In this column, two journalists write about their opposing viewpoints on controversial issues. This month, Phoenix will explain why the myth of Santa Claus is essential to childhood, and Audrey will explain why it is better to be honest with children.
Every winter, Santa Claus just seems to pop up everywhere: on movie screens, in commercials, ringing bells on city streets, and even subliminally in the background music at the local stores. He is the jolly old man with a toy factory bustling with elves, who delivers gifts to children in a single magical night, his journey powered by eight reindeer and determined by each child's behavior. But, where did this elaborate and extremely detailed myth come from? Why do we know so many oddly specific details, from his love of milk and cookies to his red suit, booming laugh, North Pole workshop, and reindeer that race across the sky, guided by a glowing red nose? The legend of Santa Claus has grown so elaborate and detailed that, in most cases, it even overshadows the original Christmas story of the birth of Christ. So, how did this mythical figure become the face of modern Christmas?
St. Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop from Patara (modern-day Turkey), renowned for his generous acts, such as paying dowries for poor girls to prevent them from having to marry or become prostitutes and giving bags of gold to poor families at night. He is also credited with miraculous stories, including reviving children and protecting prisoners, children, and sailors, who later revered him as their patron. The tales of Saint Nicholas spread with Christianity worldwide and, eventually, the celebration of Saint Nicholas on Dec. 6 was combined with the Christmas holiday on Dec. 25, which commemorates the birth of Christ. Traditions remembering St. Nicholas spread through Europe, where children would leave shoes outside to be filled with small toys. This practice eventually merged with other winter gift-bringer stories, such as Father Christmas and Kris Kringle, thus explaining the origin of stockings and the tradition of receiving gifts at night.
When Dutch immigrants brought the legend of Sinterklaas to the United States, the story began to evolve, picking up new details like chimneys, elves, reindeer, and the North Pole through poems, illustrations, and the growing influence of commercialism. Many of these elements were inspired by older traditions and Pagan customs. For example, the Norse Yule season featured evergreen trees to ward off evil spirits, the Pagan god called Odin soaring through the sky on a horse to deliver gifts, and elves woven into their folklore. In the United States, the Santa Claus story was shaped by creative writers, artists, and companies, inspired by these practices. Clement Clarke Moore’s poem, " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas," introduced Santa’s reindeer and gave them their names. Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist, added layers to the myth from Santa’s North Pole residency, his workshop (inspired by the industrial revolution factories), letters from children, the Naughty and Nice list (inspired by the Victorian rewards and punishment morality system) and Santa's appearance as a round, twinkly-eyed, bearded man in a fur-trimmed suit. According to the History Channel: “It is Nast who gave Santa his bright red suit trimmed with white fur, North Pole workshop, elves and his wife, Mrs. Claus." The red suit became a staple thanks to Coca-Cola’s 1930s holiday ads. In 1939, department store owner Montgomery Ward tasked Robert L. May with writing a children’s book to boost sales, and thus Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was born.
Ridiculous as the story of believing in a man whose existence defies time (from never aging to travelling the world in one night), has a monopoly of every toy company ever, employed a race of people who have never be seen anywhere else on earth, basically owns the entire land mass of the North Pole (since it cannot inhabit any other human life), has a diet of only milk and cookies, and likely transports into homes using heating vents (since chimneys are not built often anymore) seems on paper, it makes since why younger kids are inclined to believe the myth. Children see the evidence in front of them, from meeting Santa at the mall, to the cookies and milk disappearing, presents appearing under the tree and every adult in their life telling stories about gifts Santa left or almost catching him. Some families will even dress a family member up like Santa, so kids believe they caught him themselves. There is really no reason for children to assume their parents were dishonest, unless they catch the mall Santa taking off his beard or discover presents that have been previously wrapped in a closet. So, should parents encourage children to believe in the existence of Santa Claus or introduce the character as fictional, like the Grinch or Frosty the Snowman? In this article, Phoenix will explain why believing in the myth of Santa Claus is essential to childhood, and Audrey will explain why it is better to be honest with children.
