Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Does anyone NOT go to see Father Christmas?

52 replies

FinnMcMissile · 10/10/2019 23:09

For those of you with primary age children or younger...

DH was asking me if what where we should go to see FC this year, and I was just half thinking of not doing it this year. Mainly because I almost think it ruins the magical/mystical side of it. Does anyone else agree, or am I just being a grump? Last year we did a big and expensive day out to a winter wonderland. Previous years we just saw FC at a garden centre (bit rubbish) and the town hall (surprisingly good and no queues!)

DC are 5 and 2 for context.

OP posts:
Lemoncurd · 10/10/2019 23:14

We didn't really, the children didn't like it (not keen on strangers talking to them) and they never really believed in Father Christmas anyway (eldest came home from nursery aged 3 saying that the presents are all from your parents).

youngestisapsycho · 10/10/2019 23:14

I never took my kids to a Father Christmas... didn’t see the point of it.

lazylinguist · 10/10/2019 23:16

We never did. I agree that it spoils the whole FC thing.

Bunnybigears · 10/10/2019 23:18

I was never taken to see Father Christmas and have never taken my kids (well we did in Lapland but that was after they finished believing) I think there is too much seeing santa, elf on the shelf, elf CCTV these days. Things are more magical when you know a little and use your imagination a lot.

Novia · 10/10/2019 23:21

We don't. My eldest was scared of Father Christmas at pre-school so we never got in the habit.

I do feel it's become a bit of a band-wagon jump of making things perfect and magical for an entire month!

It's not just Christmas Day anymore, it's elf on the shelf, festive photo shoots, wreath making, panto, Santa's grotto and Christmas Eve boxes...

We just do the panto as DD1 loves a show and we live abroad much of the year so don't get to do much English theatre.

steppemum · 10/10/2019 23:23

only did it once or twice , all mine are now teens.

I never really got the attraction, FC in the flesh is always slightly creepy! I think it is the unknow magic of it that makes it what it is.

notso · 10/10/2019 23:26

I make sure my kids know that it's just a bloke dressed up for fun but I do try to avoid where possible because I find the whole thing a bit odd. However the kids want to go then we will take them.

CameraTime · 10/10/2019 23:32

We don't make a big deal of it - kids find him a bit scary close-up. There's a church near us who run a Christmas fair, and it has a Santa's grotto which is fun to visit; last year DS watched Santa from a distance but was happy to talk to an elf!

We do that as it's only a couple of pounds (which goes to charity), and the grotto is lovely even if we don't make it over to Santa. You can take your own photos and everyone gets a chocolate snowman at the end, so no extra plastic tat to deal with.

I've never done the big "Santa experience" - too much risk of the kids hating it, and in any case I'm not spending £80 on one afternoon in the run-up to Christmas.

greenlynx · 10/10/2019 23:53

We regularly took DD to see FC every year at primary (a few times it was a big day out) ) but surprisingly the best experiences were unplanned. Once we were shopping and FC was “on duty” at the local department store, once we’ve met him at the local museum, once in a cafe. If you are out and about in December there is a good chance that you’ll meet FC somewhere around.

Mrsfussypants1 · 10/10/2019 23:55

We do go to visit santa, its our family tradition to visit Fenwicks santa only. I went as a child, as did our grown up daughter and now our granddaughter. It still holds the magic even now, putting our best clothes on, the excitement of going on the bus or train rather than car, visiting fenwicks Christmas window, of course seeing santa, having a hot drink in the cafe and finally down to the Christmas department to chose a bauble. It's a special day in our family and we don't go OTT and do the elf, Christmas eve boxes or crazy advent calendars. etc. I agree Christmas has become very keeping up with the Jones's that I worry family traditions are getting lost.

KellyHall · 10/10/2019 23:56

No, I think it's a bit over the top and it ruins the magic. I like the idea of him being a mystical being that you don't see or hear!

YouSirOweMeOneNewHat · 11/10/2019 00:01

I've done one Santa's grotto with DD. It was at Harrods and it was a total farce, but she's PFB and I wanted to make a day of it.

Since then, I take her on a Christmas themed steam train ride.
Get all dressed up, on the train with activity packs, entertainment (the Grinch, Cindy Loo-Who, Elf..), stop (there's loads of food stalls, mulled wine and hot chocolate), back on the train, FC comes down the train v. briefly and gives child little present, off.

