was the first time I didn’t go to church for either Christmas or this past Easter and the only guilt I felt was from my parents, it suprisingly didn’t bother me at all. To me, holidays are more about family than religion right now and I often wonder if we ever have kids what we’ll do in that area. My husband was brought up Greek orthodox but he and his family have pretty much dropped all connections to the church. I do feel like it was good as kid to have that religious structure and grow up knowing the “real” meaning behind the holidays even though I’ve made my own decision now to distance myself from that.
Krista says
I was always told Santa wasn’t real, so I’m excited to now have a child who gets to experience the Santa magic I didn’t. We do let her know the real reason for the season, but like you I love seeing her eyes light up at just the mention of Santa and his reindeer flying through the sky! Precious.
Jamie @ Don't Forget the Cinnamon says
I spy some magic hat in your fridge! I go to school in VT so everyone’s crazy about that stuff!
Marci says
I’m Jewish but grew up with Santa too. We left cookies and milk, did a big family celebration on Xmas day. I love Santa! I say Happy Holidays on gifts and Happy Hanukkah to Jewish friends.
Whitney says
I am a Christian as well as the rest of my family and my parents raised my sister and I that there was a Santa and I remember being devastated when I found out that there wasn’t. But, like you said, I have very fond memories with my sister of putting out the food and waking my parents up super early to see what Santa had brought. I fully intend to carry out this tradition when I have kids. With that being said, my parents did instill in us that there is a bigger meaning to Christmas than just presents and I am grateful for that.
As a side note.. I do think the Black Friday and shopping and all that jazz has gotten out of control and takes away from the magic of Christmas, IMO 🙂
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
Oh man, my fridge looks the like that on too many occasions.
Megan @ The Road to Skinny says
I really like this post and feel like there have been a lot of posts about parents telling their kids that Santa isn’t real right away. I talked with the hubs about it and I really want Christmas to be about (other than celebrating Jesus’ birth) being generous to others, and that means going to shop for some kids who don’t have as much as you do. I’m also trying to push for only asking Santa for just 1 present each year. I couldn’t cut out Santa totally, but I think asking him for 1 thing instead of everything you want coupled with buying presents for other kids might work out pretty well for us.
And I’m totally with you on the someone can wish me Happy Whatever and I will not be offended in the slightest 🙂
Merry Christmas!
Jenny says
Beautiful post! I’m with you 100%. Safe travels and Merry Christmas!
Colleen says
The magic of Santa (along with all the other wonderful things about Christmas) is just too good not to pass on to my (not-yet-conceived) children. I think children nowadays have so much grown-up stuff thrown at them at an earlier age than even we experienced, you might as well throw in something that will keep them young just a little bit longer. I love your blog, and I think this post was so well-written and not controversial at all. Just as you respect other people’s beliefs, they should respect yours, and I think that’s one of the “reasons for the season.”
Tina @ Best Body Fitness says
Peter and I actually had a BIG discussion about this before Makenzie’s first Christmas. Nobody in his family does Santa and they tell their kids he’s not real from a very young age. He didn’t grow up with Santa for the whole “reason for the season” thing.
I did. I wanted Santa in my kids’ lives because I love the magic, excitement…and partly didn’t want to have the kid going around ruining Christmas and Santa for others. Haha! But mostly it was the fact that Christmas is also about love, family, traditions, and anticipation.
We compromised that we would have Santa, but that Christmas wouldn’t be overloaded with too many gifts. A couple things from Santa and a couple things from mom and dad for the kids. Then, they would also participate in charities at the church to learn about giving back. We do Advent and nativity readings every night with Makenzie so she understands the true meaning of Christmas. We talk about Jesus more, but still let her believe and get excited for Santa. She got a Portable North Pole video message from him, got to see him at a Christmas parade, etc. And she loves it!
We also encourage her to understand that Santa gives gifts to kids because he wants to show love to the little children like Jesus always did. That he wants to love like Jesus. We don’t use Santa as a bribe or “be good, Santa’s watching” tool. He is simply a kind man, showing love, and giving – just like Jesus would want.
Sorry for the novel, but I obviously feel strongly about this! LOL
Sarah says
I love how you connect Santa with how Jesus loves all children! I also like how just a couple things come from Santa but Mom and Dad still give gifts too. 😀
Jennifer says
I know the reason for the season but I grew up with Santa Clause and I cannot wait til I have kids and celebrate with them and share the magic of Christmas and Santa with them.
Sarah says
I still get gifts from Santa. I don’t know what y’all are talking about.
Bottom line, if you raise kids to be spoiled brats, then that’s how they’ll act ALL YEAR regardless if you tell them about Santa or not. Parenting is about how a huge mass of decisions and examples all add up together. Santa is such a small percentage of that.
