The real meaning of Christmas

Many Christians realize that Jesus was not born on December 25th, as many theologians place the likely time of Christ’s birth sometime between March and May. In fact, the early church didn't celebrate Jesus’ birthday, or at least there is no historical mention of it being observed as a special or holy day.

So, how did December 25th become the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth? The leaders of the church in Rome, seeking to supplant the pagan holiday of Saturnalia (a multi-day, licentious celebration that culminated on December 25th), decided to designate the last day as the day of Jesus’ birth. The tradition was instituted in early fourth century after Constantine came to power.

Despite the holiday's questionable roots, Christians today understand that we observe December 25th to celebrates Jesus’ birth, God becoming a man bringing redemption to all who believe. The question I want to address here, however, is whether Christians should lead their children to believe in Santa Claus as part of their celebration of Christmas.

Santa has become an integral part of most Christmas traditions, and it seems harmless enough. The story of Santa Claus ties together many elements that have since become treasured parts of our celebration like gift-giving, Christmas trees, flying reindeer, elves making toys, the North Pole, etc. We all probably share many good memories of such traditions from our youth, so how can Santa be a bad thing?

Well, remember Scripture’s warning in 2Cor 11:14-15:

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

While this verse refers to false apostles within the Church, it can also be understood as a model for the way Satan and his servants (i.e., the demons) will work in other situations as well. For example, injecting a mythical character who brings gifts to good children into a celebration focused on Christ's birth seems like the kind of tactic an "angel of light" might employ to remove our focus off Christ and create a competitor for our affections.

This strategy is especially effective against young believers (or potential believers), at the very time they are so impressionable. Who needs a Christ Child...we have Santa!

Secondly, what should we make of the way parents encourage their children to believe what is essentially a lie? Under any other circumstances, we would condemn Christian parents (or any parents) who intentionally lied to their children for many years about something important, all the while knowing their child must eventually learn the truth. Unfortunately, when it comes to Santa many have come to believe that such a deception is acceptable and even preferrable. Aren't we teaching our kids not to trust us?

Instead, we should be teaching our children to love the truth, not to accept lying. Ephesians 4:17-25 puts it this way:

So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 

But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.

Perhaps the most important reason we should not lie to our children about Santa is that we lose an opportunity to help them stand apart from the world in their Christian witness. Instead, instruct them in Christ, and they can be a witness to their friends explaining to them the true meaning of Christmas. Rather than becoming like the world, the Lord says:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect - Romans 12:2 

Likewise, 1Peter 1:14-16 says:

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

Finally, I offer a personal reason for telling your kids the truth, based on my own experience. I still remember the day when I finally told my first daughter that Santa Claus wasn’t real. She was approaching the age when most kids already know the truth, so on theis day when she said something that caused me to think she had figured out that Santa wasn't real, I took the opportunity to confirm that there was no Santa Claus.

Much to my surprise (and shock), she started crying. She hadn't known the truth after all, and I felt awful for crushing her belief so carelessly! I will remember this moment for the rest of my life, yet I continued to lie to my second daughter about Santa, still thinking it was the best thing to do. As a result, I endured a repeat of this emotional scene with her a few years later.

These experiences occured prior to (or just after I began) my Christian walk, so my wife an I were making decisions based on what the world taught us was best. While I’m not saying that the Bible specifically prohibits us from including Santa Claus in our Christmas traditions, I do hope I’ve shown how telling the truth is a better way and a better witness, which is the way I believe Scripture guides us.

I know that if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't lie to my kids about Santa. Just as our holy Father in heaven has graciously bestowed His truth on us, let us be parents worthy of our Christian calling. In so doing, we and our children can show that Christ is indeed what Christmas is all about.