*(This will be -- literally -- the first Christmas of my LIFE that I won't wake up in my mom's house. Which, even though I'm 36, is kind of sad. But mostly, I want to wake up on Christmas morning next to The Boy. Which more than makes up for the sad.)

This was me last Christmas, and I think my mother is still sad that she can't surprise me with my gifts first thing Christmas morning. In our house, gifts from Mom were wrapped and gifts from Santa were unwrapped.

Sometimes the label will match the gift, like a bottle of wine of from Drunken Elf.

It's nice that Drunken Elf is not so much of an alcoholic that he keeps all the booze to himself....

As a side note, as a Christian, it's important to me that Ellie understand that in our family, the story of Jesus' birth is not a fairy tale. How does she differentiate between a fun story her parents tell her for the magic of it and a religious tradition that we believe is grounded in truth?

That's a tricky one!

Part of that, I think, is embracing the miracle of the faith whole-heartedly. There are LOTS of things that aren't true and this is special because it is. It's not just Santa, its people being honest or kind or wanting what is best for you... I don't know that I'm explaining myself well.

Hi Emily! I owe you a return phone call. *hangs head*

The way I always saw Christmas/Santa/Jesus (as a kid) was thusly:

Jesus was born and he was our Savior. When he was born, people wanted to show how happy they were He was born and they brought Him gifts to show Him. Santa Claus celebrates Jesus' birthday by giving gifts to all of Jesus' children to remind children that He (Jesus) loves them and wants the children should give to other's to also show them that Jesus loves them.

Now, written out like that, it sounds very shallow and "Gifts = Love", but in my heart, it's more about the giving - whatever it may be. As an adult, it's very much the same but in a larger sense of giving. Does that make any sense?

Like I've said before, she bestows at least 5 nicknames on EVERYONE. Even the dog. Even Santa Claus.]

THAT'S why she kept calling me "Steve-o-rino"...

If she had, it SO wouldn't surprise me.

Sometimes the label will match the gift, like a bottle of wine of from Drunken Elf.

It's nice that Drunken Elf is not so much of an alcoholic that he keeps all the booze to himself....

In the post-divorce days, Mom suggested that instead of leaving milk and cookies for Santa (aka Channey), we leave a beer.

No, really.

Santa Claus celebrates Jesus' birthday by giving gifts to all of Jesus' children to remind children that He (Jesus) loves them and wants the children should give to other's to also show them that Jesus loves them.

I like this too. And I don't think it's shallow to equate gifts with love. I mean, that's *supposed* to be why we do it.

I also like what JZ mentioned earlier (or JZ via Hec) about how there was a St. Nick - and how he was giving gifts, right?

Here in PR, St. Nick brings presents and instead of cookies, you are supposed to leave a box of grass out for his camels. I think it's St. Nick - I'll have to check.

eta: The grass is actually for the camels of the Three Kings. The grass goes under the child's bed and then in the morning, the grass is gone and there are the presents.

My dad used to make us kids feel guilty for being excited about christmas presents, because the holiday was supposed to be about Jesus's birth.

Which is why the South Park flick "The Spirit of Christmas" so cracked me up. When Santa and Jesus are fighting and the kids are cheering "Go Santa! Go Santa!" and Jesus turns and gibes them a dirty look so they start cheering for Jesus instead.....

Classic.

Unless I had a partner with strong feelings about it, I don't think I'd do the Santa thing with a child. For one thing, I don't really know how, and for another I don't really feel like I suffered from the lack.

This. My parents were shocked to find out a few years ago that none of us kids were planning on elaborately doing Santa with our kids (I'll probably go get pictures at the mall. That was as "Santa" as any of us planned to get). Apparently they had much guilt that they didn’t give us that magical part of Christmas and were certain we’d give the true magic of Christmas to our kids. Cracked me up.

As a side note, as a Christian, it's important to me that Ellie understand that in our family, the story of Jesus' birth is not a fairy tale. How does she differentiate between a fun story her parents tell her for the magic of it and a religious tradition that we believe is grounded in truth?

Yeah, this is a tough one. One tradition that my immediate family didn’t do, but my aunt and uncle did with their kids (and we spent many Christmases with them) was “Jesus Birthday Cake.” Breakfast on Christmas morning was always some sort of sweet breakfast food. We’d sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and talk about the importance of the day.

Then we’d go open the stockings that Santa brought.

Damn. I can see the problem with this. She might not get it this year or next, but I bet after that she would.

Happy Birthday Emeline. I miss you something fierce.