Susan @ Real Life Travels says
I agree 100%! Great Post! People who are complaining are probably the ones complaining about the Christmas tree too wanting it to be a “holiday tree”. All I know is my child will understand the true meaning of Christmas but will also be able to be a kid and enjoy Santa too.
Corrie @ Blurb Column says
I wrote a post yesterday with a similar slant…not about Santa, but about the various holidays and people being offended or upset about getting wished Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas or Merry Christmas instead of Happy Hanukkah. I agree with you100% that the *meaning* behind what we do is the important part. Family, sharing love and caring, the magic of the season…that is what Christmas is about to me.
Jen says
It makes me so sad that parents tell their kids from the get go that there’s no Santa. Growing up, we always knew the real reason for the season BUT we also did the whole Santa thing. Some of my best childhood memories were when I knew Santa wasn’t real but my brother didn’t know yet. I had so much fun trying to keep the magic of Santa alive for him, and could not imagine not doing that with my own kids!
Lauren @hugskissesndishes says
I am Jewish, so I didn’t have Santa growing up, but my boyfriend did. This will be my third Christmas at his place and it is super fun and magical. And believe me Santa still shows up at his house! Haha! It really is all about the family and the more presents under the Christmas tree addressed from Santa the better. I don’t really understand how not acknowledging Santa is going to make Christmas more meaningful or more about family. I mean who bakes the cookies & milk? A four year old by themselves? or the family? You can show your kids to cherish family with or without Santa in the picture, I know the importance of the holidays and I didn’t even grow up with Christmas.
christina says
i have never had green bean fries — how fun is that? your outfit in the last pic is so cute!
Melissa G says
I agree with you 100%! It’s nice to see others feel the same way.
Kristen @ The Concrete Runner says
I love this and was already planning a post tomorrow on our “new” traditions with a little one. We are planning to tell her about Santa but of course keep the focus on the true reason for Christmas.
Lindsay says
I LOVE Christmas. I was raised believing in Santa and I LOVED every little tradition. I woul get so excited on Christmas Eve that I couldnt fall asleep, but I am so glad that I was able to enjoy those moments and I know have happy memories from my childhood! 😀
Sarah says
Growing up in a devout Catholic family, the birth of Jesus, reflection, being thankful, and giving back was always the main focus on Christmas. But we also enjoyed santa and christmas lights and decorating. I fully believe you can have a great “Santa day” and have that magical feeling of Christmas time, while giving thanks to our Lord and savior and remembering him just as well.
kristin point says
I was raised super catholic so we had the religious focus as well as the whole santa bizness. I grew up going to church and participating in religious pagents and enjoying every christmas with my large family. I cannot wait until next christmas when I have a daughter to share all of that with. I would never want my kids to miss out on the magic and the happiness that kids who believe in santa feel during christmastime. I’m a teacher and I still enjoyed santas visit to my special ed classroom today, you should have seen the look on their faces!
Melissa @ Be Not Simply Good says
Well, I guess we are somewhere in the middle. Christmas for us is celebrating Christ’s birth, and my kids know about Saint Nicholas. We’ve talked about the fact that the Santa Claus tradition remembers his spirit of generosity. They know that there isn’t a Santa living today, but that there really was that kind man long ago. They also know that many children do believe that Santa is alive and comes each year, so they just nod along if another child is talking about Santa.
Does Santa play a role in our Christmas season? Sure. They met the mall Santa one time, and the look in their eyes told me it was magical to them. We do Christmas stockings. We watch Rudolph and Santa movies on tv. It’s part of the fun, even though they know.
I saw a picture recently on Facebook that depicted Santa kneeling by the manger. I thought that was nice. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Lauren says
Oh my god, seriously? Who is against Santa?! I have such fond memories from Christmases when I believed in Santa, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t about family too! I’m not religious, so Santa was a big part of Christmas for me growing up. I definitely plan on letting my future children believe in him 🙂
Becky Klotz says
I saw that you mentioned you use a Couch to 10k iPhone app. I’ve been trying to find either that one or the Couch to 5k one, but I keep getting so many results. Do you know what the names are of the apps you use?
Michaela says
aw, such a great post, I feel exactly the same way!!
Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers says
Great post! I don’t have kids yet, but I plan to let Santa into our Christmases. My only fear is that I won’t be good at keeping up the charade. I’m a horrible liar!
Madeline@Food, Fitness, and Family says
I believe in Santa. I think believing brings magic to the holidays. Our family does things that reminds them WHY we celebrate Christmas in the first place: IE: going to church throughout Advent, Christmas Eve mass, baking a birthday cake for Jesus, etc. BUT there is nothing more magical than kids listening for jingle bells and hoping they can catch Santa. We believe in our house.
Alyssa @ Life of bLyss says
gaaah, I used to go to ECW when I went to Catawba! it’s so weird seeing all these places I know. why oh why didn’t we know each other when I lived a hop skip and jump away from you?