Is Santa real??

Many of us think that this Santa Claus thing is complete nonsense.  We feel like it is taking away the true meaning of Christmas.  To an extent I also thought the same way.  I never grew up believing in Santa and we really didn't have this in India while I was young. 

Now that we are in America and our children have many opportunities to learn the wrong information especially since the society gives much importance to taking pictures with Santa and other decorations completely leaving the true meaning of Christmas, we as parents need to put in some additional effort in teaching our children the right meaning and true facts of our faith.  

I have heard about St. Nicholas before and knew that Santa Claus came from St. Nicholas.  But I decided to learn a little more about this Saint.  I ordered the CCC of America's saint video collection recently when they had it on sale so that I can show my children the saint videos especially when we celebrate their feast days.  Along with the videos one was of St. Nicholas’s.  After watching it with George and Anna I realized what a great Saint he was.  He was from a very wealthy family but lost his parents at a young age.  Growing up he kept helping people with the money he inherited and saved a lot of poor families by paying off their taxes, getting their daughters married etc.  At the end he gave away the rest of his wealth to the bishop for the use of the church.  Finally he became a bishop himself, was arrested and put in jail for many years for standing up for his Christian Faith.  

On December 6^th we celebrate this great Saint’s feast day.  In order to remember this Saint many Christian families put chocolate coins and other gifts in their kid’s shoes on his feast day.  This year I wanted to celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas and gave my little ones new slippers and small gifts.  They woke up that morning to see the gifts St. Nicholas left for them and were very happy to receive them.  Even now George takes his coloring book and slippers he got and remembers that St. Nicholas brought it for him.  One day, I mentioned that I might have to return the shoes if it does not fit Anna.  George heard this and immediately he said “Mamma, but how can you return it to St. Nicholas.  Isn’t he in heaven?”  How innocent are our children!!  Isn’t it better that they learn it the right way than just thinking Santa is not real or he is the most important figure than Jesus in Christmas.   

Our homeschooling group had a St. Nicholas party and we were able to participate in it.  They had the special guest St. Nicholas there and it was amazing to see St. Nicholas dressed up as real St. Nicholas and not in the Santa outfit we see all around.  This was the first time I even saw someone dressed up as St. Nicholas.  How wonderful it would be if we can raise our children teaching them the true meaning of our faith and help them to understand we don’t just believe in some myth, but the truth. They could even take pictures with St. Nicholas.  My boy didn't want to since he was too shy. :(

Next year I want to make small handmade gifts on his feast day and have the children give it to other families which will help them to remember what St. Nicholas did.  Ultimately we believe that St. Nicholas is real because he was one of the Saints who taught us kindness and generosity.

God, we pray that through the intercessions of St. Nicholas

you will guide and protect our children. 

Keep them safe from all harm and help them grow

to become loving disciples of Jesus in your sight. 

Give them strength to always mature into deeper faith

in you, and to keep alive joy in your creation. 

Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

St. Nicholas ~ Pray for us