My Struggle with Santa

Today I have been reading a post at Shabby Olde Potting Shed and enjoyed it. It was about the Christian struggle with Santa Claus.

I have my background with Santa on it obviously. It reflected Christmas here from memory better than the other backgrounds and appealed to me. I was thinking of Bush Christmases and posted a poem about it. Once I helped my son do a school project about a pioneer Christmas that I heard about when researching my family tree in the early 90s. I'll see if I can find it rather than rely on my memory. Here is a post reminiscent of a 60s Christmas.

I had the same struggles with Santa and trees when I was first married. My husband's family didn't celebrate Christmas after a certain age when my husband was little and his family got saved. We can identify with that very much. In fact we were challenged when a move back home of a distant family member prompted a change.

I kept Santa because of the traditions started for me as a child. I couldn't go against the opinion of my Mum. I suggest as a new parent to do what you feel is best.

This year Santa may have gone by the by in some ways. We live so far from the shops. My daughter sometimes, once or twice has seen me buy presents and I remember doing the same when my eldest was little. I couldn't shop without her, that is the problem.

I have come across this book when trying to find a tradition that came about in the early 80s of decorating dead eucalyptus branches. My sister in law did one for us one year. The book is called Angel in a Gum Tree. I have no idea what it is like, but I am going to read it with our youngest, or I'll read it and she will read it at bed time like she usually does with her Dad. I'll let you know what I think.

In the meantime check out Lightening's Santa. Well done Lightening.

I have started listening to my Christmas music by Lee Kernaghan.


Yes, my girls have started wearing tank tops. No, these are not my girls. Click on the photo to take you to their photostream on Creative Commons. So far my fifteen year old is back to t-shirts and middle daughter doesn't seem to look too bad. Some of the country habits are starting to wear off on them, but I can't seem to get hubby to understand.