Why do people lie to their children and tell them that Santa exists and brings them presents?

Question

Now if you believe Santa exists then you are not lying. However if you don't then you are simply lying to children.

Answer 1

My kids always knew the truth about Santa....nice story with a distant historical background, but not real.

What do parents say to their kids? If you are good Santa will come but if you are bad he won't. So, if your child has a friend who is very good but the parents are too poor to buy presents how do you explain that situation to your children?

Also, if you are supposedly christian, why are you buying into that whole commercial aspect of what is supposed to be the celebration of your god's birth?

Answer 2

It's fun. It's a game. It's not a malicious lie. Nothing wrong with stirring the imagination, particularly with an idea that brings such joy and excitement.



In August we were bringing the kids to Disneyworld for the 1st time... but kept it a secret for months, telling them we were going elsewhere. On the morning of the trip they were surprised. Am I a bad parent for lying to them about that surprise? How is that any different from Santa?



I remember being delighted, waiting for the sound of reindeer hooves on the roof and looking out the window to catch a glimpse of a red glowing nose... I am soooo glad my parents told me there was a Santa as believing in him is some of my fondest childhood holiday memories. I want to pass a little of that magic and tradition on to my kids, and this is a fun way when they're young.



I believe in the "spirit" of Santa-- that is, the joy and generosity that the symbol in the red suit and white beard represents. My kids will understand that someday. But while they are young, they are having fun believing a little more literally.

Answer 3

I have always believed in the concept of Santa. Its not about the presents or whatever. The following excerpt is what reinforces my belief in "Santa Claus" I have to wonder why more people are not believers in Santa Claus



"Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as LOVE and GENEROSITY and DEVOTION exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest BEAUTY and JOY. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished..."The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world"

Answer 4

What adult with children believes that Santa exists? It *is* lying to your children to tell them about Satan, whoops, I mean Santa. People lie because they don't have the Spirit of God in their lives to know any better.



Christmas is not about Santa or presents or any tree that people gathered and worshipped last night without knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. The tree is idol-a-tree. People need Jesus. Christmas is about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But the lost world doesn't want to hear that. Jesus is Lord. If Jesus is not your Lord you will be cursed with everlasting fire. If you lie (like telling your children there is a Santa Claus and having them realize you are a liar when they grow older to know the truth that Santa is a lie) you will be cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8). I don't want that for you. I want you to be blessed. You're blessed if you hear the word of God and you keep it (Luke 11:28). To keep it means you take care not to violate it.



You people better quit lying and get right with God. You can only do that when you turn to Him and then He will lead you to repentance. Once you repent then God will make you born again by the Holy Spirit and you will have the power of God in your life to overcome the urge to sin. Real Christians are grieved by what they see that people do in regards to Christmas. May God bless you.

Answer 5

I don't remember being traumatized when I realized Santa didn't exist, and I will be telling my own children about Santa for two reasons. First, it's an innocent and fun fantasy that makes the holidays even better for kids. Second, it teaches a valuable lesson when kids do figure it out: authority is not always to be trusted.

Answer 6

There is no greater joy than in giving and seeing the joy in an innocent child receiving. As a child receiving this is an early lesson so they too will know the joy in the gift of giving later in life. Unfortunately, business seems to think that this is a way to exploit others of their money.



Santa is very real, you just have to choose it, then he becomes a reality, even if only in the minds of a child.

Answer 7

Are you saying Santa is not real? Then who ate the cookies and drank the milk I left for him last Christmas eve?



What lie will you tell us next? That the easter bunny and the tooth fairy are not real?

Answer 8

there is no harm in having your kids believe in Santa....I have never met one adult traumatized from finding out that he doesn't exist

Answer 9

I tried telling my kids that Santa wasn't real when they were little.

They wanted to believe that he was.

They grew out of it.

Answer 10

Tradition. You probably didn't get any toys when you were younger Don't hate on Jolly ol St.Nick

Answer 11

I was really upset when I found out Santa was fake. And then when I found out Jesus was fake, boy was I pissed.