Should Catholics do Santa?

It is that time of year when the secular world starts the Christmas Season early and delights in adding worldly aspects to the celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus. While it can be tempting to criticize the commercialization of Christmas and the skipping of Advent; at least the world is unknowingly acknowledging the commemoration of the birth of the messiah.

The modern depiction of Santa Claus bares little resemblance to the real Saint Nicholas so naturally Christian parents can struggle with whether to participate in the Santa myth. Saint Nicholas, of Myra or Bari is venerated in both the Latin and Greek calendar of Saints on December 6. He lived in the fourth century when Roman emperor, Diocletian was persecuting Christians. He developed a reputation for giving gifts to those in need at Christmas time especially to Children according to the Catholic News Agency.

Originally, Christians had the habit of emulating Saint Nichoals and giving gifts on his feast day. Christmas was not necessarily associated with gift giving. The protestant revolt rejected the liturgical calendar and Saint’s feast days. While Calvin even rejected the feast of Christmas, ironically it was Martin Luther who suggested moving the tradition of gift giving on Saint Nicholas’s Feast Day to Christmas according the Catholic Answers.

Given the distortion of Saint Nicholas‘s legacy and the cheapening of Christmas into some sort of secular winter holiday, parents are rightly confused about the best way to raise their kids when it comes to Santa. Parents have a few choices. They can be the totally counter-cultural and tell their kids the truth from the beginning. They can fully participate in the Santa myth and choose an age to later reveal the full truth to their children. Or they can choose some hybrid combination where there is some basic participation in the Santa myth, but with an emphasis on Saint Nicholas and the birth of Jesus. My book Angel in the Attic was an attempt to give parents something tangible to support them in whichever choice they make before the world interferes. Embracing strong Advent traditions and practices can also provide counter balance to the commercialization of Christmas. The Church does not have a teaching on Santa as long as one is faithful to Church teaching. The biggest danger is skipping Advent. The next risk is to place more focus on the cultural adaptation of Christmas than on true Catholic traditons. 

Therefore, don’t forget to celebrate Advent, keep the Nativity of the Lord focused on the birth of Jesus, and what it means for us as Christians. Christmas can actually be more fun and rewarding for kids when they know the truth and focus on it. There is more true joy in a family that embraces the love of Christ than any presents can bring. There is a danger in overcorrecting as well. Sometimes parents work so hard to focus on Jesus that they neglect the joy of the holiday. The joy that Christ brings should fill us with love and goodwill to all. Saint Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:2 “if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” If you choose to indulge in the Santa myth for a while, be sure to tie it back to Saint Nicholas and the birth of Christ. That way, when the time come to know the truth, your child won't be left empty but rather with a truth that is more fulfilling. Make your faith the source of the love and joy in your house this Advent and Christmas and that will lead to a lasting embrace of Christ.