Steer clear of the Santa scam

Every year the holidays come around, kids write their wish lists in hopes that a jolly man dressed in red and white will bring them presents come Christmas morning.

This annual tradition has been around since the 16th century, when the folk tale Father Christmas was merged with the story of St. Nicholas, a Greek Bishop who sent Nuns to gift the poor. Jump forward to the 20th century and this idea of gifting impoverished people has been completely replaced by a magical being, who goes by the name of Santa Claus, and brings presents to those who behave well year round.

Personally, the experience of waking up December 25th to a bunch of gifts was mystical, so I was utterly disappointed when I found out the truth. As magical as Santa makes Christmas, is the lie really worth it?

From the beginning, you are setting your child up for inevitable disappointment. Not to mention the distrust that arises from this deceit. If adults tell well-intentioned lies about Santa for years, what else could they be hiding? If Santa isn’t real, is magic real? Is religion? Is God?

A child’s natural trust in their parents is completely undermined, especially if they find out at a young age. Yet time and time again, adults tell the story of jolly old Saint Nick because it makes both them and their kids happy. The imagination and magic nurtured into them as kids, is completely lost in adulthood, but comes back in flashes by the excitement of now being the ones who puts presents under the tree.

Maybe the bitterness of real life needs something enjoyable, something to hope for, to believe in, to return to a long-lost childhood. The joy of waking to find the tree filled with presents, the memories, the laughter, family, lights, candy canes. Maybe the lie is worth it.