I have a question about santa...?

Question

I don't believe in him and never have, so why is it such a big deal?
My culture doesn't even recognize he or Christmas exists...

I get gifts without santa and on other days than Christmas. I don't need either to get gifts, nor does anyone else.

For the record, St. Nicolas was a deacon in the Church in Turkey, and I will not be working on Christmas or Christmas eve... Or New years day... or Easter, or Passover. Now, why do people make so much of a fuss when I state I do not believe in Santa Clause when they ask such questions as "When did you first find out Santa wasn't real?" or "What did Santa bring your nephews for Christmas?"

Answer 1

I come from a mixed culture, and so while I celebrated Christmas as a child, we never believed in Santa Claus because there was no need for him in our family's culture. It was always odd to my friends that we never got presents from Santa, but we did get presents from the family dog and cat...

Anyway, I know what you are going through. My child's teacher last year wanted to have this big conference because my child stood up and read the class his reasons why he did not believe in Santa. Believe me, a thirty minute diatribe on why I as a Christian should believe in Santa is what I would call someone making a big deal... I just stared at her un till she stopped talking, then explained to her that Santa was not a major tenent of Christianity and that my son did not have to believe in him to be happy.

If someone is giving you grief over your beliefs on Santa, just tell them to leave you alone, or to spend time with your family before they judge you over it.

Answer 2

Fair enough. And I don't expect that you would exxpect me to recognize or understand the traditions of your culture, whatever that may be.

But, with that being said, the Santa Clause/Christmas deal has been warped from a religious observance. The basis for Santa Clause is found in the figure of Saint Nicholas who was a benefactor of sorts. The actual Feast Day is traditionally celebrated on December 5th. Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, is celebrated on December 25th, which was actually the date for a Pagan holiday celebrating the return of the sun for longer days. (Check and see how there is more "daylight" starting after 12/21).

Anyways, the long and short of it is that Capitalism comandeered these two dates to make a LOT of $$$$$. So why is it such a big dea? Because Wall Street makes it into a national economy issue so that there are at least (at a minimum) 2 strong months of retail sales.

I long for the days when the marketing campaign was more subdued and ran from just after Thanksgiving as opposed to before Halloween.

Answer 3

I grew up not being told there was a Santa. My mom thought that if she told me Santa was real, that when I found out he wasn't, I might question what she'd taught me about Jesus. Now that I'm grown up, I've developed a liking for Santa.

The idea of gift giving at this time of year (as I was taught) is because God gave Jesus as a gift to the world, and the wise men brought gifts to baby Jesus. The principle of giving was always supposed to be the focus. I still think that is good. But Santa represents a little more than gifts I think.

As I have watched most of the old Christmas movies I have started to see what Santa is. He represents a lifestyle of doing good for others, of remembering what is important. I feel that Santa preaches a message of love, hope, and goodwill towards mankind and that can never be a bad message. I think it is something we get around this time of year, but I would hope it will spread to the rest of the year.

I think I will let my kids have Santa, but within that context, not as a real live figure that comes down the chimney. He is a symbol of good things.

Answer 4

Well, I agree with you! I am a christian and I do not celebrate christmas. People who tell their children about santa ( and the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy for that matter) are lying to their children. The Ten Commandments say Thou Shalt Not Lie. There is no small print under it that says except when it comes to fitctional creatures used in celebrating holidays. A lie is a lie period. Not only that, try thinking of it this way, santa is glorified as a Christ like being. Not something I want to teach my child only for them to find out it's a big fat lie. They could wonder how they are to believe God is real because you can't go the the mall and sit on his lap!

Answer 5

It isn't a big deal, it just seems so sometimes. My parents never tried to make me believe in Santa even though it is a normal thing for children to believe in in my culture. We exchanged gifts at various times of the year and the notion of Santa Clause never was mentioned. I also don't celebrate Christmas but I encourage those who want to celebrate it to have a wonderful holiday.

Answer 6

Satan has a counterfeit for everything the Lord has and he tries to pass it off as truth every chance he gets. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:11 to “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” We need to know if we have the real thing or a counterfeit. There is a holiday that is celebrated every year called Christmas that Satan has deceived us into believing that it’s the birthday of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church not only gives us the mass of Christ but it supplied us with another counterfeit, Saint Nicolas (Santa). Look at all the ways this counterfeit is like the real thing, the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Psalm 48:1-4 the city of the great King is in the North. Santa lives in the North.

2. John 4:24 God is a Spirit. We also have the spirit of Christmas.

3. Psalm 139:7-12 God is present everywhere. We tell our children that Santa is everywhere watching them.

4. Romans 11:33 God has all wisdom. Santa has all wisdom.

5. Isaiah 46:8-14 God knows all. Santa knows all.

6. Acts 1:9-11 Jesus returns in the clouds. Santa comes in the air.

7. Revelation 19:11-14 Christ returns on a white horse. Santa rides on a slay pulled by reindeer.

8. Revelation 19:13 Christ returns with a red and white outfit. Santa has a red and white outfit.

9. Luke 17:34 Christ comes at night. Santa comes at night.

10. Revelation 20:12 Christ keeps a record of all the works that are done. Santa keeps a record of all the good and bad you have done.

11. Revelation 11:10 there is a time when gifts are exchanged. Santa has a time when gifts are given.

12. Revelation 1:14 Christ has white hair. Santa has white hair.

13. Jeremiah 10:1-4 the heathen had a custom of cutting down a tree and decking it with silver and gold. Santa leaves our gifts under a tree that has been decorated.

14. Ephesians 2:8 Christ is a giver of gifts. Santa is a giver of gifts.

15. Hebrews 4:16 believers come boldly unto the throne of grace. Believers in Santa approach his throne and ask for what is wanted.

16. Ephesians 6:1-3 the Word commands children to obey their parents. Santa tells children to obey their parents.

17. Luke 12:40 the hour of His coming is a mystery. Santa coming is a mystery.

18. Mark 10:14 Christ tells the children to come to him. Santa tells the children to come to him.

19. Zechariah 2:6 the Lord says Ho; ho. Santa says Ho, ho, ho.

20. Mark 6:3 Jesus was a carpenter. Santa builds toys.

21. Revelation 19:6 Christ is all-powerful (omnipotent). Santa is all-powerful. He can deliver all the toys to the entire world in one night.

Do not be deceived by Satan’s devises. Satan has given us many ways to get to heaven: Do good works; be baptized, believe in God, be a member of a church, etc.

According to God’s word for this age there is only one way to heaven and that is to truly believe that Christ died for your sins, that he was buried and that he rose again the third day (I Corinthians 15:1-4).

Answer 7

Well, Santa was just an invention to make little kids behave and then reward them w/ candy. It's not real.

However, Christmas is a different story. Christmas is the celebration of when Jesus came to earth so He could die for our sins. Yes, it does exist, b/c Jesus exists.

Answer 8

well, some people just think that little kids should have the joy of believing in something like santa. actually, up until the time when i found out he was fake, i wanted to sit by the fireplace with a bb gun on Christmas eve.

Answer 9

It's more of a symbolic thing, a childhood rite-of-passage, praytell. It's a way for parents to make their children behave well because "Santa" doesn't come if you're naughty, so the children behave nice. It's not actually true, it's just a source of entertainment and excitement for children. Santa Claus actually developed from St. Nicholas, a saint from Ireland way back when who used to give presents (sometimes money) to poor children who were good people.

EDIT.
Oh, my bad, it's St. Patrick I was thinking of.

Answer 10

Kids love Santa and Christmas is a special time of year that brings families together. I love Christmas and the excitement my children have when they are waiting on Santa. xx