Do we need Santa Clause to have some good Christmas time?
2006-12-19 07:05:06 · 17 answers · asked by Jade 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
True Meaning of Christmas
Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.
"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . .
"TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children!
Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."
He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.
Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.
Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."
2006-12-19 07:12:55 · answer #1 · answered by 2B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Santa IS fake. Well, Santa Claus as he is currently envisioned is completely fake. Yes, there was a real St. Nicholas, and his role has been changing for hundreds of years, not just since 1940s. However, Christmas and Santa Claus have been heavily commercialized and used in advertising campaigns since the 30s and 40s, so in that respect your friend is correct. Somehow he is now the non-religious cartoonish figure that flies around the world, in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer no less, while delivering presents to all the good boys and girls. Doesn't sound very Christian does it? But I too enjoy a lot of the goofy Christmas traditions, and although I'm not a religious person, I do remember that Christmas is not really about Santa, but the story of the birth of Jesus. Being non-religious, I just don't participate in any of those aspects like midnight mass, etc. My favorite piece of Santa lore is that in Germany back in the 1800's, Santa Claus was not the jolly old elf we know today. He had a darker side. Yes, the good little kids would get presents, but at that time, Santa would allegedly give a whipping to bad little kids, instead of a lump of coal. I kind of like that! Usually this time of year, either the History Channel or Discovery Channel air the history of Santa Claus. It's a good program!
2016-05-22 21:39:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, even though this is an opinion question. Even though I don't believe that there is this man in a red suit coming down the chimney as 12 A.M. on Christmas Eve, the spirit of him is still alive. For Christmas to be a good time, one of the things it needs is the spirit of Santa. The spirit of Santa is bringing presents and loading our stockings; hopefully the presents will make everyone happy and have a merry Christmas. If the spirit of Santa doesn't exist, there would be no presents.
2006-12-19 07:12:20 · answer #3 · answered by proudchocoholic505 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh yes, Christmas wouldn't be the same without Santa, the kiddies get excited knowing hes coming down their chimneys to bring their pressies, the moms of this world can use Santa as a bit of blackmail to have their kids behave and dads get to play Santa to the kids, Santa is a star and a hero and we will always need him.
2006-12-19 09:12:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many people are under the assumption that Christmas has it's origins in Christianity. However, Roman officials decided on December 25th as the date for Christmas because they were trying to convert their heavily Pagan nation to the religion. The Pagan's Mid-Winter festival, Saturnalia, was held at this time of the year. In order to lure them over, many holidays that are now associated with Christianity were decided by the dates of corresponding Pagan holidays and festivals.
Christmas was more like Mardi Gras than the holiday we know today up until as late as the late 19th century. Yes, that's right, Mardi Gras! In England, during the 17th century, Protestants had taken over the country. Being very religiously strict they actually outlawed Christmas for it's vulgarity. Of course the people wanted their celebration so they in turn reinstated the Monarchy.
In the United States, after the Revolutionary War, anything English as shunned. Therefore Christmas was reinvented. It was decided the holiday would be about family and togetherness rather than raucous partying.
The Christmas tree also has it's roots in Pagan culture. Evidence of "Christmas" trees date back as far as Egypt. Santa Claus in his modern form was also only recently invented. In the 1940's he was revamped as the jolly old man we all know. Actually this was done by advertising agencies and stores of the time in order to help sell merchandise. Before that, Santa was more in line with the partying ideology of the Pagan Christmas. In fact, Santa's image evolved from a Pagan gnome like creature. Very much unlike what we know today.
2006-12-19 07:26:13 · answer #5 · answered by Shuggaloaf 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, we don't need Santa for Christmas. Is not the real meaning of Christmas. I personally never did beleive in Santa, and I'm fine.
2006-12-19 10:52:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, who cares about pagan roots...it is the intentions of the people in this generation, venerating Christ, or at least making merry that matters for purposes of this question.
I don't think it is nearly a matter of needing, as much as welcoming. I think, given the history of Father Christmas (a real person in the early Church, a man of generosity), we could use his influence more today than at any other time in our history.
I might add, that to me Father Christmas points the way to Christ's birth, and the wise men's presents to him.
Christians, ideally give to others, as did the Jolly old Elf, because they can not give directly to Christ in the same way.
Charles "That Cheeky Lad"
Wickedly Happy Christmas, and thanks for asking!
2006-12-19 11:04:07 · answer #7 · answered by Charles-CeeJay_UK_ USA/CheekyLad 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think we should get rid of him.
Bah humbug.
Well I don't like lying to my (and other) children, and it gets them really confused between Santa and God.
Better to stick to the real meaning of Christmas.
2006-12-19 09:18:50 · answer #8 · answered by a Real Truthseeker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I've been managing without him, it's effing expensive though and it would be nice to get some of the credit from the kids.
Just kidding Santa I love you :D
2006-12-19 07:09:07 · answer #9 · answered by Rhapsody 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No we need good retail stores and family to have a good Christmas
2006-12-19 07:14:06 · answer #10 · answered by ♥ purrlvr ♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