Author Topic: Should Catholics teach their children... (Read 2177 times)

Matto · « **Reply #5 on:** October 24, 2014, 04:52:49 PM »

If you tell your children that there is a tooth fairy or an Easter bunny or a Santa Claus you are lying to them. It is a sin to lie, so you should not lie to your children.

JezusDeKoning · « **Reply #6 on:** October 24, 2014, 08:24:00 PM »

As long as children can separate the fictional, commercialized, American red-garbed invention of Santa Claus from the real St. Nicholas, it's fine to teach them about it. Most children will outgrow the Coca-Cola mascot (Santa Claus) very quickly, anyway.

Mabel · « **Reply #7 on:** October 24, 2014, 10:23:06 PM »

I don't personally do any of those things with my own children but I can see how some parents could make it work. There are ways to do it and make it not a lie but perhaps more like a mystery or a surprise. I'm not into that but if it keeps peace between spouses, they should try to accommodate one another.

Matthew · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2014, 01:28:54 AM »

The kids each get an Easter basket with plastic eggs, candy, etc. from Grandma every year. Once empty, the baskets and plastic eggs are given back to be re-used the following year. It's a practical, German thing

We tell them why we give gifts on Easter and Christmas -- to celebrate the two great Church feast days. They all know very well what Christmas is about, as well as Easter. So "mission accomplished" there. So our children understand that it's good for there to be so much candy associated with Easter, since that's a good way to celebrate a feast day.

We also break out a sweetened kids cereal (Lucky Charms, Trix, etc.) on their saints' days and other important feast days. Catholics have always involved food in their celebrations of feast days, right?

The tooth fairy is ignored. We give our children a popsicle or something equivalent to help ease the horrors of losing a tooth. It would seem almost wrong to not do SOMETHING to make the whole thing less distasteful. It's a small, inexpensive gesture to give them something to look forward to.

ThomisticPhilosopher · « **Reply #9 on:** October 27, 2014, 06:35:24 AM »

Quote from: Matthew

Quote from: BTNYC
I had these same questions when I first became a father.

I finally decided to ignore the patently fantastical figures like the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny (I really can't see any good in having an anthropomorphic rabbit compete for attention with the risen Lord on the Church's most important Feast Day), but I have allowed the children to believe in Santa Claus. But as my eldest gets older (he is now 6) I am transitioning from the mythical Santa Claus to the factual St. Nicholas. That way, instead of breaking his heart by letting him think I had lied to him, he might come to build a devotion to a great saint -one that he will always associate with happy childhood memories.

We don't promote any of the 3 with our kids, although we do celebrate St. Nicholas Day every year by putting out our shoes, which is especially appropriate for us because of our largely German heritage.

I still have fond memories of getting stuff in my shoes every St. Nicholas Day at the Seminary. Fr. Wolfgang Goettler was in charge of filling the shoes.

Anyhow, I agree that Santa Claus is in a different class than the other two.

My parents, being Baby Boomers, did the Santa Claus thing with us, though we were too intelligent to believe that elves made electronic toys, so my mom didn't even go there. She said that Santa got his toys from Sears, etc. She also said that Santa came through the front door, since we didn't have a chimney. Pretty funny when you think about it!

Pretty smart Santa when you come to think of it, :scratchchin:. I guess Santa has to be a thief in order to do his job, unlock the front door and God forbid, he enters in a house that doesn't believe in trespassing.

Local news story: Santa shot dead with a 12 gauge shotgun :roll-laugh1: .

You made me laugh pretty hard, thanks!