Monday, December 20, 2010

Foot in Myth Disease

As you can tell, the end of year has me in a firm headlock, preventing me from engaging in any of my own personally gratifying activities, as I run the merry holiday chase and throw 2 kids birthdays into the mix just for fun.  I am tired all the time, and working hard not to let my inner grumpiness express itself as my outer Grinch. This tiredness might be a plausible excuse for all the following story.

We were on our way to church yesterday, and my mind was ruminating on how Jesus birthday became such a spectacular celebration of mass consumption.  DH and I are reviewing the lists of gifts for offspring, seeking that fine balance between Christmas morning magic, and totally overdoing it.  I am sure we will err on the side of overdoing.
So, that's where my train of thought was when Teddy asked from the backseat, "Where did all this Santa stuff get started?

I responded, "I think it started in Europe.  Every culture there seemed to have their own myth, like Father Christmas, or some such, that delivered gifts to children in celebration of Jesus birthday."

2 beats...

Barley accused loudly from the back seat, "Hey!  You just admitted that Santa Claus isn't real!"
 DH quickly jumped in, clarifying that we had been discussing how the Christmas traditions from many cultures throughout Europe became merged in America, like Christmas trees, and stockings, and Father Christmas becoming Santa Claus.  I jumped in with some garbled logic about how it didn't matter to Santa what people called him, he came anyway...
Teddy kept his mouth shut, sensing the disaster we were trying to avert.

We had a traumatic Tooth Fairy "outing" a few months ago, wherein the boys proved their hypothesis, catching someone red-handed, arm under pillow.  That was a tragic night, as our youngest child realized he'd looked backstage before his last baby teeth were gone.  Reassurances were offered, but it will never be the same.

Santa has been keeping a low profile this year.  No pictures with the bearded man at the mall (any mall), who may or may not be the real deal, or may be just one of many of Santa's helpers.  I've suggested the boys write a letter to Santa and get it mailed before it is too late, but they've neither affirmed nor denied their intention to do so.  They were at the suspicious/questioning stage the last 2 years, so I think they've accepted whatever conclusions they've worked out in their own minds, and are willing to just go along for the ride.  And that's good enough.


Merry Christmas, Everyone.

2 comments:

  1. I never played the Santa story to strong. I always told my kids that whatever Santa brought, he sent us a bill for in January.

    Personally, I've always felt Christmas was way over done. But, I've gone along and over spent, and over bought for the Grandsons as usual.

    As I try to get out from under stuff and materialism, I feel guilty feeding the Christmas machine of consumerism.

    What ever happened to Santa bringing a few hand made gifts!

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  2. (HHmm just tried to post a comment but it didn't seem to show up so if it gets posted twice sorry) Just wanted to say to remember when the kids KNOW about Santa and get too old for the myth they still want the Santa gift, imagine that??? lol!

    Happy holidays to you!

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