religious sincretism has always been around. Christianity at birth was an amalgam of other religions, as it is now.

For the children the social aspect is important, not the religious. Go for it.

I am Hungarian, and when I was child, nothing religious was welcome. My parents were agnostic, atheist, and anticlerical, though both were raised in christian faith. They refused it on the base of their personal experiences.

However, Santa Claus (who was called in those times “Daddy Winter” visited me – on december 6, nameday of Saint Nicolas. I put my clean shoes in the window at bedtime, and found them full of candies in the morning.

We celebrated Christmas, had big beautiful trees, with a red star on top.

Now I live in Chile, and the fact that Christmas is celebrated at the beginning of the summer, produces a severe cognitive dissonance in me, and in many other immigrants from the Northern Hemisphere.

The native revivalists celebrate the birth of the light in june.

So don’t worry, take it easy, and have a happy new year!

I’ve often wondered what Jewish families do with regard to Santa. I know several grown Jews who were deeply saddened as children because Santa never came to their house. I also know several Christian adults who were traumatized when they learned Santa “wasn’t real.” Hopes and dreams shattered – in both scenarios.

There are no easy answers, but as our communities and religions continue to mingle and collide, we’ll have to think creatively about how we raise our children. It’s such an exciting opportunity for cultivating interconnectedness. Thanks to everyone for such though provoking and honest responses to Jonathan’s question.

Shalom – Salaam – Om Shanti – Peace and Happy New Year

Now if she wanted to put up a nativity or do an advent calendar you’d need to worry.

I think it’s important to let children have an imagination-filled childhood, and I think Santa helps to fill that role for a while. The harm is not letting Santa get too commercial.But what is the harm in a child wanting to set out cookies? This tradition will pass from her life far too quickly.

We’re not formally religious, but Santa still comes to our house. When I was growing up, and crushed when the Santa myth was dispelled by a classmate, my parents said something very sweet – that Santa was a source of giving that a child doesn’t have to feel beholden to.

We’ve extended that idea so that now that our kids are nearly grown-up, everyone in the family is Santa and each year we give one another the thrill of being a secret benefactor and the pleasure of receiving without strings attached.

Some folks want to believe that Christ’s love is exclusionary. They quote Leviticus and make excuses about why some folks are more deserving than others. To me, that’s what I’m hearing from the side of you that says “no way” to Santa (I know it doesn’t totally match, but go with me for a second).

On the other hand, there are folks who say, “Wait a minute. Jesus dined with tax-collectors and prostitutes. This was a man of the people preaching love and understanding.” Maybe this is the side of you thinking that it’s no big deal to have a menorah next to Santa’s cookies.

I think the bigger issue is how open you are to things. We likely both know that your child’s Judism will not be swayed by a plate of cookies and some milk. Of course, neither will it be swayed if you chose to *not* include the cookies to instead focus on your reason for the season.

What may be more important is that you’re open to the possibility of sharing these faiths and you’re wrestling with what they all mean. It’s scary when faith is full of absolutes because the world simply doesn’t work that way (in my opinion). So props to you for questioning it, keeping an open mind, and doing whatever it is you think fits best with your moral compass. I think that’s your assurance that you’re doing the right thing.

Crushed. He was crushed. Miserable. Oops.

I think you did the right thing. There’s plenty of time, as she grows up and understands more, to explain the complexities and joys of an interfaith world, while still holding onto your own tradition.

Childhood stories and myths naturally fall away at some point- no need to push the river. I’m glad you opted for the mythology and specialness.

Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, happy kwanzaa, solstice, festivus and a belated Eid Mubarak to everyone.

And, above all, peace.