The Big, Fat, Red Lie!

     Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Saint Nick, or, as you probably know him, Santa Claus. Why do you know who he is? Well, your parents told you, of course! And, because you were a young child, you believed he was real. You believed the lie that society has endorsed for centuries. Why do we feel telling kids to believe in Santa Claus is okay? This tradition is deeply rooted in our emotions and brings joy, but is it worth the cost of perpetuating a lie? 

     People tell their kids to believe in Santa because they wish for their kids to behave and be happy. Solution: tell kids they get gifts from a magical stranger named Santa if they're good. It may be effective, but is it right? The betrayal of finding out that someone you trust the most has been lying to you for years is terrible, and that's exactly what children experience with parents who tell them Santa Claus is real. This betrayal can even affect the child's ability to trust others in the future.  How much longer can we go on corrupting our children with these lies? I say no longer. 

     Don’t tell them Santa brought gifts for them. Instead, let them know the gifts are from you. Take all the credit you deserve. You can be the Christmas hero. Let’s not pass down the myth of Santa Claus to the next generation. I say we should start a better tradition of being honest with children. And if you do this, then maybe a friend will, and then another, and soon enough, we might just live in a world without Santa and without lies, a world where honesty and trust are valued above all.