Would You Introduce Hallmark Icons to Your Kids?

[dannibear]

Examples: Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc.
Would you, or have you told your kids about these
icons? What is your opinion on Christian families
teaching their kids about Santa Claus or saying the
Easter bunny is real?

To avoid confusion, if you told your kids about these
things, but have changed your opinion since then,
then go ahead with the no option.

 

[agua]

I reckon it's best to teach our kids to associate Jesus with Christmas and Easter. Not fat men in red suits and egg bringing rabbits.

 

[MsMree]

I was told about Santa and Easter Bunny by my Uniting Church attending parents (yes a little bit of a comment on the Uniting Church there :/ ).

I was so sad when I found out Santa wasn't real and it pretty much destroyed my ability to trust my parents. I am STILL working through it and I'm 25. Given I am a sensitive person but still...

My husband and I are in agreement completely against Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, elves, pixies, fairies, monsters, vampires, Halloween entirely, whatever. If I am telling my kids anything I want them to know it is the truth. So we will read Thomas the Tank Engine and I will explain it's a story character, the we read David and Goliath and I explain it's history and it happened a long time ago.

Our eldest is 4 and this year he had been asking about the Santa story and I have no issue telling him about Santa and his elves and whatever cause he's 4 and he understands that while some of his kindermates think it's real, it's just a story.

So in short: stories - cool, lying to kids - not cool at all.

Please really consider what you are telling your kids if you read my post, even if you disagree with me or think I am being hyper sensitive or a killjoy. Just think about it

 

[dannibear]

I remember being told Santa was real, and my mom telling
me to make a list of what I wanted every year. I was
made fun of in third grade for saying Santa was real, I was
convinced that he was. When I found out he wasn't, was
when I woke up parched and really needed a drink of juice
or water, and what did I find? My mom's boyfriend putting
out the presents. I felt guilty that all this time the money
put towards the expensive gifts I wanted came from us.
Now every Christmas, everyone finds it hard to shop for
me because I tell them I don't need much of anything.
It taught me I should be humble and thankful for what
I get. Now, when I have kids of my own someday, I intend
to tell them that Santa is in fact, not real. There is
a real meaning to Christmas, not gifts and Santa.

 

[agua]

There is
a real meaning to Christmas, not gifts and Santa.

Let's kick santa to the curb but keep giving gifts. I like giving gifts ( and receiving them too : ) ).

 

[MsMree]

Yeah I don't think we need to shun gift giving. But it would be great if it was less commercialised too! My mum gave us last year a World Vision "x many people have clean drinking water thanks to your gift" kind of thing. I think that's a lovely way of doing it.

 

[dannibear]

I never said not to :\

 

[agua]

I never said not to :\

Sorry danni I know you didn't I was just playing around.

 

[MsMree]

Hey sister, I didn't think you said not to either, I honestly think that it's not just Santa it's the greedy commercial all about present atmosphere that sucks about secular Christmas celebrations, I was just using this poll that you brought up to reflect on it. All good here! Sorry if I annoyed you.

 

[dannibear]

You didnt annoy me, it's all good. I just wanted
to make it more clear, especially when people
in the Bible Study Hall and Sermon sections
of the site tend to twist other's stuff and cause
arguments. I wouldn't want someone to take what
we said and say 'So and so is too extreme.'
It happens.

 

[dannibear]

And about the marketing:

Anyone else notice Christmas is earlier and earlier?
They skipped over Thanksgiving...

 

[agua]

Fair enough.

So what do you want for Christmas>?

 

[MsMree]

WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SO EXTREME DANNI. CHILLAX.

 

[MsMree]

I was thinking about the marketing and I think I have it figured out!

(Forgive me if this is stupid and obvious.)

The reason the decorations go out so early is to make you think of Christmas every time you go to town. So you're thinking about who you need to buy presents for. And you're pretty much guaranteed to by more presents for each person cause you're spreading out your spending over more than a month. If the decorations went out at the last minute then many people would forget to start Christmas shopping until halfway through December and then there might only be one pay check between them and the 25th. AND if you see something that otherwise you might not buy, that would be a good gift for someone you might otherwise not buy a gift for, then you are more likely to go "oh well it's Christmas I'll just get it for them." It's ALL about trying to get more money out of us cause lots of gifts are the things everyone needs to have a good Christmas. COUGH COUGH.

 

[Sheep]

I voted no.

I can still remember the day (as a little girl) I found out that it was all a lei. I was heart broken, and not only that, I stood up for this santa and the tooth fairy crap at school, and the kids made fun of me.

But yes, all this work for the good of those that love Him, for now I stand up for Jesus Christ, and people still laugh at me. So I'm kinda use to it

But yes, I will never make my kids believe a lie. The truth lives inside of me, so the truth will come form my lips. Praise our Father God for His grace and mercy.

 

[AbbysAunt]

Voted no on this one. There is no reason for anyone to lie to their children about these distractions that take away from the true meaning of these holidays which is our Lord Jesus. My own niece as known that santa isn't real since she has been old enough to understand and she is 9 now and my nephew who is two i'm sure will be told just as his sister was. My niece also knows there is no Easter Bunny and no tooth fairy...in telling our kids the truth we are not only being honest and teaching good values to them but we are keeping the focus on the very one we should be celebrating...our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...He is real and alive yesterday, today and tomorrow and forever more!

 

[dannibear]

I was thinking about the marketing and I think I have it figured out!

(Forgive me if this is stupid and obvious.)

The reason the decorations go out so early is to make you think of Christmas every time you go to town. So you're thinking about who you need to buy presents for. And you're pretty much guaranteed to by more presents for each person cause you're spreading out your spending over more than a month. If the decorations went out at the last minute then many people would forget to start Christmas shopping until halfway through December and then there might only be one pay check between them and the 25th. AND if you see something that otherwise you might not buy, that would be a good gift for someone you might otherwise not buy a gift for, then you are more likely to go "oh well it's Christmas I'll just get it for them." It's ALL about trying to get more money out of us cause lots of gifts are the things everyone needs to have a good Christmas. COUGH COUGH.

That, and I found this also when I googled it:

During the festive period consumers can find themselves subjected to a ferocious onslaught of eye-catching advertisements as retailers endeavour to vie for customers by promoting “outstanding deals” and “cut price” offers. Whilst there are many bargains to be had at this time of year it is always worth remembering that sometimes advertisements can make an offer sound better than it actually is.

 

[dannibear]

WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SO EXTREME DANNI. CHILLAX.

I do not know the meaning of this 'chillax'.
What is that? Some kind of cheese?

 

[MsMree]

Some kind of cheese?

Yes... yes it is.

 

[farout]

Hallmark

I think it takes wisdom to know what Hallmark items you want to give anyone.

But do not limit this to Hallmark. Next time you go the the Bible Book store take a real careful look. There is generally a bunch of real cheap China made junk. By the way most Bibles are printed in China or Korea now. That makes me very displeased.

I will bet you did not know how much Hallmark gives to Bible Colleges, and Seminaries. We need to be careful "we don't throw the baby out with the bath water". I suggest if you want to make this point call Hallmark and express your concern, it works.