Won't the kids or people get confused?
2006-10-21 15:59:49 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Santa Claus is a fictional character. Regardless of what color he is PORTRAYED as, he doesn't really exist. So we're left with using our own creativity to decide what color he really is.
Perhaps the people that Santa Claus was originated from, had a certain race (such as St. Nicholas). But Santa in and of himself does not exist. He is a character created as an incentive for children to be good. That's why he has a "nice or naughty" list. And children are threatened with "stockings full of coal" if they aren't good.
Why are there black Santa Clauses in predominately black shopping malls? Let's think about pure socialism and economy for a moment. When you offer the job of playing "Santa Claus" in a mall, your target is usually the immediate area around the mall. Who do you think your audience is going to be? Predominately black people. The chances of a white person getting a job is low, assuming any white people actually apply for it. What would you expect next - a black guy to wear make-up to make him look like a whie guy?
Could they go beyond that area and search for a white person specifically? Yes. But how many jobs like that will pay enough to justify the travel? Or how many jobs like that would COVER the travel expenses? I don't see this being a very economically sound idea.
As for confusing children, you've got to admit that having them believe in it for several years and then one year telling them Santa doesn't exist anymore, has GOT to be more confusing than both black and white Santa Clauses. So while you're on the path of telling them a lie to begin with, why not give them something they can relate to in the meantime?
From a white female, I see absolutey no harm in a black Santa Claus. I only see harm in those that believe fictional characters should only exist in one color.
2006-10-22 02:49:47 · answer #1 · answered by ltygress 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The modern Santa Claus is thought to be a composite character made up from the merging of quite separate figures. Some of these are black, and some of them are not.
The question of a 'black christmas', so to speak, is not a new one and has been discussed by many people before. It is not uncommon to find Santa pictures and figurines depicting an african american dressed in the traditional coda-cola outfit (see forth link) and black Santas are used in many shopping malls where the shopping area is predominately black. A specific story of one is seen in the fifth link.
Origins of Santa suggest that he is a composite of characters, most of them being white.
2006-10-21 16:19:10 · answer #2 · answered by DoctorScurvy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fictional but lovable Santa Claus is not confined to any race. Why is there a white Santa Claus in a white shopping mall? Why is there a hispanic Santa Claus in a hispanic shopping mall?
2006-10-21 16:12:13 · answer #3 · answered by Werecatwoman 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Santa is just a memory to people now. When he was alive & real, he was from a different country, but he does look white. People then decide to keep his traditions alive,by dressing like him & doing what he did. Eventually his "memory" spread to the whole world. They have whatever race santas in whatever the prodimint race is in that particular culture.
I was in the south one christmas, they had the big white santa in his chair, but further in the mall, they had a midget dressed like santa, with his own chair, who was black.
So like I said, he's whatever race people wants him to be. Since the origional santa is gone, people carry on his memory. They can make him however they see him in their minds. And depending on their race, thats probley what color they'll see him as.
Usually a child who's white, only goes to places that theirs alot of white people. The same for anyother race. So the kids probley won't have a chance to get confused. If they would the parents would probley make them unconfused. Or santa himself. I once seen a mixed santa with a white kid on his lap. The kid told santa he's not real cause he's not white. Santa told him he is so!!! that he just got back from vacation, so he's a bit darker then normal. The kid was happy with that answer.
2006-10-22 04:47:41 · answer #4 · answered by prepishippie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
St. Nicholas hailed from Norway I believe it was... Somewhere slavic so portrayls of him are of a caucasian... but Santa Clause is a fictional character and I feel there's no need to fence him in as any one race. I didn't shop at a predominantly "black" mall infact where I lived and shopped was straight up whitebread but our Santa at the mall and the one that always came to visit my girl scout troop was black and it never even occured to me to question it! Now thinking back on it I even like him a little better because his beard was sewn on unlike the white santa I once saw who's beard nearly fell off!
2006-10-21 16:09:51 · answer #5 · answered by annathespian 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I was a kid, I was just told that they were elves dressed like Santa and helping him get his list together. He couldn't be at every mall at the same time. Santa Claus is Santa Claus
2006-10-21 16:02:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
From a scientific standpoint, if Santa Claus lives on the North Pole it would make sense for him to be white to aid Vitamin D synthesis (I hear that's why white people are white and black people are black--to protect them from the sun).
But Santa Claus isn't real so and really he's just something to aid commercialism of Christmas so why not relate him to everyone with $$ in their pockets this Christmas?
2006-10-21 17:06:30 · answer #7 · answered by Reject187 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In this skeptical age we ask what race Santa Claus is. But Santa is in the hearts of people, in the kindness and compassion we show to one another. He has no race, just as love and caring have no race.
2006-10-21 16:12:14 · answer #8 · answered by Joy K 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Santa Claus is a wonderful spirit. He is not one race or color. An idea can't be fixed to one person's perception. He is way too elusive for that. If people get confused, it's news to me. I would think that you are old enough to understand the Spirit of Christmas, dear. Relax, don't overthink it and enjoy the holiday.
2006-10-21 16:09:07 · answer #9 · answered by swarr2001 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Santa Claus is a symbol. He's a symbol of Xmas. He is above race, so he's pictured according to the children in each place. What really counts is that Santa Claus is a symbol of peace, love solidarity
2006-10-21 16:06:20 · answer #10 · answered by Steiner 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