SANTA CLAUS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 33, 18 December 1945, Page 6

SANTA CLAUS

"Is Santa Claus really Mummy?" "Yes ) mummy answers to her four year old Inquirer. But when the question is asked by a young sceptic of eglit or nine the answer miist 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 Yuletkle enjoyment .so long it is quite unforced. We. grows-up have a sneaking fondness ourselves for the scarletclad rosy-faced .saint whose port, rait in poster and advertisement helps to loster tlie. spirit of cheery goodwill. But many a child of seven or so grows out of the implicit faith of earlier years, just as the heroes and heroines who peopled his nursery rhymes and fairly tales emerge, into a Avorld 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 he admits knowledge of their source. . Let us- be honest with our children. If 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 oft' the evil day, however. The mother who said "Father Christmas is as real as the set her little one. pondering and he guessed the truth without disappointment. One hears with regret of older cliiludren 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 on the childish belief without hypocrisy. Only a foolish parent will encourage it. The -children will love "Father" without the appended title just as dearly when they come to know the truth as an outcome oi a developing mind.