So how do you explain all those other Santas ?

[99redballoons]

Ds is 3.5 and very excited about Christmas this year. So much so a few weeks ago he wanted a detailed account of how Father Christmas (FC) knew where his bedroom was, how he got into the house etc. and ofcourse I obliged.

Today he had a Christmas Party at nursery and he met FC at the end who gave him a small gift. I have no idea if he thought this was the 'real' FC or not, but I found myself explaining that he comes to visit children at nurseries as a buildup before the big day (!! where did that come from!?) Dh wants to take him to the local shopping centre Xmas Grotto and ofcourse he'll meet another FC there... how do you explain all of these showings/visits? Do you go along with it and indicate they are all really him or do you say this one is pretend or whatever and the only real one comes on Xmas Eve?

Gosh, I really don't remember it being this difficult when I was a kid!

DD's grandad was FC at their pre-school party last year. She spotted that it was him instantly! I explained to her that there were lots of parties for him to go to, so he didn't go to all of them but sent one of his helpers and that Grandad was a helper. She seems to have accepted it and she thinks the REAL FC is at Clearwell Caves in the Forest of Dean. We took her to see him last year and when we went back this year she yelled "it's the real Father Christmas!".

The real FC doesn't come to the grottos, etc. They are just helped. The real FC is way too bust in December. However these are his real helpers and they report back to FC.

Lol Frosty

Doh!! Why didn't I think of that! FC's helpers.. got it. Will tell dh too!

DD3 came out of nursery this afternoon very excited because 'the real Santa came to see us'. I couldn't bear to suggest that it was just one of his helpers though I probably should have, because she was just so pleased about it. The funny thing was it was one of DH's friends who she knows really well and she didn't recognise him at all.

We stumbled across a Santa in a local shopping centre recently and DD1 asked whether it was really him or just someone dressed up. I wasn't ready for the question as I was quite surprised to find a Father Christmas there and sort of stumbled my way through it. However, I live in a very multi-cultural area and there are Santas of all colours around so I've gone with the "Santa's busy in the North Pole and these men are his special helpers" because there's no hiding that they all look so very different!

when they have asked me if the santas are all different, i just say to them

"have you ever seen 2 santas together?"

they say no and i just tell them he gets about really quickly with his sleigh

There's a book about this - haven't got it and don't know what it's called - but my friend told me about it today - it explains all about Santa and his helpers !

Will try and find it and come back !

You can tell by their shoes, she says mysteriously.

My uncle has been Santas helper for many years helping out at parties when Santa is too busy with arranging everyones presents for the big day.

Have told children that these 'Santas' report back to the real Santa and they have accepted this.

some great stories here!

We looked at the FC photos just now and I was waiting for ds to point out the jeans and shoes poking out from underneath the costume, but he didn't! I ventured to say, it was lovely FC's helper came to see you and he said 'really? was that not FC. I think it was FC' Doh! He was so believing and I thought he was thinking the opposite! So I just said, well you're one of the lucky nurseries and get the real thing!

[I think I'll just shut up and wait for him to ask me a question! So silly volunteering information!! Hopefully I'll have myself sorted by next year when dd will be going through this!)