[Margaret Pilkington]

Well, without getting into the philosophy thing......I do not think children are harmed by the myth of Father Christmas....and when they are old enough to understand the symbolic meaning...(that it is better to give than to receive) then Father Christmas can be explained to them in a way shows it is a myth.

My parents never had any money and we didn't get much in the way of presents....and often what we did receive was home made(a wooden fort - or a garage for the boys.....a puppet theatre for me) what it taught me was that we give gifts to the special people in our lives......and that Father Christmas is the deliverer of the gifts.
This didn't harm me in any way......as for telling lies.....well if we all told the absolute truth all the time then I believe life would be exceedingly cruel.
I have told untruths/fibs/lies whatever you want to call them....and these occasions have been times when the truth would have been too painful to countenance......I called it being tactful. And when the time comes I will square up to the greater being and offer my reasons. I hope the greater being will be merciful.