Whilst searching a well known online store, I stumbled across "The Epic Party Game: Santa vs Jesus" and I think I am going to treat myself to it, and, hopefully persuade a few folk to join me in playing it over the "holidays".

It's a great play on the annual festive conundrum or tension that faces those of us who profess to be Christian. 

Rightly, we wonder if we should refuse to join in the make believe with our children/grandchildren because how are they to believe what we say about Christ if what we say about Father Christmas is, for want of a better word, lies.

And yet there is another way of looking at it that moves beyond true/false fact/fiction binary distinctions to truth-bearing.

The stories and customs around St Nicholas have very early origins and arose from generosity to people who were poor.  Anonymous gift-giving is a wonderful thing.

My former boss used to say, with a twinkle in his eye, that it must be true, becuase it happens every year... he didn't mean he believed in a literal Sannta Claus, he meant that the spirit or essence of Christmas was an important truth re-enacted, however badly, year in, year out.

Even the theologian John Hull used Father Christmas in his excellent work "What Stops Christain Adults from Learning" (a clever and inspired choice because of precisely the parallels with the Victorian, sentimental nativity).

So, Santa versus Jesus?  Well Jesus wins, for me, every time because his story is richer and fuller and more demanding.  But Santa... well, on the whole he seems to be pretty harmless, it's human greed that turns him into a money-grabbing monster!

Will you be hanging up your stocking or pillow case? Will you set up a nativity scene?  Either, both, neither? Whatever you decide, I hope your Advent and Christmas have a winning formula.