Argued by: Sir Phoenix C. Robinson
Argued by: Audrey Roetling
Christmas morning has arrived. Children practically jump down the stairs as they rush to see what Santa has left under the tree. The glass of milk is half full, crumbs replace what once were cookies, and a glorious array of presents lines the base of the tree. Who could be responsible for such a wonderful scene? No other than Jolly Old Saint Nick. I believe that children should be allowed to believe in Santa Claus. Christmas is a beautifully unique time, especially as a child. One of the biggest factors behind childhood Christmas spirit is the belief in Santa Claus-- a jolly fellow, a noble fellow, and the man who makes Christmas the most memorable holiday of every year.
First of all, a belief in Santa Claus is a core part of many people’s childhood. Out of ten Grants Pass High School students that I interviewed, eight of them agreed that Santa Claus was an important part of their Christmas as a kid. Santa Claus is arguably the face of Christmas. The belief in him and his ability to spread Christmas cheer across the world is an integral part of the holiday, especially for a developing child. Christmas without the jolly old Saint Nicholas could never hope to be as great as the holiday is now.
If that alone is not enough, there is scientific reasoning behind why believing in Santa Claus is good for a child. According to the University of Texas, there are proven cognitive and emotional benefits to believing (and eventually disproving said belief) in Santa Claus. As Professor Woolley goes on to say, “there are benefits for cognitive and emotional development. Believing in impossible beings such as Santa Claus exercises children’s counterfactual reasoning skills.” Woolley also states that believing in Santa Claus helps to develop factual reasoning and scientific deduction. It is also important to note that fantasy and fiction are important parts of early childhood development.
Some might argue that the grand reveal of Santa being fake can be traumatic or hurtful to a child. In Psychology Today, this is acknowledged and refuted. According to the source, research shows that children usually come to the conclusion on their own around age seven. In many cases, the grand reveal is hardly a shock at all. In fact, according to the National Library of Medicine, children are generally happier about learning the truth than parents are while revealing it. And the way in which children learn of Santa’s inexistence is both healthy and an important skill to develop. By being able to question what you have been told and using evidence to prove or disprove a pre-existing belief, critical thinking abilities can be grown and taught at an early age.
Santa Claus is easily the most widely accepted representative of Christmas spirit. When asking any Westerner about who personifies Christmas, the two most likely answers are Jesus Christ and Santa Claus. While not everyone practices Christmas, the impact that Santa Claus has on the whole world is undeniable.
A young child at the mall pulls off Santa Claus’s beard, exposing the lie their parents convinced them to believe. Children find the receipts for the presents their parents bought, notice that Santa brought fewer gifts the year their dad lost his job, are teased by other kids for not realizing he isn’t real at the same time, or sit through an awkward conversation with a parent-- almost as uncomfortable as the birds and the bees talk to uncover the truth. It can be disappointing or embarrassing when children realize Santa Claus isn’t real, yet the lights, music, and snow continue, leaving some with a lingering sense of discontent and others simply distracted-- experiencing their first Christmas without the anticipation of Santa Claus. For some children, the realization may be minor; for others, it can provoke confusion, hurt, or a temporary distrust in adults. But what if children were simply taught the true meaning of Christmas, celebrated meaningful traditions, and treated Santa Claus as a traditional fictional character? They would never have to face this kind of disappointment, and the holiday could remain focused on joy, family, and generosity rather than the anticipation of material gifts. Children should not be lied to about the existence of Santa Claus because doing so diminishes the value of Christmas, discourages critical thinking, and fosters hurt and distrust.
First, Christmas is a symbol of selfless giving. From the Christian perspective, it celebrates the birth of Christ, God Himself coming to Earth as a vulnerable baby, living a perfect life, and ultimately paying the debt for humanity’s salvation. In this selfless act, Jesus gave Himself freely to humanity despite human imperfection. On the other hand, St. Nicholas, the inspiration for Santa Claus, gave generously to the most vulnerable members of society, including women, prisoners, sailors, and children. While Santa Claus appears to demonstrate giving, the myth can create misconceptions. Santa’s generosity is based on the “Naughty or Nice” list, implying that children must earn gifts rather than receive them freely. This can encourage insincere behavior, teaching children to be “good” for rewards rather than understanding kindness as a moral value, and shifts the focus of Christmas from selfless giving to receiving material possessions. In reality, human behavior exists largely in a gray area, and this seemingly innocent lie can shape a child’s moral mindset in misleading ways, such as morality is the result of observed actions and nice behaviors that can be manipulated for rewards rather than mindset or intentions.
