https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:41:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-explain-secular-christmas#post-2883158 Fri, 03 May 2019 12:45:32 +0000 Petitduck 2883158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: haha! He’s just very inquisitive. Even about the good stuff. I find a lot of questions revolve around negative things and often good things aren’t questioned so it’s interesting to hear this conversation from your little guy.</p> <p>My kid has been asking and talking a lot about death and illness recently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-explain-secular-christmas#post-2883134 Fri, 03 May 2019 10:45:59 +0000 MrsRoo 2883134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: so we are Christian. My kids believe in Santa and know the real meaning of the season (for us). We don’t get super into detail with Santa and reasons for the secular side of the holiday. I think when DD1 was about your LOs age, we explained it similarly to what you did: Santa is an embodiment of the giving spirit of the season. God gave us the ultimate gift (sending his son to us) and so we all celebrate His birth with giving and receiving gifts. In our house, Santa gives the 1 or 2 gifts that they specifically ask the mall Santa for and everything else if from us, friends and family. We celebrate with both church based activities and secular ones all season. It’s worked well for us so far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-explain-secular-christmas#post-2883111 Fri, 03 May 2019 09:07:06 +0000 graceandjoy 2883111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are Jesus people (sounds weird but I don't like saying religious), but my 4 year old this past Christmas was definitely WAY more into Santa and the whole shebang than I'd like her to be, but can't really help it since she's in pre-k and knows all the things :silly: </p> <p>No idea if I am doing it right, but besides reading books and make sure we talk about what Christmas means to us, I don't go out of my way to encourage OR disprove Santa. So I go along with her Santa stuff to a degree as we would any make believe. I put my focus on creating traditions and memories around celebrating Jesus' birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-explain-secular-christmas#post-2883072 Fri, 03 May 2019 05:33:18 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2883072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MountainBaby: I need one of those books that takes it from the nativity to now. I’ll be on the lookout. </p> <p>I feel like this Christmas/ Santa discussion is going to come up again. I’ll have to remember @lamariniere: it’s the season to show appreciation &amp; generosity by gifting and this year he’s old enough to gift time and volunteer. We’re definitely doing that.</p> <p>@Petitduck: I don’t ever remember asking why I received gifts, but this kid lol. I’m happy he stopped with the last question because I don’t want to give bad information. Seriously I had to run through a psalm or prayer in my head to remember if Jesus sat to the left or right. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-explain-secular-christmas#post-2883067 Fri, 03 May 2019 04:35:45 +0000 Petitduck 2883067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I think you explained it just fine for your kid and incorporated your religious views. He accepted it and seemed satisfied and he’s still little. </p> <p>My kids haven’t asked much about Christmas and they don’t question why they get presents, they just like them. Haha. We’re not religious at all and we do incorporate Santa, but just for little stocking presents as that’s how I grew up. All the other presents come from parents and family and we told our oldest last year that Christmas is a time to celebrate with your family and be together so that’s mainly what we’re focusing on as the reason for the holiday/ gifts/ special dinners. </p> <p>I did grow up going to Catholic schools even though my family isn’t at all, just the way it worked out for where we live, so I learned about the religious aspect of the major holidays in school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-explain-secular-christmas#post-2883049 Thu, 02 May 2019 22:40:33 +0000 MountainBaby 2883049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have any books about the story of the nativity? You could bring it out (or get one from the library) and read it as a way to broach the story of Jesus. Some even bridge the gap of first Christmas and our modern day celebration.</p> <p>For Santa, what I grew up with, and what we plan to do when LO is old enough, is talk about St Nicholas. Who he was, how he inspired the legend of Santa, and traits we could emulate (generosity, etc). It was a good way to frame secular Christmas and tie it back to church and religious celebrations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-explain-secular-christmas#post-2883041 Thu, 02 May 2019 21:58:21 +0000 lamariniere 2883041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are not religious and kind of half do secular Christmas due to family influence (neither family is religious either). I frame the presents discussion the same as you, that parents and family members give presents because we/they love the LOs and it’s a time of year when people show appreciation and generosity. Santa is not real and just a fun character at school and the mall (and my LOs know not to ruin it for kids who believe). We also donate gifts through school, so my LOs help pick presents for our sponsored children, and I reiterate how we have so much and some children have nothing (we live in a developing country, so the wealth disparity is very stark). Ultimately, I think you can make the holiday season about what you value, whether it be in terms of religion, or just a time to show appreciation/generosity in the form of gift-giving and time shared together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-explain-secular-christmas#post-2883037 Thu, 02 May 2019 21:48:05 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2883037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yesterday, I totally flubbed the meaning of (secular) Christmas and I have no idea how to get it back on track or even attempt to get Christ back in there the right way. Thinking of the convo with LO Secular Christmas seems so phony. Additionally, I am so out of touch with my faith.</p> <p>It all started when LO noticed I was on my phone. </p> <p>LO: what are you doing?<br /> Me: reading the news<br /> LO: what’s the news about?<br /> Me: the environment, the president...<br /> LO: presents?<br /> Me: no, president. Can you say President?<br /> LO: presents. Is Santa going to bring me presents?<br /> Me: no, mommy and daddy give you presents at Christmas. It’s not Christmas yet.<br /> LO: Santa too?<br /> Me: no, Santa does not bring presents. Santa represents Christmas and when we take pictures with him it’s men wearing a costume. Your toys come from mommy and daddy.<br /> LO: why?<br /> Me: why what?<br /> LO: why do I get presents?<br /> Me: umm, because you’re a kid and Christmas celebrates baby Jesus’ birthday and baby Jesus was given gifts so we give little kids like you gifts.<br /> LO: why did baby Jesus get presents?<br /> Me: the Three Wise Men gave baby Jesus three gifts because they were very excited he was born.<br /> LO: where’s baby Jesus?<br /> Me: baby Jesus grew up and now sits at the right of his father in the Kingdom. (I stopped short of saying “heaven” because I haven’t really taught that concept)</p> <p>He accepted my explanation and was fine knowing he would still receive presents. Can I just say how annoyed I am that because of daycare Santa is so ingrained in LO. </p> <p>How do you all explain Christmas especially those that celebrate it in a very non-religious way? </p>