Santa Claus: The Pagan

Xena · 12-09-2003, 03:47 PM

People tell children to believe in Santa.
This is not only a lie, but a diversion off the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

Maybe I am over reacting, but I think Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny are pagan.
If we are going to tell children stories about Christmas and Easter we should tell them the truth about Jesus.

No offence to the tooth fairy.

Drill · 12-09-2003, 03:52 PM

I wouldn't say they are pagan, but yes, I agree. They take away from the real reason behind these holidays and are demeaning towards Christ in my eyes. When I raise children, I will not mention once Santa or the easter bunny to them, and will only tell them the stories of these holidays from the Bible and what they are really all about.

Andrei · 12-09-2003, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xena

Maybe I am over reacting, but I think Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny are pagan.

Santa is not pagan! I saw him kneeling down before the manger in Wal-Mart!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xena

If we are going to tell children stories about Christmas and Easter we should tell them the truth about Jesus.

No offence to the tooth fairy.

We should also tell them the truth about Christmas...I celebrate it even though it was originally a "pagan holiday". Playing the Santa game is not necessarily bad, if the truth of Christmas is also told. Both are fine. Same with Easter.

Jonular · 12-09-2003, 04:14 PM

And.....this is moved to the Theology forum, although I believe there is a thread on this already...Somebody over there can merge it, I believe.

~Jon

**Ted Logan** · 12-09-2003, 04:35 PM

Santa Claus is a colloquialization of the legends surrounding the life of Saint Nicholas of Myra. You can learn about his life here. There is nothing pagan about him. The only reason you're upset is because over the years, people have combined the twin traditions of giving anonymous gifts on the Feast of St. Nicholas (Dec. 6, a tradition my family continues) and the tradition of giving gifts on Epiphany (January 6). I had to repeat this already once today. I really hope I don't have to repeat it a third.

Here, I explained it all. I'll quote myself:

Quote:

Originally Posted by A while back, I

The title "Saint" should be a clue. St. Nicholas of Myra was a bishop in the fourth century. Because of a legend which grew about his providing the dowry for a woman who could not afford to marry, there was begotten the tradition of anonymously giving gifts on the Feast of St. Nicholas, December 6th. This tradition eventually combined with the Latin tradition of giving gifts in memory of the Adoration of the Magi on Epiphany, and we wound up giving the gifts on Dec. 25 instead of Dec. 6 or Jan. 6. The tradition of bishops wearing red or green cloaks with white fur gave rise to the popular image of Santa Claus.

Now, say this with me: Saint Nicholas. Saint Niklaus. santniklaus. santaclaus.

It's just a corruption of the name of one of the most popular of the saints. You can find out more here.

So there it is. St. Nick is not a pagan.

And as for the idea that "Christmas was originally a pagan holiday", I must again quote myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by I also

Christmas and Easter are NOT pagan in origin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Their dates were chosen to supplant pagan feasts, but the feasts themselves are certainly not pagan in origin! Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth. Is that pagan in origin? No. Easter is the celebration of His resurrection. Is that pagan in origin? No. The name of Easter and a very few traditions associated with the two feasts are pagan in origin, but the feasts themselves are obviously Christian.

Andrei · 12-09-2003, 05:39 PM

This is what I was meaning. It supplanted a pagan feast day, originally. It, by definition, is certainly not pagan.

Bryan · 12-09-2003, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drill

When I raise children, I will not mention once Santa or the easter bunny to them

HA! I seriously doubt that. You may think so now at 15 (16 maybe) but when you are 25/26 years old and have children, you will have a different opinion.

Andrei · 12-09-2003, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

HA! I seriously doubt that. You may think so now at 15 (16 maybe) but when you are 25/26 years old and have children, you will have a different opinion.

Will you tell your children to be little Christian hedonists?

lol...I could not resist, sorry

Bryan · 12-09-2003, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrei

Will you tell your children to be little Christian hedonists?

lol...I could not resist, sorry

yes

Luke · 12-09-2003, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

HA! I seriously doubt that. You may think so now at 15 (16 maybe) but when you are 25/26 years old and have children, you will have a different opinion.

My parents raised me telling me from the start that such things were bullcrap, and I'm glad they did.

If nothing else, I refuse to lie to my children, and I appreciate that my parents didn't lie to me.

Grace & Peace
Luke

DarylB · 12-09-2003, 06:37 PM

My parents also did not "shelter" me from things like Santa and the Easter bunny, but never entertained the idea that they were real.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 12-09-2003, 06:38 PM

I will not tell them of santa clause or easter bunnies. They will learn of gifts from those who love them not stupid myths.

Andrei · 12-09-2003, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarylB

My parents also did not "shelter" me from things like Santa and the Easter bunny, but never entertained the idea that they were real.

Wait...they aren't real? I thought we were debating about whether or not Santa was a pagan??? But now you tell me he's not even real!!!!

Why are we even debating then?

Luke · 12-09-2003, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrei

Wait...they aren't real? I thought we were debating about whether or not Santa was a pagan??? But now you tell me he's not even real!!!!

Why are we even debating then?

Cute, Andy.

Grace & Peace
Luke