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I'm beginning to see that the Celestial Forum is where topics go to die :). Still, I thought I'd throw another one up to see if anyone finds it interesting.

Most children are taught that Santa Claus comes on Xmas eve and brings presents to "good" children. Later, children find out that there is no Santa (sorry if this comes as a shock to any of you).

Could this be a subconscious imitation of religion in general? A metaphor for organized belief systems? Why would parents encourage their children to believe something they themselves know is not true?

Quasimodo wrote:I'm beginning to see that the Celestial Forum is where topics go to die :).

It's something that deserves serious thought, and I generally don't make the time for that.

Why would parents encourage their children to believe something they themselves know is not true?

I suppose you'd have to ask the individual parents. A couple of reasons they are likely to do so is because it's a tradition and because it's fun. I think in some ways it may even be similar to why people pay to watch a magician. Every now and then we like being deceived.

But there's a lot more to it than that. When it comes to Santa myths, there's always an element of punishment and reward for following the rules. Nowadays it's mostly and element of reward, but punishment comes into play for some Santa myths. The Dutch Sinterklaas myth includes a helper named Black Pete who will take naughty children back to Spain. Much more could be learned about the history and meaning of various Santa myths. I am only familiar with what I experienced, and not the history, influences, and motivations.

Or is the Santa illusion a harmless fraud promoted by parents to teach them about the dangerous frauds they might experience later? Parents have a certain amount of pride about the final cognitive leap their kids make in breaking down the practical joke.

Christmas could be just as much fun for a kid without Santa. That is my untested theory.

Christmas could be just as much fun for a kid without Santa.

Probably. I think all the hush-hush makes it more fun for some parents. I was always sloppy about it, however.

Quasimodo wrote:I'm beginning to see that the Celestial Forum is where topics go to die :). Still, I thought I'd throw another one up to see if anyone finds it interesting.

Most children are taught that Santa Claus comes on Xmas eve and brings presents to "good" children. Later, children find out that there is no Santa (sorry if this comes as a shock to any of you).

Could this be a subconscious imitation of religion in general? A metaphor for organized belief systems? Why would parents encourage their children to believe something they themselves know is not true?

Yeah it seems that way, huh, Quasi? It's too bad, because here we could perhaps set the precedent for more sustained, serious discussion apart from all the pop-up charges of apostasy.

It has been tried before, but in general, because the traffic is better in Terrestrial, people post there if they want to be read. It's become a self-reinforcing loop, I fear.

But, just think---maybe it tells us which kingdom is gonna be the good one with all the fun stuff happening in it!

On to Santa. I think there is an aspect of religion to it, after all Santa is intertwined with St. Nicholas and the kind of moral teaching that asbestosman points out. But I don't know I would go as far as to call it an organized a concept as a metaphor.

Why encourage it? The fun of magic and fantasy like other childhood games and play. I don't think it exactly counts as parents "deceiving" their children in any substantial way because it is usually figured out by children who then like to take part in sustaining the fantasy with their younger siblings. It's too loving to be called a prank or a joke, I guess its more akin to the traditional holiday children's theatre performances of panto or pantomime.

Blixa wrote:Yeah it seems that way, huh, Quasi? It's too bad, because here we could perhaps set the precedent for more sustained, serious discussion apart from all the pop-up charges of apostasy.

I do think the Santa fantasy (and all that goes with it) is fun for both parents and children. I'm not a religious person so I find all mythologies fun and interesting. I even find the "pagan" Easter Bunny (a rabbit with eggs as a fertility symbol at the feast of the goddess Eoster >"Easter") delightful. Christmas, Easter, Halloween, all the best holidays are pagan. I'm happy with any excuse for a party.

As to your above quote, Blixa, I think it might be fun to introduce this topic in the Terrestrial, only from a little different point of view. Keep your eye out for it and please respond if you have a minute :).

Blixa wrote:. . . I guess its more akin to the traditional holiday children's theatre performances of panto or pantomime.

In which country do children traditionally do pantomimes during the holidays?

Dr. Shades wrote:

Blixa wrote:. . . I guess its more akin to the traditional holiday children's theatre performances of panto or pantomime.

In which country do children traditionally do pantomimes during the holidays?

Easy one for me, Dr.. England.

Dr. Shades wrote:

Blixa wrote:. . . I guess its more akin to the traditional holiday children's theatre performances of panto or pantomime.

In which country do children traditionally do pantomimes during the holidays?

Pantomimes or Panto's are put on in the UK from November through till about the end of January. They are musical comedy versions of traditional fairy stories, such as Cinderella, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk etc., and are put on by adults for children, rather than done by children in England.

Depending on the story, there is usually a Dame, traditionally played by a man,
and the leading man or leading boy in Panto is invariably played by a female.
Most confusing for a young child! In recent years, actors from popular 'soaps' such as Home and Away and Neighbours, give us a profusion of Aussie thespians playing lead roles. They are great fun to watch and with cast and audience repartee are very popular with children from 5 to 95. I have not heard of Panto being played by children, unless it was in the form of a school function. Just occasionally though, children may play the seven dwarfs. If adults of small stature are not available.