To think going to Lapland is more likely to make kids stop believing?

[growlum]

Sister is in Lapland with niece and nephew.
They are 6 and 7.
I think there is a strong possibility they will come home no longer believing in Father Christmas, because the magic will have gone.
As a child, if somebody told me I was going to Lapland to see father Christmas, I would most definitely have been looking forward to seeing flying reindeer, tiny little elves and an incredible magic workshop like in all the Christmas movies.

There is no way my expectations would be met, and once I had visited lapland to find a distinct lack of observable magic, and rather a lot of gift shops, I think that would be the end of it for me.

AIBU to feel worried and a bit sad that this may be the end of my niece and nephew’s belief in Santa?

I’ve never been so honestly I don’t know but I do think that a lot of the commercialism that had sprung up around ‘the Santa experience’ these days is more likely to impede belief than enhance it.

Santa in my childhood was always magical as an act of wonder and imagination, not because I had been taken to a realistic looking Santa village and met an actor in a suit.

I started reading this thread feeling a bit sceptical over whether there is any actual point to ‘extending’ a child’s belief, but when I read about the effect of the letter swap (clever) I had a very powerful flashback to when I believed. I admire the commitment to the bit😂 I didn’t feel
sad when I sussed Santa was hooey - but I feel a bit sad now lol. We need a support group lol

It’s amazing totally wonderful magical my sons father and son still say best trip ever and we only went for the day

I tend to think the more tangible you make something that is supposed to be magical, the more likely people are to spot flaws in it and start questioning it.

The trouble with holidays is that things can go wrong!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg3llqq41wo

Sometimes I find it quite depressing that at the age of 40 I’ve already had the most amazing experience I will ever have 🤣 Nothing will ever top-it and I feel like it’s all downhill from here 🤣

Couldn't agree more re the over-egging

We did the same when our daughter had heard a rumour Father Christmas wasn’t real. Gave us another few years and encouraged her friends to still believe.

Couldn't you just tell them that? Why would you need to show them? Morocco is fantastic but you sound pretty miserable tbh. Do they want to be shown that Christmas is only something that some people do in some countries?

Lots of foreigners and some local Christians live in Morocco anyway so in the big cities especially in malls and the newer areas there are likely to be signs of Christmas.

Are you assuming the poster you are replying to is even Christian?

I’ve always felt a bit meh about Christmas but reading this makes me want to book a trip! My eldest only 2.5 so will wait a few years

It would definitely cause some questioning around here, as Santa lives in Greenland according to Danish traditions.

Hmm I wonder if you’re a bit jealous?

I’ve heard the opposite is true about going to Lapland over Christmas!

We took my 3 when they were 9, 7 and 5

they loved it and didn’t come back not believing

it was only a day trip but it was really good

Have you been? I went as a small child and my memories are magical. Its honestly fantastic.

Absolutely this. We never pushed the ‘FC is literally real’ thing, and a lot of kids at DS’s first primary were either from cultures that didn’t celebrate Christmas at all, or from cultures that celebrated Christmas but with a different story about who brings presents, but DS (now 12) adores everything about Christmas, and is wildly enthusiastic about decorating the tree, presents, carols, lights, films, leaving out mince pies etc etc. He’s a total Christmasophile.

All that guff about ‘magic’ meaning ‘belief in FC’ and parents going to endless lengths to preserve the illusion is adults projecting like mad.

My 20 year old still talks about how amazing lapland was - I think he was 9 when we went! It was truly magical - all the elves, trips, snowball fights, the northern lights, the hotel pantomime, hot chocolate - one of the best times I have ever had too! It really is magical!

It is a magical place. I wanted to buy a reindeer skin and post it home but needed to know the weight for the post parcel size - I asked in Santa’s shop and they didn’t know the weight but they offered for me to take it over to the post office to check. I said I would pay or leave a deposit or something and they said no it’s fine. This is Santa’s house. No one steals from Santa’s house 😂

For me it was a little bit of both.

For DS? Well he was four and cute.

I loved my Santa experience and DS still believes. Lapland is the real Santa but he understands that Santa can't visit all children so has helpers and you only get to meet the real Santa once if you are very lucky.

I love Santa. I still believe in Santa.

Red (age 46 and a half).

There isn't a 'real' Santa imho. Glad you all enjoyed it though.

I’m with all the others, absolutely magical experience- went when mine were 6 and at 22 they still talk about it. I’ll never forget the gurgles of delight as we were being pulled along in sleds by reindeer in the snow going to visit Santa in a log cabin.

Of course there is!

Philistine

I think seeing an amazing part of the real world is going to do much more good for your children than believing in some stupid fairy tale.

I don't think there is, but who am I to tell you what to think. As I said, glad you had a good trip.

I went to Lapland in my 20s and started believing in Santa again haha. It is absolutely magical what they put on over there for a kids Christmas themed holiday!