2006-12-21 14:42:03 · 21 answers · asked by yanix_123 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
In the U.S., the English holiday of Christmas went out of favor after the revolution. When the politicians began adding American holidays to the U.S. calendar, Christmas was re-invented. Less focused on the religious history, and more focused on the history of a winter celebration, good-will, family, and love.
The Americanized Santa appeared in 1822 with Clement Moore's Twas the Night before Christmas. Santa's popularity grew with children over the years...and then, yes, the stores took advantage of that fame and began placing Santas in stores - commercializing him.
Remember, the winter celebration existed before Jesus, e.g. Yule Celebrations (by the Vikings?) and the birth of the sun god (Romans?). The church just combined them. The annual birth of the sun (winter solstice) with the birth of the SON of God.
2006-12-21 17:30:56 · answer #1 · answered by cae128 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People like Santa because he promises to give you what you want, Jesus promises to give you what you need. We don't always like what we really need.
People can make Santa any way they want. Jesus is who he is regardless of what we want him to be. Santa is fun, he gives instant gratification for both the giver and the receiver. Jesus is not always fun, but much more important. The gift of Jesus, (rescue from hell) takes a lot longer for us to realize but the results are eternal.
With Santa you don't have to think, he does things because he's magical. The worst he may do is give you some coal. Belief in Jesus can mean accepting things that are hard.
2006-12-21 15:07:50 · answer #2 · answered by Your Mom 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Abdullah ... Hart also published a paper that suggested that a future of Yugoslavia-type ethnic conflict in the United States could be avoided by a voluntary partition of the country into four states: an integrated mixed-race state, a white state, a black state, and a Hispanic state. He really isn't the brightest bulb in the chandelier ! Also did you notice that CIB asked who was most popular ? For everyone that thinks Mohamed id great their is someone that thinks he is a child molesting , violent , deluded , insane , madman . For everyone thet thinks Jesus is a savior there is someone who does not . Most people think Santa is a nice guy . I vote for Santa . Besides if you don't believe in Santa you don't get toy trains . If you don't believe in Jesus you burn in hell . If you don't believe Mohammed you get stoned to death and then you burn in hell ! LOL .
2016-05-23 11:38:00 · answer #3 · answered by MarilynAnn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People look for Santa to bring them present. Not looking for Jesus to save their lives and things like that. That is why Santa is more popular than Jesus
2006-12-21 14:55:37 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People have forgotten the meaning of Christmas. Blame it on the greedy retailers and stockholders who want to fill their pockets and shamefully enough the people are like sheep and following their instructions(commercials) and forget why we have this holiday. Kids are getting so spoiled with expensive gifts and the retailers rubbing their hands together laughing all the way to the bank. Bah Humbug!
Christmas is about a few present you leave under the tree and a wonderful meal on Christmas eve, then you go to Church and sing carols and hear the story in Luke. After that your heart happy and content you go home open a few presents, watch A Christmas Carol, crack some nuts and eat a nice orange and go to bed. That's my Christmas.
2006-12-21 14:48:21 · answer #5 · answered by Mightymo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's ridulous how this is but some ppl get offended when ppl say Christ and thats lyk the only reason why they made up Santa but "Jesus Is The Reason For The Season" and all ppl do is tey to get christ out of everything lyk him is our Religon we celebrate and best of all they want christmas tree 2 b Holiday Tree well I g2g I hope this help u Merry Christmas and a happy New Year ♥Melissa♥
2006-12-21 14:47:42 · answer #6 · answered by ... 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Santa has managed to become a secular figure. A manifestation of good will and generosity. Christ is inextricably linked with Christianity. As such a cosmopolitan country based round Christianity is bound to pick up Santa rather than force people who aren't Christians, or christians who are opposed to iconic imagery, to put up with all those images of something they don't believe in/consider blasphemous.
2006-12-21 14:46:29 · answer #7 · answered by Shadebug 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are so right. I am sick of the "things" we are in such a hurry to buy. There is an accident out front where I work almost every day during this season. It drives me crazy. What really drives me crazy is when people write Merry X-mas instead of Christmas. It is like they are taking Christ out of Christmas.
I guess we can only remember in our hearts and actions what Christmas is really about and don't worry that there are all these lost souls thinking that the perfect gift is the answer to their problems. I spend very little this time of year and I pay cash for all my Christmas gifts. I refuse to finance Christmas.
2006-12-21 14:55:53 · answer #8 · answered by TotallylovesTodd! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's what happens when people have the freedom of religion. Here in Chicago, there was a debate for a week about showing the trailer to the movie Nativity in a public place, because people thought non-Christians would be offended. That same Amendment allowed them to show the clip in public.
Be grateful for what you DO have- if you are allowed to attend a church meeting without being harrassed, arrested, tortured, or killed, you are better off than 3 billion people on this planet.
2006-12-21 15:53:00 · answer #9 · answered by Flea© 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thoughts/images of Jesus = going to church/helping the poor
thoughts/images of Santa = shopping at the mall/drinking eggnog
Santa's rules are much easier to follow.
Also, a government entity isn't allowed to display a religious image such as Jesus (separation of church and state). It is permitted to hang a picture of Santa though.
2006-12-21 16:07:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