A Christian Author’s Guide to Imagination, Wonder, and the Truth Behind the Red Suit
If you’re raising kids in a Christian home, there’s a good chance this question has floated through your kitchen sometime in December:
Sometimes it’s asked with wide-eyed curiosity. Sometimes with a squint and a smirk. Underneath it are the questions many Christian parents carry quietly in their hearts:
- Are we lying if we play along?
- Are we encouraging “magic” instead of miracles?
- Will Santa distract our kids from Jesus?
- Or… will we steal something precious if we cut Santa out completely?
As a Christian fantasy author writing for ages 9–13, I care a lot about both truth and imagination. I care about honesty, and I care about wonder. I believe they’re not enemies—they’re meant to walk together.
This article is my attempt to give you a Christian perspective on Santa that honors Jesus first, tells the truth in a child-sized way, and celebrates the kind of imagination that makes faith stronger, not weaker.
Why Christian parents struggle with Santa
For many Christian parents, the “Santa question” isn’t small. It sits right at the crossroads of faith, honesty, and tradition.
Here are a few of the tensions:
- Truth vs. “pretend.”
You want your children to trust your word. You don’t want them to feel tricked later. - Miracles vs. “magic.”
You don’t want to blur the lines between real acts of God and fairy-tale powers. - Christ vs. consumerism.
You worry that “Santa Claus” has become the mascot of buying more, wanting more, and measuring Christmas by what’s under the tree.
All of those concerns are real. They come from love and from a desire to keep Christ at the center of Christmas.
But here’s the key idea I want to offer:
The problem is not that we tell Santa stories.
The problem is how we tell them—and what story about God they sit inside of.
To answer “Is Santa real?” wisely, we have to go back to the beginning.
The real man behind Santa Claus: St. Nicholas
Before there were malls and movies, there was Nicholas of Myra—a real Christian who lived in the 4th century in what is now modern-day Turkey.
What matters most for Christian parents and kids isn’t every historical detail, but the shape of his life:
- Nicholas was known for generosity.
- He helped the poor and protected the vulnerable.
- He often gave in secret, slipping gifts where they were needed without asking for praise.
One well-known story describes Nicholas secretly providing money for young women whose families couldn’t afford a dowry, saving them from being sold or exploited. Whether your child is ready for the full context or not, the heart of it is simple:
A Christian man, filled with the love of Jesus, quietly gave gifts that changed people’s lives.
Over time, stories about Nicholas spread. As they were retold across centuries and cultures, details were added and shaped. Eventually, “St. Nicholas” (and later “Sinterklaas” and “Santa Claus”) became a symbol of generous, joyful, self-forgetful giving at Christmastime.
So when a child asks, “Is Santa real?” one honest Christian answer is:
“Santa is based on a real Christian named Nicholas who loved Jesus and gave gifts in secret. The Santa stories we tell today grew out of that real history.”
That’s not a dodge. That’s truth at a depth a child can carry. It also opens the door to something vital:
Santa is not a rival to Christianity. Santa is downstream from Christianity—a folk memory of Christian generosity.
What Santa has to do with Christianity
If all we see of Santa is the red suit in a commercial, it’s easy to think “Santa and Christianity” are at odds.
But look at the deeper themes:
- Secret generosity → “When you give… do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” (Matthew 6:3)
- Joyful giving to the undeserving → A small reflection of grace.
- Protecting children and the vulnerable → Very close to God’s own heart.
- Gifts at Christmas → Echoes of the wise men laying treasures at the feet of Jesus.
None of that is anti-Christian. In many ways, the best parts of the Santa tradition are Christian virtues in costume.
The danger comes when the story gets hollowed out:
- Gifts as bribes for good behavior
- Santa as a judge with a “naughty or nice” ledger
- Christmas as primarily about “getting what I want”
That version of Santa does clash with the gospel. It teaches children that love is earned, that gifts are wages, and that the main point of December is me.
But that’s not inevitable.
Christian parents can consciously “bend” the Santa story back toward its roots:
- “We give because Jesus first gave Himself for us.”
- “Santa isn’t about being perfect; he reminds us of grace and generosity.”
