http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120570241
This makes my heart hurt! To me Christmas is about family and tradition and that 'warm fuzzy feeling.' Santa in my household represents the magic of childhood and believing. I am Catholic by association and we teach of the meaning of Christian Christmas (more in a general family oriented be good to everyone sense) but for us I think that Santa doesn't have much to do with Christianity anyway and is more about family time.
It is my belief that Santa is such a magical thing for kids--I STILL get presents from Santa every year because my mom always said "He exists in your heart and imagination..." And (long before I read this article) I bought a lawn ornament that is 'santa's mailbox' so I had planned on having SD write her letter and mail it in Santa's mailbox and I would respond anyway, but this makes me sad-- I remember getting so excited when an 'official' letter came back to us from the North Pole...
What do you think ladies? Anyone else remember doing this? Should they have banned this program altogether?
I never got a letter back from the North Pole......I feel cheated.
Quoting 07upsydaisy:
The times are a changing...
Like calling the White House Christmas tree a Holiday tree.
I'm with you, it's sad. I think their excuses are a cover up for trying to save money.
I'd mail a letter to Santa anyway. Maybe if the post office is innundated with letters, they will get the message kids don't want Santa to stop answering them.
Didn't they learn anything from Miracle on 34th Street?
I was just going to say the same things.
Write on everybody, write on!
Just a FYI the White House was never going to call their tree a "holiday" tree. It is still being called a Christmas tree. The whole holiday tree thing was a hoax.
OP: What I think is sad is that according to the article some letters might be answered and others might get shredded. I think that's awful because what about the child who never gets a return letter, yet their friend shows up at school with one? :(
Quoting 07upsydaisy:The times are a changing...
Like calling the White House Christmas tree a Holiday tree.
I'm with you, it's sad. I think their excuses are a cover up for trying to save money.
I'd mail a letter to Santa anyway. Maybe if the post office is innundated with letters, they will get the message kids don't want Santa to stop answering them.
Didn't they learn anything from Miracle on 34th Street?
Quoting DixieFlower:
Just a FYI the White House was never going to call their tree a "holiday" tree. It is still being called a Christmas tree. The whole holiday tree thing was a hoax.
OP: What I think is sad is that according to the article some letters might be answered and others might get shredded. I think that's awful because what about the child who never gets a return letter, yet their friend shows up at school with one? :(
Quoting 07upsydaisy:
The times are a changing...
Like calling the White House Christmas tree a Holiday tree.
I'm with you, it's sad. I think their excuses are a cover up for trying to save money.
I'd mail a letter to Santa anyway. Maybe if the post office is innundated with letters, they will get the message kids don't want Santa to stop answering them.
Didn't they learn anything from Miracle on 34th Street?
I know! And I agree here that the answer is: if you want to continue the tradition, mail away! If nothing else, I will answer kiddo and forge Mr. Kringle's name :) I just wish that the controversy wasn't intruding on the innocence. But indeed...times they are a changin'...
I can't help but feel bad for the kids that won't get that thrill from receiving a bonafide letter from the North Pole :) Maybe they can get a text message from the big guy instead? :)
There's no post mark from the North Pole, but check these out.
Quoting graciejoe:
There's no post mark from the North Pole, but check these out.
Awesome! I'm playing with it right now...
Eight Year Old Girl Given "Catastrophe Award" By Teacher
Should P. Diddy's son return $54,000 college scholarship?
- Mandipants
on Nov. 19, 2009 at 1:34 PM