To think Santa should only come out on Christmas Eve?

[sallysoso]

It's that time of year when my Facebook is full of ...
"Breakfast with Santa"
"Tea with Santa"
"Polar express trip with Santa"

The worlds gone mad,the whole magic of Christmas when I was young was the fact you didn't see Santa and he only came out on Christmas Eve (and when you visited the department store you seen his helper or his brother ;-) )
Do you think the magic of Christmas is going?

My kids are too old to visit Santa now but there were years when they would have seen several Santas. One at school, one at the church party, one at our sports group party and then another on our official annual family Santa visit.
They're not stupid, they figured out it wasn't the same one each time and I would tell them that they were santa's helpers.

It's just fun IMO

Everything just seems like such a money making scheme now ..these things aren't cheap either.

Santa is rather busy on Christmas Eve so won’t be able to do much socialising then so a bit in the few weeks before makes sense!

Christmas was originally designed to lure pagans into the Christian church and away from their traditional midwinter festivals.

Now, it’s designed to extract as much money from the general population as possible. It’s tacky and cynical. Everything has a money making purpose.

There's been Father Christmas' to visit at various events in the run up to Christmas since I was a child. It's hardly a new idea.
If anything I think lots of parents go to huge length to create 'the magic' now with elves, mysterious visitors leaving hampers, personalised calls from F.C. etc.

Breakfast with Santa"
"Tea with Santa"
"Polar express trip with Santa"

I don't know anywhere that does this stuff before December

I can't remember anything when I was young like they have now.
Maybe because my mum didn't want to do those type of visits I don't know.
It's the same with gifts too ..hundreds and hundreds of pounds,it's like a competition of who spends the most.

I don't think they begin till September but they are all advertised to book now.

*December not September

As a child in the late 80s there was a santa's grotto at my school christmas fayre, at both my parents' work xmas parties, at the local garden centre and the local shopping centre. I got presents from the work parties because every child did, and sometimes my grandparents would take me to the garden centre one, but even as a child i knew a) it cost money and not to pester my parents and b) santa was a con.

Everything just seems like such a money making scheme now ..these things aren't cheap either.

You don't have to pay, you know. You can choose not to.

Don't do any of it then. I don't.

It's nice for my brother to do something like breakfast with the jolly red dude on years his ex has the children on the day. Ditto grandparents.

Yes things in general are commercialised up the wazoo but you don't have to partake and not everybody who does is spending a fortune through the period.

A few years ago whilst visiting my dad in Canada we all took my dd’s on a Polar Express journey. Everyone was encouraged to wear pyjamas, like in the film. It was absolutely amazing, watching all of the children’s faces light up. They also had the best Father Christmas I have ever seen, he made he was through the train and gave out silver bells to everyone, not just the children. They gave us hot chocolate and cookies - we got to keep the hot chocolate mugs and we all have a hot chocolate in the mugs on Christmas Eve, our DD’s love watching the film whilst drinking their drink and then talking about our journey on the Polar Express. I cannot put into words just how magical it was and because of this we haven’t been to see a Father Christmas in the UK since. For us it has given us memories that will hopefully last a lifetime.

I'm 48 and every year we saw Father Christmas at a) the church fate and b) Co-op dept store - it's hardly new

Santa coming to your house for breakfast /tea is deffo new.
I'm not talking about meet Santa in stores etc ..
It's all this other added extras that I don't see the need for.

It's all this other added extras that I don't see the need for

Other people clearly like it or there would be no market. You can just choose not to do it.

YABU - if you're Hungarian (or from a neighbouring country) Santa comes on 6th December and puts sweets in your shoes if you leave them out. Baby Jesus brings the presents on Christmas Eve.

We always had to pick our santa encounter when I was younger. Either visit him at the garden centre, or go for tea with him, or church, or Pola express etc. Cos there are so many kids, it wasn't practical for him to see you more than once!

We’ve already booked this years Santa visit. It’s very popular and we missed it last year.

It has a meal with F.C. included, but it’s one of our favourite places to eat and it’s all their own farm produce, so I’m quite happy with my decision

Nothing against people who go in for all the Santa experiences it was a very light hearted thread.
I like Halloween

I love all the choice! But ds birthday is Christmas Eve, so it's great to have loads on for his birthday treat! Plus the least Christmassy are the cheapest!

This year we're booked to go on a steam train, decorate biscuits and play with over enthusiastic uni students in elf costumes. The santa visit we could take or leave.

I think department stores, toy manufacturers, hallmark and basically all big corporations have figured out that to make more money they better start earlier.

To spread the cost I start my shopping now, not because I’m so eager for Christmas but because that’s how best suits my budget and it is useful that the Xmas themed gifts are available to buy in August/September but I do totally see your point, by the time Christmas comes you can’t wait for it to be over because it’s building up for what feels like 6months!

I totally agree, one of the most magical things I remember from my childhood is that every Xmas eve we did and still do have a Xmas party and on the drive him I would look up in sky wondering if Santa was on his way or if I might see him.

I doubt kids think like that now, I only have one childhood photo of me on Santa’s lap.

*home grr auto correct

My memory from being little was hearing banging and clattering and knowing Santa was in the house(in reality it was my dad in the airing cupboard trying to find my presents)

I thought you were going to say Santa is gay!!