ANTA CLAUS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 29, 30 November 1943, Page 3

ANTA CLAUS

LOVED RELIC OF CHILDHOOD "Is Santa Clans really true Mummy?" "Yes,, darling." mummy answers to her lour year old inquire ier. But when the question is asked by a young sceptic of eight or nine the answer must be a little different. The faith of small children in the dear old man who visits them with generous presents on Christmas Eve is one of the most delightful parts of Yuletide. enjoyment, so long as it is quite enforced. We grows-ups have- a sneaking fondness ourselves for the scarletclad, rosy-laced saint whose portrait in poster and advertisement helps, to foster the spirit of cheery goodwill. But many a child of seven or so groAvs out of the implicit faith of earlier years, just as the heroes and heroines who peopled his nursery rhymes and fairy tales emerge into a world of reality as creatures of imagination. He may be secretly sceptical or openly derisive as, to the reality of Father Christmas, or he may pretend belief in the fear that the midnight gifts will come no more if lie admits' knowledge of their source. Let us be. honest with our children. IT a child of seven or upwards asks for the truth give it to him; a direct lie will be -remembered against you. Sometimes an evasive answer puts, off the evil day, however. The mother who said, "Father Christmas is as real as the fairies." set her little one pondering and he guessed the truth without disappointment. One hears with regret of older children who profess to have- absolute faith in Santa's reality, because mother said ''it is so." No normal child of eleven or twelve can possibly •carry 011 the childish belief without hypocrisy. Only a foolish parent wiil encourage it. The children 'will love "Father" without the appended title, just as dearly when they come to know Untruth as an outcome of a developing mind.