- “Gifts at Christmas are small signs of the big Gift—Jesus.”
Santa stops being a competitor and starts being a parable.
Imagination is God’s idea (not the devil’s playground)
As a Christian fantasy author, I care deeply about something often called Christian imagination. That phrase simply means:
The way we picture unseen realities—God, goodness, evil, courage, mercy, hope—and let those pictures shape our hearts and choices.
God uses imagination all through Scripture:
- Jesus tells parables: prodigal sons, mustard seeds, lost coins.
- Prophets see visions: wheels with eyes, living creatures, strange beasts.
- The book of Revelation is full of symbolic imagery: dragons, lambs, stars, thrones.
None of that is “lying.” It’s truth wrapped in story so that it can reach places in the heart a bullet-point list never will.
When children imagine Santa rightly, they are rehearsing:
- that hidden goodness exists,
- that blessing others is joyful,
- that generosity can be a way of life.
Imagination can absolutely be misused—so can logic, money, or words. The answer is not to shut imagination down, but to aim it.
For Christian families, stories about Santa can be one way to train the imagination toward:
- Grace over earning
- Giving over grabbing
- Joy over cynicism
That’s part of why Christian fantasy exists at all: to give children pictures of truth that will stay with them when their feelings and circumstances change.
The danger isn’t Santa—it’s shallow stories and consumerism
So what should Christian parents actually watch out for when it comes to Santa?
Here are a few patterns to guard against:
1. Santa as “works-based righteousness”
“If you’re good, he’ll bring you presents. If you’re bad, he won’t.”
That’s not just a bad parenting tool; it’s bad theology. It teaches that blessing is earned by performance.
Instead, we can say:
“We give gifts because God is generous and we want to imitate Him. We obey because we love Him, not to earn stuff.”
2. Santa as the center of Christmas
If the main question becomes “What did you get?” instead of “Whom are we celebrating?” the story has slipped its anchor.
We can course-correct:
- Read the Nativity story more than once.
- Talk about Jesus as the greatest gift.
- Let Santa be one of the background characters in the larger play.
3. Santa as a marketing tool
When Santa is mainly there to get us to buy more, it’s time to push back.
Families can reclaim agency:
- Limit Santa-themed advertisements in the house.
- Keep gifts simple and meaningful.
- Focus more on shared experiences and acts of kindness.
The issue is not the presence of a man in a red coat. The issue is what story he belongs to.
How to answer “Is Santa real?” at different ages
Children between 9 and 13 are in a unique spot. They’re old enough to spot inconsistencies, but still young enough to cherish wonder. This is exactly where honest, imagination-friendly answers shine.
Here’s a framework you can adapt.
Ages 9–10: Holding history and story together
Possible answer:
“There was a real man named Nicholas who loved Jesus very much. He gave gifts to people quietly, especially people who were poor or in trouble. Over a long time, stories about him grew and changed, and that’s where we get Santa Claus. So Santa is real in the sense that he’s based on a real Christian—and the kindness and generosity he represents are very real too.”
If they ask about flying reindeer and chimneys, you can smile and say:
“Those are story details people added later for fun. Stories often grow like that over time.”
Ages 10–11: Inviting them into the tradition
At this age, many kids are putting things together. Instead of defending every detail, invite them in.
“You’re old enough now to know more of the story. Santa is a way people remember St. Nicholas—a Christian who gave in secret. A lot of the magical parts are pretend, but the kindness is real. Would you like to help keep that spirit alive by secretly blessing someone this year?”
Now they’re not on the outside of a half-truth; they’re on the inside of a tradition.
Ages 12–13: Talking about symbols and trust
Older preteens can handle more abstract language.
“When you were younger, we let you enjoy the Santa story the way kids enjoy fairy tales—whole and bright. As you get older, it’s important to know what’s behind it. Santa is a symbol built on the life of St. Nicholas and on the idea of giving like Jesus gave. We never wanted to trick you; we wanted to give you wonder and then, as you grew, the meaning behind it.”
Ask if they feel confused or betrayed. Listen. Clarify gently.
The aim is that they walk away thinking, My parents gave me a gift, not a lie.