Much better and it's become a bit of tradition now.

Chickenitalia · 11/10/2019 00:04

Nope, took dd for the whole experience when she was 3 and it ended in disaster as the book she was given as the gift was one we already had. She went berserk. We’ve not been since. School have a grandad of one of the children who comes around with a gift for everyone and that is always loved, also I’ve had him visit my Brownie unit and they were delighted, but he is amazing with kids. I think it’s the whole experience that doesn’t really work so well. Certainly no need if you don’t fancy it. Most kids like a gift but beyond that, don’t fret.

Mrsfussypants1 · 11/10/2019 00:04

I forgot to mention even our much loved Fenwicks has gone OTT with Christmas. They've started hosting Christmas movie night experiences with santa on the rooftop. We will definitely not be going to those and sticking with the original santa experience. Our granddaughter will be 3 1/2 this Christmas and quite confident and really enjoyed seeing him last year.

reluctantbrit · 11/10/2019 06:19

We only started when DD was 5, she understood that the FC she saw may not be the real one, she heard too many stories in school where friends saw him, she knew there were his helpers around who talked to the children.

We always did low key ones, the best was her last, she was 9, started to think about the whole concept and we went to a NT place where he was dressed in green. It was a lovely conversation he had with her, more about the spirit of Christmas and why DD loved it.

I think lots of places are either just a assembly line or make it so over the top it is just too much. And I can’t see a point taking a toddler at all.

123bananas · 11/10/2019 06:22

We don't, ds is autistic and petrified of anyone in masks/dress up. Older ones don't believe anyway now.

Chairwithaview · 11/10/2019 06:23

No we haven’t since the eldest was 5. Since then he has refused due to fear, and the younger ones don’t want to go without him.

I’m a bit sad about it but the dc are happy.

SinkGirl · 11/10/2019 06:32

We didn’t when I was little but then we moved and my favourite part of Christmas was going on the Santa Express - a local steam train journey and Santa comes on and gives out gifts. Hoping to do it with my twins but they’re currently 3, have ASD and wouldn’t get anything out of it.

Not sure we will bother with the normal visiting Santa stuff unless the kids really want to.

speakout · 11/10/2019 06:32

My kids were always very wary of strangers anyway, I did try a few times , but they were never keen so I didn't push it.

Our local garden centre ( Dobbies) do a great christmas department, with mechanical animal orchestra, beautiful decorated trees, lots to see for little ones. We would visit and the option was there to visit Father christmas, but would always just spend the time looking at the christmas lights and get a hot chocoalte in the cafe

I never pushed it. THese guys in suits creep me out too.

forkfun · 11/10/2019 06:36

No, it makes no sense. Why is FC in a shed in the garden centre at peak Christmas prep time? He needs to be in his workshop! He's got stuff to do!

Laurie01 · 11/10/2019 06:47

My kids are teens now and I'm so pleased they know about FC, I never liked lying to them in the first place, you're supposed to be the one person who they can trust and never tell lies etc. We never saw FC as I think it's creepy sitting on a strange man's lap, although you're prob not allowed to do that now! I always told my kids it wasn't the real Santa but one of his helpers anyway.
We tell our kids to stay away from strangers but, yeah go see that strange man dressed up!! There are too many weirdos out there that may use that to their advantage.
Same with illuminous uniform, just cos someone wears it doesn't mean they are of authority, I told my kids if they felt uncomfortable or at risk, feel free to kick and scream! They won't get into trouble.

Fishcakey · 11/10/2019 06:49

I never took DS. We went and saw all the garden centre displays etc but never actually queued to see FC. DS never asked. I remember going as a child and can still remember thinking how exciting it all was. I wonder if the money put me off when DS was little as was a single mum.

SimonJT · 11/10/2019 06:51

No, my son is four and knows that santa doesn’t exist, so it isn’t something that we do.

DrPimplePopper · 11/10/2019 06:58

We have done but the kids aren't too fussed so probably won't this year. Also last year FC came to their nursery anyway so the eldest thought it was weird he saw 2 Santas and one was a girl!

MarshaBradyo · 11/10/2019 07:01

I’ve never taken them. They seem a few dress up ones at school fair / nursery and it hasn’t been a very big deal. I think one said it wasn’t the real FC.