That Doggone Christmas

Do you celebrate anything at all? Winter Solstice? Yule? Kwanzaa? Hanukkah? If so, then say that's what you do.

If not, simply say that you don't celebrate Christmas. That's usually enough to end the conversation in an awkward silence.

Just smile and say Santa doesn't come to our house, and then ask them what Santa will be bringing THEM this year!

Just tell them simply we don't celebrate Christmas, thanks for asking! Happy Holiday's to you!

I HATE when people do that. I don't mind if people wish us "Merry Christmas," because that's harmless and well meaning, but the "What is Santa bringing you?" question is just so bloody insensitive it hurts.

What I've done in the past is say nothing, sort of nod and give a tight-lipped smile, and exit the situation. If I can work in a brief "enjoy the holidays too" or something, I'll say that. I've then told my son, "She was trying to be nice; she just didn't know about Hanukkah." In other words, if someone is that clueless and insensitive, I don't think it's my job to educate them. It's my job to educate my son on tact and graciousness, within reason.

I've stored up all kinds of lines ("Santa's a nice tradition, he's just not part of our religion, instead we get a holiday that lasts 8 whole nights," etc.), but my son is so in love with Hanukkah, I've never had to use them. I have, though, had to lecture him on the subject of "December is not a competition over who has the best holiday. All the holidays are wonderful. And it's wonderful that there are all these different holidays in the world." With kids, you just never know ;).

Not the case for me, but I would answer, thanks for asking but we don't celebrate Christmas. I'd prep the kids to answer the same way. The adult should have enough tact not to make further inquiries, if there are other children in ear shot, you or your children will not have done anything to undermine Santa for them.

Best,
F. B.

I would just tell them the truth.

This is where the mother should step in and say, thanks for asking, but that's not a tradition in our home. I have neighbors who are from another country/culture and they usually leave town during all the American and Christian holidays. I think it's just easier for them to go back to their country than to deal with it here.

How old are your kids?
Do they understand?
If they are old enough, just have a nice chat with them... about what you do as a family versus what others do.
So, when others mean well but ask your kids about Santa etc., then WITH them, you should come up with a nice polite reply... that your kids can say, even if you are not with them. ie: like in school among classmates and other adults who mean well then they say it.

Just tell them you celebrate Hannukah, not Christmas. Son, tell the nice stranger what you want for Hannukah! We don't do Santa at our house. Instruct your kids to just tell people this as well...nothing wrong with that! You ARE celebrating some winter holiday thing. My SIL grew up methodist and now is Quaker. Her husband is from Zanzibar and is Muslim, but not very religious. He told her that Christmas makes him uncomfortable, so to please him they now celebrate nothing. It's sad. Her sons don't get to celebrate anything. They don't do Santa or winter solstice or muslim traditions or whatever. Those two boys see ALL their cousins/family members/friends all celebrating Christmas and Hannukah. It is sad because the boys are SUPER unhappy and jealous about what other families do.

We don't "do" Santa Claus, and I learned early on to change the subject when asked "What did/is Santa bring(ing) you?", just for safety reasons!
We were at Lowe's one year after Christmas and an employee asked my kids what Santa brought them. My son said, "We don't believe in Santa, but I got ______ from my mom and dad." The woman got really angry, and shouted, "If you don't believe in Santa, you shouldn't have gotten ANYTHING!" and actually gave a big shove to the cart my then 6 and 3 year old kids were in and sent them flying.

I just love this season of peace on earth and goodwill toward men, don't you? Gah!

When I've unknowingly asked kids whose parents don't do Santa or celebrate Christmas what Santa is bringing them, they have politely told me, "I don't believe in Santa."

We have friends that don't celebrate anything at all. Not Halloween, not Chistmas, not Easter, not Valentine's...nothing. The first year we met them we would ask the questions, because it's kind of the American culture in general to make small talk, and Santa IS a part of the culture for the most part. Yes, we are a melting pot and plenty of people do not, but it's more rare to find that. They just told us they didn't celebrate and we respect that. End of story.

I for one appreciate when my kids learn about the different things. So when someone would ask about Santa (if we didn't celebrate) they would know to tell them "we don't celebrate that, but thanks for asking" or something along those lines.