I wrote this play a few years ago as part of a Christmas presentation. You are welcome to use it this year in your own Christmas program.

This play is written to focus people’s attention on how empty Christmas can be without Christ. It is meant to lead in to a message that presents Christ to a Christmas audience.

Scene – internal of a home. Dad is reading the newspaper. Mum is reading a Romance novel.

Brother & Sister enter, arguing.

Brother – (entering with Sister) “Mum! She says Santa isn’t real.”

Mum is not listening.

Brother – (insistent) “MUM!!! She says Santa isn’t real! Tell her that Santa is real.”

Sister – (bossing the mum) “He’s old enough to know better. It’s about time you told him the truth so he can GROW UP! He’s just such a BIG BABY!!”

Brother – “I am not! You’re just a big fat bossy sister!”

Sister – “Mum. Tell him Santa isn’t real.
Brother – “He IS!!! Isn’t he mum?”

Mum – (finally giving them a small amount of attention) “Look. Go and talk to your father about it.”

Children go to other side of room where dad is reading a paper.

Brother – “DAD! She says Santa isn’t real! He IS real, isn’t he?”

Sister – “He’s just a BIG BABY and he STILL thinks Santa is real!!!”

Dad – “Hey! What’s all this fuss about? Can’t you see I’m reading?”

Brother – “She says Santa is just a made up story.”

Dad – “Look. Go and talk to your MOTHER about it.”

Sister – (turns to mum and then turns back) “We already have!”

Dad – “Well just do whatever SHE said to do.”

Brother – “But SHE said to talk to you.”

Dad – slaps the newspaper down on the table and scowls at his wife. “Can’t anyone take responsibility around here?!”

Brother – “Sister says Santa is just a made up story.”

Dad – “Well, that’s not very nice.”

Sister – “But Dad, it’s about time he GREW UP!”

Dad – “Listen kids, everybody’s got to believe in something. Believing in Santa never hurt anyone. So if he wants to believe in Santa why can’t he?”

Sister – “But it’s not TRUE!”

Dad – “Listen kid, there are a LOT of things that aren’t true, but people believe in them. That’s how life works. People believe in things and that makes them happy.”

Brother – “But I thought Santa was real!”

Dad – “Santa IS REAL, if you believe in him.”

Sister – “That doesn’t make sense.”

Dad – (to Sister) “When YOU believed in Santa, did that make you happy?”

Sister nods.

Dad – “Of COURSE it did! So that’s what BELIEVING is all about. It makes you HAPPY!”

Brother – “Well, is baby Jesus real?”

Dad – “Look, you’re mum is the religious one. You’ll have to ask her.”

Children go to mum.

Brother – “Mum, is baby Jesus real or is he just made up like Santa?”

Mum – “You’ll have to ask your father.”

Sister – “But HE sent us to YOU.”

Mum – (exasperated – puts down her book) “It’s nearly Christmas. Everyone believes in baby Jesus at Christmas. It’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Brother – “But is he REAL?”

Mum is unsure how to answer.

Enter Uncle with his two teenage daughters, Cousin#1 and Cousin#2. Cousin#1 is talking on a mobile phone, while Cousin#2 is listening to music in a headset while playing a hand-held game.

Uncle – “Anybody home?”

Dad – “Hey! It’s great to see you guys. Come on in. Grab a beer out of the fridge.”

Uncle – “We came over to see what you’re planning for Christmas Day.”

Dad – “We’re just having the usual. A big roast dinner.”

Mum – “We’re NOT having a roast dinner. It’s going to be over 30 degrees and I’m not slaving over a hot stove in the stinking heat just so YOU can have a roast dinner.”

Dad – “But it’s CHRISTMAS. We ALWAYS have a roast dinner at Christmas. It’s TRADITION!”

Mum – “Well you know what you can do with your tradition. I’m not slaving over a hot stove on Christmas Day, no matter what you think!”

Uncle – “We could organise a BBQ.”

Mum – “Now THAT’S a good idea. Then the MAN over there can do all the work!”

Dad – “If we don’t have a roast dinner it just WON’T be Christmas.”

Uncle – “Are you all going to church on Christmas Day?”

Mum – “That’s ANOTHER one of the old man’s TRADITIONS!!”

Dad – “Hey, we’re Christians. So of course we go to church on Christmas.”

Cousin#1 – (she has ended her phone call and has been listening in) “What religion are you?”

Dad – “We’re C and E.”

Cousin#1 – “Church of England?”

Dad – “No. C “AND” E. That’s Christmas and Easter! That’s the only times we go to church!”

Sister (to Cousin#1) “What are YOU getting for Christmas? Last year I got some really great things.”

Brother – “Uncle, is Santa real? Sister says he’s just made up.”

Uncle – “Well, SOME people think he’s real.”
Sister – (to Cousin#2) “I’m trying to tell him that Santa isn’t real.”

(Cousin#2 is listening to her earphones and playing on her hand-held game so she doesn’t react)

Cousin#1 – “She can’t hear you.”

Dad – “Look. Let’s put an end to this once and for all. There’s a whole bunch of things people believe in, like the Easter Bunny, Shrek, Baby Jesus, Santa, God and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. We live in a free country. You’re allowed to believe in them if it makes you feel any better. And no-one should try to stop you. But it’s Christmas. And that’s all about family and presents and ROAST DINNER.”

Mum – “I’m not cooking a roast dinner in the stinking heat. YOU’RE going to cook a BBQ and I’m staying under the air-conditioner!”

Dad – “We’re just one big happy family. And Christmas is a special time to celebrate the good things in life. Now you kids get out of here. Let’s have another beer.”

Everyone exits, except Cousin#2, who is still absorbed in her game. Sister hurries back in to tap Cousin#2 on the shoulder and get her to leave the stage.

Sermon: Discuss the emptiness of Christmas, tradition, Santa and all that, when Christ is left out.