Q & A: Can Santa be part of a religious celebration of Christmas?
“What should I tell my daughter about Christmas? I’m a Christian, but I also enjoy the myth of Santa Clause. My mother-in-law is pushing me to be ‘faithful’ and to stop filling my daughter’s head with silly stories. I’ve always thought that both traditions are based on real events in history…should I have to choose one over the other?”
Answer:
Answer: Yes, both events are based on real history and both serve important purposes today. Jesus was a real person who did in fact carry out the events described in the New Testament. His story grew into a strong religion that comforts and guides many people today. However, sometimes we forget that Santa (aka Saint Nicholas) was a real person, too. Of course, Santa’s not the grand figure that Jesus is, but he was a good person performing good tasks that, like all legends and myths, have been altered over the years into the holiday celebrations we have today (ie, I don’t think that Saint Nick really had flying reindeer).
The real question here is what do we tell our kids about Santa? How much is too much and when does it move from mysterious and fun into a lie? Is there really one point where this happens? Let’s start from the beginning and learn about the history of Christmas and the foundation of the traditions that we hold sacred:
What traditions are sacred and which ones are just fun? Does it really matter? The age-old traditions are all based on faith and love…yes that includes the myth of Santa Claus too! Like all aspects of parenting and educating your child, this is a choice you have to make with your family and your family alone. Weither it’s baby Jesus in the manger or Santa coming down the chimney (or both!), keep Christmas a personal and family orientated time of year. Touch your children’s hearts with love and kindness. Like we all do in our own different ways, do your best to show them the true meaning of Christmas.
Here are some fun and free Christmas activities:
Christmas Coloring Sheets
Christmas Activities and Coloring
Q & A: I’ve been feeling really depressed lately. Could winter be the culprit?
“Ever since I was a child, I’ve been getting really depressed around winter time. Now that it’s cold again, I’m feeling tired and lazy a lot (not an easy thing for a homeschool mom to pull off). Can winter really make a person feel this depressed or could there be something else wrong?”
Answer:
Answer: Yes. Actually, most of us become a bit down during the long winter months when it’s cold and the days are short and gloomy. I remember living in New England and being awed by the beauty of the winter wonderland, but frustrated that it took me 15 minutes just to pull on my jacket, hat, boots, mittens, and other winter attire before I could even go outside! In fact, there’s now scientific evidence that our bodies really do react to dark, cold days by producing less melatonin (the chemical that helps us sleep) and serotonin (the chemical that controls our mood and hunger). For most of us, this means that we can become a little lack luster or lethargic during the season while we yearn for spring (and crave chocolate-chip cookies). If you’ve got the blues really bad, however, you may be suffering from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), which doctors usually ascribe to the lower amount of sunlight you’re getting during these shorter days. Most doctors recommend that SAD sufferers eat more complex carbohydrates (pasta, rice, etc) and stick to healthy simple carbohydrate snacks, like fruit, instead of sugary ones, like candy bars. Exercise is always a good idea to lift the spirits and, since SAD is brought on by lack of sunlight, you can also invest in a lightbox that simulates sun rays indoors. A 30 minute sit in front of your lightbox can really bring a smile to your SAD face! Check out Cornell University’s Health Page for more information on SAD and how to treat it. If you’re feeling a bit under the weather but aren’t suffereing the more severe symptoms of SAD, try some of our ideas in our Beating the Winter Blues article to help get you out of your slump.
Happy Homeschooling!
- Kristi