Practical ways to reclaim Santa in a Christian home
Here are some simple practices that help keep Santa anchored in a Christian story:
1. Tell the St. Nicholas story every year
Make it part of your December rhythm. Read a kid-friendly version of his life. Emphasize:
- His love for Jesus
- His secret giving
- His care for children and the poor
2. Connect Santa to Jesus, not the other way around
You might say:
“Santa gives because Jesus gave first. Santa is like a small shadow of God’s big generosity.”
This keeps the lines clear: Christ is Lord; Santa is a character who points—however imperfectly—in His direction.
3. Start a “Secret Nicholas Project”
Choose a person or family to bless anonymously: groceries, a gift card, a needed item, an encouraging note.
Let your children:
- Help plan it
- Help deliver it secretly
- Pray for the person afterward
This turns Santa from a Christmas consumer into a Christmas teacher.
4. Retire the “naughty or nice” list
Replace it with something more gospel-shaped:
“We want to obey Jesus because He loves us and we love Him. Gifts are not paychecks; they are expressions of love.”
Consequences for behavior still matter, of course. But they should be part of discipleship, not controlled by a mythical ledger.
5. Place Santa at the manger (not the manger at Santa)
In your decorating, consider including a small Santa figurine kneeling at the Nativity. This visual quietly teaches:
- Santa is not the center.
- Christ is the one being honored.
- Every tradition bows to Jesus.
For families who choose not to “do Santa”
Some Christian families decide not to include Santa at all—not because they hate imagination, but because they want to keep things as simple and Christ-focused as possible.
If that’s your conviction, it can still be held with grace and imagination:
- You can still tell the story of St. Nicholas as a historical example of Christian generosity.
- You can explain that different Christian families make different choices about Santa and that your children can respect others.
- You can pour extra creativity into Nativity plays, Advent readings, acts of service, and other expressions of Christian imagination.
The goal is not to judge other families, but to be faithful with your own.
Santa, stories, and the trust of your child
For many Christian parents, the deepest fear is this:
“If I lean into the Santa story at all, will my child stop trusting me later?”
Trust is not destroyed by thoughtful, age-appropriate participation in a Christian-rooted story.
Trust is damaged when:
- Children feel mocked for asking sincere questions.
- Parents respond with shame or anger instead of honesty.
- Santa is used as a tool of manipulation or fear.
- The transition from literal belief to symbolic understanding is handled carelessly.
If, instead, you:
- Tell the truth about Nicholas
- Frame Santa as a symbol of generosity
- Speak honestly as they grow
- Invite them to become givers themselves
- Apologize if you realize you’ve mishandled something—
then the Santa years can become a trust-building chapter, not a trust-breaking one.
Your child can look back and say, “My parents gave me the gift of wonder and then invited me into the deeper meaning when I was ready.”
That’s a picture of how God often works with us too.
So… is Santa real?
If by “real” you mean:
- A man in a red suit who flies around the world in one night and squeezes down chimneys…
No, not in that literal, physical sense.
If by “real” you mean:
- A story rooted in the life of a real Christian named Nicholas,
- A tradition that can still point to Jesus,
- A symbol of secret generosity and joy in giving,
- A way to train the Christian imagination of children—
Then yes, Santa is real the way all meaningful stories are real: they are grounded in truth and goodness, even when wrapped in make-believe.
The more important question for Christian parents isn’t, “Is Santa real?” but:
“What story about God, gifts, and goodness are we telling our children at Christmas?”
If Christ is at the center, if grace is louder than greed, if generosity is stronger than getting, if wonder is allowed to live in the heart alongside honesty—then you are guiding your child well.
A blessing for Christian parents navigating Santa
However you decide to handle Santa in your home, here is a blessing for you:
May the Lord Jesus, the true Giver, steady your heart.
May He give you wisdom to answer small voices with big grace.
May your home be full of wonder that leads to worship,
stories that lead to the Savior,
and laughter that does not drown out the still, small voice of God.
And may every red coat, every stocking, every wrapped gift
sit quietly at the feet of the One who gave Himself for us.
That’s a story worth telling, year after year.