December 16, 2007
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The REAL Santa Clause
We always read the above book, on December 6th, about St. Nicholas in order to talk to the children about the truth and history of how Santa Clause came about. This year we decided to really emphasis Saint Nicholas and his life more as all my children already understand why we don’t do Santa on Christmas morning. I debated even emphasizing St. Nicholas as I wasn’t sure how it might take away from Christ with Christmas. I finally came to the conclusion that children need role models. Just like we teach, read books and study about missionaries in our schooling I figured this was not much different. With that said… we read the book but this time the kids got a surprise afterwards!
No peeking!
Surprise!
Rushing to the stockings on the hearth!
Socks to represent the clothes that Saint Nicholas gave to needy people. The boys got black dress socks to wear with their suits and the girls got black tights to wear with their Christmas dresses.
Inside the socks was chocolate coins hidden to represent the dowry that Saint Nicholas graciously gave.
They also had gingerbread cookies to represent the spice breads Saint Nicholas baked himself using spices from all over the world and then gave out to others. The kids also found in their stockings beef jerky as well as trail mix with nuts and dried fruit to represent the food that Saint Nicholas gave to those in need. Lastly, they did get one, tiny wooden toy which happened to be a little nutcracker this year to remember how Saint Nicholas liked to make wooden toys for the children.
All in all it was a fun surprise to do. However, I do caution with really young children that they may not fully understand if you do this at too young of an age. I had to explain to the girls (5 years old) several times that the gifts were not from Saint Nicholas (thanks to the secular view of him as Santa Clause) but rather from us to represent and remember how much Saint Nicholas loved the Lord and that his actions clearly demonstrated that love.
Comments (6)
Cute idea ~ how fun for them!
That sounds like fun!
we’ve never taught ours that santa was real and when they were little and would come and ask I’d say ‘what do YOU think?”. their answer was always no. but they sure had fun pretending! LOL
Great idea!
That looks like a lot of fun!
RYC: I’m trying to grow my hair out. It stopped growing for several months and just now started growing again. So hopefully it will get a move on it! My hair was naturally curly when I was a kid, but now it’s just got enough wave to have to be straightened or curled.
that is such a great idea!!!
How wonderful! Billions of Christians over the last 2000+ years of Christianity, have had the Saints to look up to and emulate as role models of how to live a life in Christ! I couldn’t agree with you more. How exciting for your children! In the Ukraine the children put their shoes out for St. Nicholas. They leave a carrot for his donkey- I think that is cute. Yesterday we were eating clementines and talking about St. Nicholas, with the children. They knew more then I realized! I was telling them that in Europe and especially Eastern Europe the children get oranges and nuts in their stocking/shoes. You and the children may like this book about St. Nicholas of Myra. - you may have to scroll down to see it. If you would like it, I would be happy to send it to you as a Christmas gift from our family to yours! That site has a lot of wonderful Christian books for children with many great examples of holy men and women that lived and died for Christ.