What a better time to talk about Christmas! Approaching the end of the year, it is a very special time for every children and every adults around the world. The atmosphere is different that during the rest of the year. The city lights are shining in the cold nights, people are happy, love is stronger and all you want is to be with your loved ones. A mix of magic, poetry and love is reunited, definitely, Christmas is coming !
December is very special, everything is about Christmas. The streets, the shops, the houses, the TV programs are all about this so special event. We all love this time of the year where we decorate our Christmas tree, our house, or even when we are waiting Christmas Eve with our advent calendar. Christmas without this fairyland wouldn’t be Christmas.
If we dig a little bit about this fairyland around Christmas we will find that there are a lot of benefits on people mental health. According to studies, the Christmas period is the time of the year where people are the happiest. Every emotions is amplified and people are more sensitive. You may have already felt this feeling where you want to be with your loved ones and told them how much you love them. This is what the Christmas effect is about. There is no scientific explanation about why Christmas have this effect on people. Let’s believe it’s magic !
Let’s concentrate ourself on a question, that at one point every children will ask themselves : Does Father Christmas exist ? Unfortunately, if you didn’t know, I am sorry to tell you that Father Christmas does not exist… But, why do we let children believe in that myth ? According to several psychologist, Father Christmas is one of the myth that help the development of the child. Each year he will grow and his faith in that legend will grow with him until he develops himself a critical opinion. This will be the time when he will start to understand that this is all about the fairy of Christmas and that Father Christmas does not really exist.
About this subject of : « Should we let our children believe in Father Christmas ? », a lot of opinions differs. On one hand you have people that consider that it is a lie. According to a study directed by psychologist of the University of Exeter (United-Kingdom), « lying » by keeping the secret about Father Christmas could seriously undermine the trust they have naturally place in their parents and adults in general. Worst, if this lie is driven by our desire to relive our own childhood rather than the one of making this time of the year magic for our child, it is a « morally ambiguous exercise ». Threatenings children by saying to them that Father Christmas only brings gifts to nice child could place them in a position where there will see this character as an almighty character. This could develop to some children a fear of Father Christmas, and then break all the magic around this myth.
Regrettably, between six and ten years old, children begins to doubt the existence of Father Christmas. Child psychologist all agreed on the fact that people must support their child towards the path of truth by telling that the magic, the generosity and the love that this character brings is real. Once the child knows, he is now not consider anymore like a « child » and will need to keep this as a Christmas secret.
Words I have learned :
– undermine : ébranler
– almighty : tout puissant
– fairyland : conte de fées
– regrettably : malheuresement
– path : chemin
Hoping everyone will get the Christmas they desire and will be surrounded by their loved ones to share this magic! Merry Christmas🎄