Who Santa Isn't

  Well, my Santa lie came back to bite me.  A little.  One of my kids asked me today, that if Rudolph wasn't real, why was Santa?  The answer came about as we read stories before bed.  We read,
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Little Drummer Boy
Charlie Brown's Christmas

 Now, I do have issues with the Grinch.  Mainly, that he Steals everything from the Who's, and there is no reprecution.  So, it's okay to steal, and not get into trouble?  Even after he brings everything back?  That's sure some forgiveness on the Who's part.  But, in the end, he gets it right.  Christmas, is not about Santa and gifts, ribbons and trappings.  It's about something greater.  Something the Who's rejoice in, despite the fact they wake up to empty houses.
   In the Drummer Boy-he is poor.  Leading the song are the Magi, which led to a side discussion of their story and Jesus' birth.  When we got to the part where he had no gift to bring, my kids pointed out that he played a song, that was a gift of Love.
  That story led to the Charlie Brown Christmas, because we had spoken of the angles appearing to the Magi.   Charlie Brown hates Christmas.  He hates the commercialism that has become it.  It's how I feel.  Christmas feel ruined, a lot the time.  Frankly, I didn't know why we decorated trees or hung garland.  Growing up,  I was told we gave gifts to celebrate Christ's birth, and to replicate the Magi giving gifts.  They stand by it to this day, and would never consider that Christmas was placed on a Pagan holiday.  No way. Anyhow, Linus goes on to explain that Christmas should be about Christ our Lord, peace and good tidings.  Charlie Brown eventually feels better, when his friends come around, as they help him.
   So, did the Santa question get answered?  Not exactly.  I never came out and said there was no guy in a red suit.  But we talked about what Christmas is about-Family and Love and celebrating Christ's birth, even though he was not born on Dec 25th.  About how people become sucked into buying things they do not need, and that it's better to give and help others, who do not have.
   I hope that my kids will have a stronger and better understanding of Christmas as they grow up, instead of being entrapped into the commercialism of it all.