The Dangers of the Santa Myth: Why It Matters Spiritually

As the journal (MomLife Today) rightly points out, “We know Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus — God’s gift to the world. But there’s another man who has taken over a whole lot of our attention every December…”

Most of us didn’t choose to believe in Santa Claus — the belief was simply passed down to us from generation to generation, reinforced by advertising, and eventually woven into cultural tradition. Even the media joined in, tracking Santa’s “journey” each Christmas Eve on their radar. Over time, the Santa narrative became a powerful seasonal tradition, generating billions of dollars each December around a holiday myth.

And unfortunately, when we discover that Santa is actually Mom and Dad — a truth every child eventually faces — it doesn’t merely disappoint us. It fractures trust, and that fracture can later undermine our ability to believe in a God we cannot see or touch.

That experience shaped everything when I became a Christian and a mom of three. I made a clear decision early on: no Santa, no Tooth Fairy, no Easter Bunny — and not even Halloween costumes. Not because I wanted to spoil their fun, but because I loved my children too much to risk their faith later in life. I wanted them, especially in seasons of struggle, to know with confidence that God is real, present, and deeply loving — not another story they would one day outgrow.

The Problem Isn’t Santa — It’s What He Replaces

The writer asks the hard question most parents avoid: “Should it be centered around Santa… instead of God incarnate, sent to us in Bethlehem?” (MomLife Today)

Exactly. Jesus is not Santa in heaven. He doesn’t tiptoe around at night while we’re sleeping eating cookies and filling stockings. He doesn’t need reindeer. And he doesn’t reward good behavior with toys.

Jesus is our Creator and our King — “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13).

The Historical St. Nick Was Real — Only Jesus Christ Is Forever

I agree with the writer that telling the historical story of Saint Nicholas can be meaningful. As she notes, it can be used to “point children toward generosity and kindness” (MomLife Today).

But the true magic of Christmas is not found in a sleigh or reindeer — it’s found in a Savior who came to set the captives free. A Savior who performed real miracles, healed the blind, raised the dead, and conquered the grave.

Choose Truth Over Fantasy

The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

We want our children, their children, and the generations to come to believe in a God they cannot see, but can hear, feel, and embrace — a true God who shows up in their lives at any moment and whom they will never outgrow. Teaching our children to believe in a false myth not only cheapens that, but also diminishes their ability to believe in the supernatural truth of the living God.

So when fantasy fades — and it will — truth will always remain. And the greatest story ever told isn’t about a jolly old man in a red suit. It’s about Jesus Christ.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11, KJV/ESV).

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