Next, belief in Santa Claus discourages children from thinking critically. Santa defies most physical laws and rules of this world. He owns the entire North Pole without being affected by global warming. His toy factory receives no remittance, yet is always producing and transporting products. His workers are a race of people that do not exist anywhere else on Earth. He flies on reindeer. He fits the world’s presents on one sleigh. He keeps track of every individual ever on one list and monitors their behavior at all times. He is guided by a glowing nose. He can distort his body to fit down a chimney. He travels the world in a single night, survives on a night’s worth of milk and cookies, and he never dies. Because children’s brains are still developing, they are naturally inclined to accept what adults say as truth, making the Santa myth a barrier to early reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Despite these impossibilities, children are often tricked, guilted, and discouraged from asking questions. Every adult in their lives tells them Santa is real. Presents appear under the tree matching their wishes. Some children are set up to believe they caught Santa when they encounter costumed relatives, and others meet Santas at stores, reinforcing the illusion. Movies like The Polar Express or Elf can intensify this pressure by implying that belief determines whether children receive gifts or that the spirit of Christmas dies when a person grows up. Some parents even threaten to withhold gifts or skip holiday traditions if children try to uncover the truth, teaching them to suppress curiosity and self-expression to conform to expectations. With Santa appearing in movies, commercials, and classrooms, children face widespread social reinforcement of the myth, making it harder for them to develop independent reasoning about what is real. According to the Association for Psychological Science: “Telling children lies to make them behave is manipulative. It stops them from deciding for the right reasons. This includes telling a child that they won't get Christmas presents unless they are good.” Repeatedly accepting impossible claims without questioning can create a pattern where children defer to authority rather than using their own judgment, affecting critical thinking beyond Christmas. Ultimately, the Santa myth limits children’s ability to ask questions, forcing them to choose between critical thinking and trusting parental authority. This is a choice that should not exist for healthy childhood development.
Finally, believing in Santa Claus can breed hurt and distrust in children. For years, the meaning of Christmas revolves around someone who does not actually exist. For some children, this absence can feel similar to grief, as if a presumed loved one is missing. Others experience it as a deprivation, realizing that someone they thought they loved was not real. Some children simply feel disappointed, having believed in magic that is not real, left to wonder if miracles ever do happen, while others just feel gullible and incompetent, contemplating how they could have believed a lie for so long. The holiday can come to feel defined by absence, and growing up may seem like the moment Christmas is over. Some children may even resent their parents for the effort they put into maintaining the myth, from hiding gifts, baking cookies, telling untrue stories, the hypocrisy of raising them not to lie, and using Santa to enforce “good behavior” with promises of gifts or threats of coal. According to the American Psychological Association: “For instance, adults who remembered being exposed to more lying from their parents showed more issues with psychosocial adjustment (e.g., internalizing problems like anxiety or externalizing problems like aggression). It is possible stories children hear about Santa are eventually perceived as lies, and that the experience of being lied to subsequently influences children’s own beliefs and behavior long term." This experience can lead children to question their sense of judgment and wonder what else their parents might have deceived them about over the years.
Although Santa Claus can represent some Christmas values, he should be revered as a fictional character like Frosty the Snowman, where children can enjoy the movies and books without having a lie forced on them that can have lasting emotional, moral, and cognitive effects. In this way, the meaning of Christmas can be recognized without competition, family values can be upheld, critical thinking encouraged, households can be honest and, ultimately, genuine Christmas spirit will never be lost by telling the truth.
Now that you have read a supporting argument for why it is necessary for children to experience the belief of Santa Claus to have the full Christmas experience, and the argument for why Santa Claus should be introduced as a fictional character, and the holiday spirit does not need to have a foundation of a lie, what do you believe is best for children?
