I want my husband to be Santa Claus

[JesusIsAnyNameFree]

Did you know that in some European countries, Santa actually comes to see you?
There's a knock on the door sometime during the day, Santa comes in and gives everyone presents from his sack (don't) and then goes off to fly away to the next house. It's usually the man of the house who says something like "I'm just going out for milk" then comes back a couple of minutes later dressed as Santa. You can also get Santa's for hire.

I would love to make this a tradition but husband thinks it's weird. He looked at me like I had 3 heads when I brought it up. I don't think I can swing the santa look, barely breaking 5ft. How do I convince him?

Also, something putting me off is that there was a thread last year about someone hiring a Santa and some elves to come over for a chat and to give a gift some time before the big day but due to restrictions could only stay outside. People thought it unfair that other kids would be able to see Santa but not get any attention from him etc. Obviously, the same thing applies if "Santa" was observed entering our house. "why is Santa going to see them but not us?" sort of thing.

Do you think it would be unfair on other kids if I managed to convince DH to do this?

Btw I live in the UK and this was at least 25ish years ago

and if you were bad he puts you inside that sack and drags you into the forest where you will be working for him as an elf forever

This is fucking brilliant.

Love it! Do it 😆

@JesusIsAnyNameFree

Maybe I will see about a santa for hire. That'll be easy for the 25th 😂

So something your DH doesn’t want, and you’ll go ahead and do it anyway?

Our dad did this one Christmas. Came down the path to a 3 year old sister shouting mummy daddy is here. He's dressed as Santa 😅

@MattHancocksSexTape

My Dad visits disabled children on Christmas Eve, he looks really good when dressed up, he grows his beard and is 6foot 2. I think your children would know it’s Daddy.

When I was really little my Grandad dressed up as Santa & I spotted him in the garden, I still remember now how excited I was that he came to visit me. When he came home I remember telling him all about how he'd missed Santa & how lovely it was. At the time I had no idea it was him but it's a great memory that has stayed with me

It doesn't really work in this country though as kids have their presents delivered overnight? Why would Father Christmas be popping over in the day too?

On the continent it sort of works as they wait until dark and then The presents are dropped off (not always by Father Christmas). This is simulated by the parents ringing bells, leaving windows open etc.

Broad daylight hard to sort the magic out

They'll know it's their Dad
One of the Dad's in my kid's playgroup dressed as Santa for the Christmas party and his two year old knew who he was. That was confusing for all the kids

Id dh doesn't want to so it's not an option to get him to dress up. You'll need another person to do it!

Weird

My dad did this once as a kid, it was great. We went on at him for ages afterwards about how he'd been in the garden and missed Santa coming!!! Silly daddy of course.

If it was every year we would probably have caught on, but once was magical and a lovely memory.

No, your own children seeing a man dressed up as Santa won’t be unfair on other kids.

YWBVU to try to make your DH do this when he doesn’t want to, just because you might think it’s a good idea.

Well if he doesn't want to do it it's hypothetical anyway. You can't force him.
My kids saw my dad being santa. He was brilliant and they had no clue it was him ( was at a Christmas party)
We never pretended that the Santas we saw out and about were the real thing anyway. And in fact even Santa himself became one of those things we all pretended to believe in, whilst knowing we were just going along with it.

OP could however get dressed up like Mariah Carey and sing Santa Baby if feeling festive; her OH might even enjoy that?

Possibly outing myself here...

Many years ago - I was about 10. Christmas Eve - we had been to see relatives or something and were driving home very late at night. It was slightly snowing. Driving through a military camp housing estate. Saw Father Christmas in red suit with big black sack walking up the path to a house. My Dad tooted the horn and he waved.

UK based

Magical memory !!

@herecomesthsun All my life I have misunderstood that song!

Oh we did this, as kids. My Dad would go out for a newspaper, and get his Santa costume on outside and go next door to see the neighbours children as Santa and our neighbour would come to us as Santa.

It was great! They would change in the car port and exchange sacks of gifts for each house.

As we got older we knew it was Lars and not Santa but it was just a tradition. They don’t do it now, of course we are all grown up and most of us are not even in Norway these days. Although they are both itching for all the grandchildren to come over for Christmas so they can!

My brother did this for my kids once. It went down like a sack of shit.

Kids clocked on straight away it was their uncle and it all ended in tears.

What you really need to do is buy a drone and put a red nose on it then have your DH fly it from a distance and tell the kids it’s robot Rudolph checking if they’re naughty or nice. Who the f are they to say otherwise?

Unless your dh is a doppelgänger for Richard Attenborough, it’s a no from me.

I think your kids would recognise their dad. I think I've convinced my grandchildren that my husband is Santa though. He's got white hair and a beard and a tummy like a bowl full of jelly. He's also prone to hiding away when they're over(although he denies it) I tell the kids he's popped up to the North Pole 🐵

I don't think my 3 year old would know if it was done well enough. It's not like kids in other European countries are dumbasses compared to here and they still tend to believe to a pretty normal age of around 5+ (normal to me, my husband and our families, I know some kids believe much longer).

I don't think it's pleasant to label other countries traditions weird. Different but really no weirder than a fat man sliding down the chimney.

A bit outing and didn't actually want to mention it, but we will be spending Christmas in one of these countries next year (covid willing) with a family who live there, so unless we do it this way next year will be much weirder for him. By 2023 I imagine he won't believe anymore, if he's anything like his mum and dad.