Your story of the lady getting children to destroy figures of Santa Claus (St Nicholas), because he was not what Christmas was really about, makes sad reading.
Children grow out of their belief in Santa quite naturally after a few years, and it’s an appealing fantasy for the young mind in the meantime.
But what about that other fantasy so regularly brought out at this time of the year – namely, the nativity story?
It’s charming when children perform it fondly watched by parents, with all the appeal of baby Jesus, and donkeys and innkeepers, shepherds and wise men.
Children believe in it as they believe in Santa. But, it’s just as fictional as Santa, in that it’s based on the demonstrably fictional accounts in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Should we hammer the nativity story then? No! It provides a pleasant reminder of an occasion; but – as with Santa – there’s no need to keep treating it as fact as we grow past childhood.
As for a clash between celebrations, it seems quite likely that the winter solstice was an occasion for celebration well before Christianity (lacking any evidence about the real event) tacked the birth of Jesus on to it.
No harm in that, so long as one person’s reason for celebration isn’t allowed to shove another’s out of the way.
Peace all round then, goodwill to all, and Happy Yuletide!
John Tippler
Spalding
