A space to discuss the essay, “Jesus vs. Santa.”
First and foremost, I must say good timely essay with the comparison.
I tend to lean toward Derek Mathias
"He concludes his argument, “So what IS the difference between believing in Jesus Christ and believing in Santa Claus? Apparently not much. Jesus is just Santa for adults.”
Around the age of 8 give or take since we all mature differently, questions about Santa begin to arise, at the same time a child can reason and understand who Christ is and make a simple decision to accept Him as their savior.
Santa based on Saint Nicholas Saint Nicholas - Patron Saint, Feast Day & Santa - Biography
The foundations of Christmas would not exist as Christmas it wouldn’t even be just another Mass without Christ.
Clement Moore’s poem speaks a lot about Santas Character, the solemness of the night,
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and NIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes – how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!
It’s a fact we all have been given faith to believe and prior to the age of reasoning being naive, we will cling to what we are told, Santa, Tooth fairy, Easter bunny, etc.
It depends on what we choose to teach a child to believe that sets the groundwork.
I know some don’t want their children to believe in the fairy tale.
Santa would not exist had it not been for Christ coming and changing the world. The Christ roots had to be there for Saint Nicholas to have been the influence to begin with who was the forerunner to Santa.
To sum up this truth I believe in Santas cause, goodwill, kindness, charity, the joy of giving. The image of the big man with the long white beard dressed all in fur that a child can relate to who is always jolly and friendly is wonderful and can promote great qualities and character in a young child. I am reminded of Math. 19:14
Happy Christmas to all and to all a good life.
Michael
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Such an interesting take @michael1! Thank you for showing the ways in which some depictions of Santa are ‘windows’ that point us to see Jesus. I found your post fascinating and helpful.
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