Telling children about Santa Claus

Photos and interviews by Melissa Charles and Sara Bharrat

This week we asked the man/woman in the street whether children should be told about Santa Claus. Here are their responses.

Britto Arockiam, Teacher: ‘Santa Claus is known world wide, he’s so popular that even if you didn’t tell your child about him he or she will still find out. I don’t think there is anything wrong with letting your child believe there is a Santa Claus it’s just fun, adds merriment to the holidays. I remember as a child I used to feel happy when I saw my gift under the tree and thought that Santa Claus brought it for me. I also remember though that I was partially disappointed when I found out that he wasn’t real.’

Stacia Skinner, Teacher: ‘I don’t really think children should be encouraged to believe in Santa Claus-it’s just a myth. They [children] go about from a tender age with preconceived conceptions about where they got their gifts from and then when they find out that he is not real at all they are disappointed. Parents should let their children know that they worked hard to buy the gifts for them. The sad thing is that the true meaning of Christmas –Christ- is lost behind Santa Claus. He is used more that anything else to push sales by the commercial sector and I believe he is another thing from the western influence.  I can’t remember as a child believing that Santa Claus brought me any of my gifts. The few gifts we did get I knew my parents bought them.’  

Latoya Martin, Private Sector Employee: ‘Definitely no, why should you lie to your child, its plain old lying, making them disillusioned about the whole deal. It’s the same thing as telling them that a bird brought the baby; tell your children the truth. I never believed in Santa Claus. I remember crying terrible when I was taken to see Santa. I also remember that I used to think that Santa wouldn’t come to Guyana because we don’t have chimneys and snow, I always thought it was fake.’

Errol Toppin, Private Sector Employee: ‘I don’t think they should be told about Santa Claus-it’s just an American fairy tale blown out of proportion.  On the contrary children should be taught the real reason for Christmas- celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
I remember that I believed in Santa but stayed up all night to watch for him and saw my parents put up the gifts instead -he never came -I was disappointed’

Tina Narine, Student: ‘Santa is just a part of the Christmas season and he makes children very happy. Although I can’t remember my parents telling me anything about Santa Claus I think I believed in him up to certain point. It’s a lot of fun for children. My little cousin knows that Santa Claus doesn’t exist but he still enjoys the whole thing at Christmas. I would tell my children about Santa just to create that feeling for Christmas.’

Robert De Lima, Private Sector employee: ‘I’ve actually thought about the whole Santa thing. There is a yes and a no.
On one hand telling children Santa is real is encouraging them to live in a dream world, children should be told facts and encouraged to think logically. When they do find out that he is not real they could be disillusioned. That kind of deception should not start at such a tender age. I remember as a child I went along with the whole thing but I was very skeptical, I’d ask questions and get some fishy answers. When I found out he wasn’t real I didn’t really care, since I wasn’t a strong believer anyway. On the other hand it is fun for some kids, it’s magical and a big deal to them and makes the holidays a bit more fun.’

Paulette H. Public Sector employee:  ‘I would tell my grandchildren that Santa brought gifts for them. It is fun. Sometimes I would tell them if they don’t behave themselves they won’t get anything. When I was a child I believed in Santa Claus but when I was about eight I got up and peeped and saw my mother putting gifts in my stockings. However I don’t see anything wrong with letting children have a little fun, Santa adds to the magic of Christmas.’

Steffon Branche, Student: ‘I suppose you can tell them about him. Children get an image of what Santa is supposed to be and they have fun talking about him and believing in him. I have a little sister and she goes to see Santa every year, it makes her happy. For me I knew he wasn’t real all along but I tell my little sister he is because it makes her happy.
 I remember as a child going to see Santa one time and while sitting on his lap I pulled at his beard and it came off, that was funny. I think acting as Santa Claus is nice because you make so many children happy.’

Adrian Grant, Public sector employee: ‘I believe that should be up to the parents whether they want to tell their children about him or not. However I don’t believe it’s a big lie as some would want to say, mainly because it’s a huge tradition. In some cultures Santa Claus has taken over the real meaning of Christmas. I don’t think that is so in Guyana though. Here it’s more celebration and gifts for the kids, not that big emphasis on Santa. Besides you don’t really have to tell children about Santa, the television does that for you-he’s everywhere.  And also I think children are smart these days they are able to tell for themselves. For me I didn’t buy it at all, I used to think we didn’t have any chimneys how would Santa come in the house?’

Marlyn Sooklall, Sales Clerk: ‘Kids and Santa has been a tradition for a long time and I think it should be kept going. Think of Christmas without Santa Claus. Yes I used to believe in him because when I hung up my stockings –I remember one year I hung a pillow case-there was always gifts on Christ-mas morning.
One year however when I got a bit older I caught my mother putting things in my sisters’ stockings. I tell my grandchildren that Santa brought their gifts – it’s fun for me and them. Makes Christmas merrier.’