It's that time of year filled with Christmas cheer, presents, and the ever-present parental question: Do we tell the kids the truth about Santa Claus?
For a lot of parents and other adults, perpetuating that Santa Claus is real is a chance to give young children a bit of holiday magic. Others, though, are more skeptical.Sure, it's a family story they can chuckle about NOW. But Lisa Highfill wasn't laughing that December day almost 20 years ago.
“Yeah, it’s Santa, it’s fun or whatever. But you’re teaching them lessons about how to think and how to evaluate evidence, right?,” Johnson says. “And how many people grow up then as adults who believe things just because they want to believe things, because it feels good — believe things because it confirms the world view that makes them feel good, right?”
“They can’t miss what they never had, which is like the mystery of Santa, but they appreciate all the other things.”An American creation amalgamated from a variety of European cultures and immigrant communities, Santa Claus emerged in the 19th century and was firmly entrenched in American culture by the early part of the 20th century.
There's no empirical evidence whatsoever that shows any kind of definitive harm or good coming to children over a belief in Santa Claus. Candice Mills, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Dallas who has done a research study into how children felt about learning Santa isn't real, found that for most kids in the study, negative feelings over discovering the truth were usually short-lived.
It was tradition that had Highfill and her husband bringing Santa Claus into their Christmas celebrations with their sons to begin with, echoing as parents what their parents had done for them.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Santa Claus Meets Visitors at the Santa Claus House in North Pole, AlaskaWith Christmas just days away, the Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska is welcoming visitors from around the world to meet Santa Claus in person. Children and adults alike are lining up to take pictures with Santa and share their Christmas wishes. Santa reveals that Lego sets are the most popular request from boys this year, while girls often ask for makeup kits, stuffed animals, puzzles, art supplies, and knitting supplies.
Read more »
Woman allegedly punched a Santa Claus at Christmas parade for blocking her viewA woman is facing charges for allegedly punching a Santa Claus for blocking her view at a Christmas parade.
Read more »
Arnold Schwarzenegger Transforms into Santa Claus for New Christmas MovieArnold Schwarzenegger is starring as Santa Claus in a new Christmas action-comedy, 'The Man with the Bag'. The film sees Schwarzenegger's Santa enlist the help of a reformed thief, played by Alan Ritchson, after his magic bag is stolen.
Read more »
10 Christmas Movies Where The Villains Are People That Don't Believe In Santa ClausElf and Mircaled on 34th St.
Read more »
Santa Claus Takes 40 Kids on Special Christmas Fishing TripMore than 40 children from the area enjoyed a unique fishing trip with Santa Claus on December 18, 2024, thanks to the efforts of several Dauphin Island charter captains. The event, organized by Captain Kurt Tillman of Captain Kurt’s Charters, aimed to create lasting holiday memories for the lucky anglers selected through a random drawing from over 1,600 entries.
Read more »
Arnold Schwarzenegger Takes on the Role of Santa Claus in New Christmas MovieActor Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to star in the upcoming Christmas movie 'The Man with the Bag'. Schwarzenegger was recently spotted in New York City sporting a white beard, prompting speculation that he will be playing Santa Claus. While the plot details are still under wraps, the movie is said to revolve around Santa's magical bag being stolen and his recruitment of a former thief to help retrieve it. Schwarzenegger has previously starred in the Christmas comedy 'Jingle All the Way'.
Read more »