Am I the only one getting frustrated with the St. Nicholas correlation to Santa being a religious figure?

Question

I'm fully aware of the story of St. Nicholas, and although he is a Saint, and did a very wonderful thing to 2 small girls back in the day... how does that translate to the obsessive, explosive, outrageously ridiculous role Santa plays during Christmas time right now?

I have a 1 year old boy, and fully intend on having more children. My husband and I think that 1 gift from Santa is sufficient and the rest of the celebration should be regarding Jesus and his blessing towards us during Christmas. One thing I love is that one of the gifts they receive, they turn around and give away to another child in more need then them.

Anyways... I'm not against those people that celebrate Santa, I just can't stand the people that celebrate him because "he is a religious figure!"

I never said my son (or future children) will only get one gift. He'll get many gifts, but I'm just saying one from Santa - or none maybe... I can't decide wether to include him at all or not sometimes.

Answer 1

You have it right.
I am not frustrated as much as you, but I do correct those that think the Santa character is a religious symbol.

Answer 2

Well dear friend,
I don't think it's worth getting frustrated about, because it is sheer paganism, mixed with fantasy, mixed with idolatry in the worship of saints; in this case a person called St. Claus, a German religious monk who was no saint. There is however no mention in the Bible of any saint being worshipped in any way whatsoever.
Furthermore, Jesus was not even born at the time of the winter solstice, the Judean hills have about 5 foot of snow at that time and the shepherds would not be there, He was the Lamb of God and born in April because the early church consisted of the original disciples and apostles who were all Jewish converts who believed that He was the Passover Lamb, the sacrifice of God!
Christmas is just a pagan, commercial feast and Jesus is not part of it! The Lord Jesus should be the most important thing in our lives, everyday, if we are Christians.
Rev. Joseph.

Answer 3

I have taught my daughter that Christmas is Jesus' birthday, but that Santa is one of his workers that gives us presents for being good. She's only 3 and understands that it's a birthday celebration (even asked if we were going to make a cake for Jesus). The idea of santa is what you allow your children to believe. Eventually they will outgrow this santa thing, but as long as you instill the TRUE meaning of Christmas, your child will understand. Don't let people's ignorance spoil the spirit of Christmas. Also, teach your child that giving "presents" is nice, but actually doing something for them, such as donating their time and energy is much more important that material things (like helping @ a shelter or volunteering at a soup kitchen). My parents did and I still LOVE helping other people!

Answer 4

The history of the creation of Santa from the Russian source (Father Winter) is both ironic and amusing.
I suggest you enjoy Coca-Cola's Red Elf Santa and spoil your kids with all the goodies you can at every excuse you can.
Kids grow up far to soon, the wonder years flash past and are finished. Heaven can wait.

Answer 5

Santa Claus, additionally prevalent as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or in simple terms "Santa", is a discern which became derived from the Dutch discern of Sinterklaas, a historic, mythical discern who in lots of Western cultures, is asserted to deliver presents to the residences of the sturdy infants for the period of the previous due night and in one day hours of Christmas Eve, December 24 or on his feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day). The legend might have area of its foundation in hagiographical thoughts with regards to the historic discern of present giver Saint Nicholas. a almost same tale is attributed by way of Greek and Byzantine folklore to Basil of Caesarea. Basil's feast day on January one million is seen the time of changing presents in Greece truthfully, Christians stole the holiday from the Pagans. It became the date of the solstice. Others in simple terms celebrated a "iciness pageant." Scandinavians known because it yule. Then, whilst Christianity got here approximately, somebody reported, "whats up, all human beings is already celebrating a iciness holiday on the top of December. enable's make Jesus' birthday then." It became a mushy transition between a pagan holiday and a spiritual one.

Answer 6

Nah, it doesn't frustrate me. I don't concern myself with what other people do during Christmas. Santa Claus is an easily recognizable commercial symbol. Bottom line, celebrate it however you'd like. That's the great thing about living in a free country.

Answer 7

The Santa character predates St. Nicholas (albeit, under other names). He was 'old Nick' long before the church invented a saint by a similar name to try ot hide the origin.

Answer 8

Well...if you want to get right down to it...the time of year we celebrate wasn't about Jesus in the first place, but it is now. So...with that in mind...your argument seems a bit mute.



More importantly....when you were a child, did you celebrate Christmas with Santa in the picture? Why deny your own children the harmless innocence of the Spirit of Christmas? To me, that seems a bit selfish.

Answer 9

good thing that God just doesn't give one blessing ; Santa has the meaning of giving from heart ; the spirit of Christmas, I always tell my children that I like to believe in a person who gives b/c they have the spirit of Jesus in them ; God gives and gives and gives; as a Mom of 4 , Catholic , my children all have loving and giving hearts ; did I limit presents no ; was I excessive at times yes ; do I give to others as well , yes , am I excessive at times yes; but I keep Christ in Christmas and Santa in the spirit of giving as Jesus gave to us; when you become radical one way or the other, is where trouble starts ; children are children for so little time; my children believed in Santa and we have our manager and place reverence with baby Jesus, advent wreath , attend church , volunteer and give to the poor ; an equal balance ; kindness and love start at home ; when you can't stand something with strong conviction isn't that sinning itself ??

Answer 10

saints belong to the pantheon of gods in the polytheistic religion catholicism.

basically, the role of gods and their importance changes when culture changes.

siant nick is moving up the food chain and at the time of christmas has as much veneration as the god Mary.


i know this doesn't fit in with the western world's peception of what a god is, but contextually, santa is as much of a god as cupic or mercury.

not comparable to Zues, but higher than human status; ethereal and celestial.

he is immortal and beyond the limitations of nature, after all.