is father christmas dead?

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Originally Posted by [email protected]

Christmas? Humbug! Call me Scrooge if you wish, but I dont think you should ever LIE to your children (or anyone else for that matter)

What exactly are fairy tales if not fanciful lies? They may not be the truth but they have brought joy to many generations and so has Father Christmas, is it a sin to generate excitement and anticipation in the imagination of a child?

No It isn't, I bet many an author has written books because at an early age he/she was gripped by such stories!

[MargaretR]

Children have more intelligence than you give them credit for.
They know there is a difference between FACTS spoken, and FICTION written for their amusement.

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Originally Posted by [email protected]

Children have more intelligence than you give them credit for.
They know there is a difference between FACTS spoken, and FICTION written for their amusement.

You obviously don't know how much intelligence I credit children with!

It is because children have intelligence that we who believe in keeping the age old traditions of story books and fables alive in their minds, what an empty and dreary thing my childhood memories would have been without tales of dragons and goblins and happy ever after, if my parents had rather than spent time telling me these tales, had just said, "there are no such things as Father Christmas, Peter Pan, or Mother Goose.

All through the history of mankind we have had story tellers that weave the tapestry of our imaginations, when we are young we will often believe in these tales. When we become adults we enjoy seeing our own children believing that a prince Charming or brave knight will come to the rescue of those less fortunate than themselves.
If you lack the imagination to stimulate joy in the face of a young child by telling them 'lies' then I feel very sorry for you.

[MargaretR]

I do not believe that when you read fairy tales as a child that you believed they were accounts of factual events.
(The Rev Logan/Harry Potter syndrome comes to mind )

What I do remember about learning the TRUTH as a child was NOT the disappointment that he was a symbolic mythical fairy tale type character, but disappointment at the fact that my parents LIED to me.

If I had been told the truth when I asked I would have learned that my parents valued honesty.

What I did learn was that people lie to each other all the time, even when the truth doesn't hurt. I could have learned that in a better way than from my parents lies. - who else should a young child trust?

[cashman]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Christmas? Humbug! Call me Scrooge if you wish, but I dont think you should ever LIE to your children (or anyone else for that matter)

ok then SCROOGE.

[magpie]

that's really sad... Christmas is never the same when you dont believe in Father Christmas.... which I why I still do: I am good all year, and I hang my stocking up.... and wish on a star :-) he must be too busy to get to my house these days... but I do understand now I am over 21 ( Just ) I wish

[MargaretR]

The truth wouldn't hurt if you had never been told the lie in the first place.

I still enjoy feasting, drinking and family togetherness - it is the hype that people add to it that spoils it for me.

[cashman]

kids love the "fantasy world" make believe and so on, or at least i did, n so did mine.

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by cashman

kids love the "fantasy world" make believe and so on, or at least i did, n so did mine.

So did I - but kids can tell the difference - there is never an excuse for lies - tell them he is a fairytale type person from the start - please - the truth wont hurt - your lies, when discovered, will

[harwood red]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

So did I - but kids can tell the difference - there is never an excuse for lies - tell them he is a fairytale type person from the start - please - the truth wont hurt - your lies, when discovered, will

In my case you are so so so wrong margaret. I brought up mine to believe in the magic of father christmas, tooth fairy etc... when they were older and discovered the truth they still said they were glad I did it as it created the magic that is being a child

[katex]

Originally Posted by harwood red

In my case you are so so so wrong margaret. I brought up mine to believe in the magic of father christmas, tooth fairy etc... when they were older and discovered the truth they still said they were glad I did it as it created the magic that is being a child

Exactly GHR.. Margaret think your views are a little far-fetched this time. Can't ever remember my children ever throwing this back in my face "Well, you LIED about Father Christmas, so why should I believe you now" ..

Think was probably a relief, so now they knew who to really pester for their presents at Christmas ..

[cashman]

well i or me brother n sis were never hurt when we discovered the truth, n i'm sure my kids would have said if they were, think yer way offbeam with this margaret.

[MargaretR]

Perhaps I have the George Washington Syndrome
It is just one of the principles that determine how I live my life -
I NEVER LIE

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Originally Posted by [email protected]

Perhaps I have the George Washington Syndrome
It is just one of the principles that determine how I live my life -
I NEVER LIE

I've heard some whoppers in my time but that one always takes the biscuit!

[harwood red]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Perhaps I have the George Washington Syndrome
It is just one of the principles that determine how I live my life -
I NEVER LIE

There is a time and a place, I have brought my kids up to be honest and that lies only hurt...think this is one time where a lie is the right thing...In the grand scheme of things I don't really see it as a true lie