There was a time when Christmas was centered around one thing and one thing only: the celebration of the birth of Christ. It's literally in the name: Christ Mass.
Those days are long gone.
Christmas is still a religious holiday, obviously – but it’s also a secular holiday, and many people treat it as something in between. With Christmastime encompassing everything from baking gingerbread men, to socially-encouraged gluttony, to rampant commercialism, it’s safe to say that Jesus Christ is no longer the sole focus.
In fact, in many ways he’s been supplanted by a different figure – one with much more direct appeal to children: Santa Claus.
This presents a serious challenge for Christian families who wish to pass down religious traditions to their children and keep the focus of the holiday on Christ. How do you balance celebrating Jesus with children’s adoration for Santa?
Whom to Celebrate, and How to Celebrate
There’s no doubt that parents who want Christmas to be about the birth of Jesus face an uphill battle. Because despite it being his birthday, Jesus sure takes a noticeable backseat to a host of other things children see in December: festive decorations, bright light displays, and Christmas trees.
In fact, outside of a nativity scene here or there, the holiday season is largely a secular affair in popular culture. And the dominating figure is not Jesus, but the big man in the red suit himself: Santa Claus.
For children, Santa is a universally beloved figure (he’s a jolly old man who shows up with a massive sack of gifts each year, how could he not be?).
That creates an enduring tension in Christian households. Parents worry that their children will be more focused on material goods, as opposed to the holiday’s religious importance.
While most Christians are able to generally balance the fun of Santa with the importance of Jesus, some are ready to cancel Santa altogether.
That's what Pastor David Grisham did in 2016 when he went to a mall and recorded himself telling children waiting in line to meet Santa that Santa isn't real. "Kids, I want to tell you today that there is no such thing as Santa Claus," he begins. "Santa Claus does not exist. The Christmas season is about Jesus!"
If it wasn't clear, Grisham's apparently not a big fan of Santa hogging the seasonal spotlight. In a now-deleted video from 2010, he recorded himself and others mock-executing a figure of Santa by firing squad.
Obviously that's a pretty extreme reaction. Is there a way to find compromise here?
Can’t You Just Celebrate Both?
Children get excited to hang stockings, make a wish list, mail a letter to the North Pole and leave out a plate of cookies for Santa. Heck, parents get excited for these rituals too. They read books about the night before Christmas together, get dressed in special Christmas pajamas, and sing “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” until they are hoarse. For some families, the holiday would not be complete without these traditions.
They ask: what is the harm in enjoying and spreading a little magic during Christmas time? The historical figure of Saint Nicholas is well-documented, and the legend of his counterpart Santa Claus is rooted in the spirit of love and giving, after all.
Why not take the birth of the Savior and enjoy it with a side of Kris Kringle?
And even if Christmas has become commercialized, that doesn’t necessarily mean the religious aspects lose importance, proponents argue. In fact, perhaps this shift has helped to further crystalize why those spiritual lessons still matter.
The tradition of giving to those in need around the holidays is a great example. What could be more Christ-like than helping up the least of us during the darkest time of the year? Even if it’s Santa’s face, not Jesus’s, on a Christmas card – does that diminish the intent behind the act?
The pro-Santa camp would probably argue that it doesn’t.
Where do you stand?
57 comments
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Stanley Edwards
Minister Stanley Edwards: The one true aspect of all is that, God gave you the will of choice. Feel free to choose as the spirit guides you. Growing up knowing that this so called saint didn't visit my house because resources were limited. I can surely say that if there is a Santa Claus. He picks who will receive the benefits of His good will. There are more expedient issues that warrant discussion than whether God is or Santa Claus is. The issue that is more relevant is have I done as much as I can to be good neighbor to all the angels I come in contact with!
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Rob Saranpa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbJAKpIFmBc&t=14s I wrote this after becoming a Christian and wrestling how to explain to my 6 year old son.
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John C Carpenter
There was not this tension when I was young. When I was pre teen I sang in an Episcopal choir, and we sang Festivals of Carols and Lessons, and Silent Night at the end from in back of the church. Then we drove through Bronson Park, with its candy cane walk, sometimes the older siblings would be home, and next day we had gifts and the big Christmas. Santa was not a big deal though. I was told when I was 4 that Santa was a spirit, and we had stockings full of things, but we did not wonder how Santa got there, or flew down the chimney or any of that stuff. Sometimes you could visit Santa in a store or at a Church thing, but I was so little then, I didn't even know what it was all about. When I was older, still tried to get home for Christmas, other siblings and their extended families would come. Mom would put candles up on every surface in the house, and light them, and on the beautiful stereo were records of Christmas Carols, and we told stories and had good times with the family, and next day we had presents...and my brother would shake his presents and smell them, and my father would play a joke on him, pulling the cover off a gift to save time, and we would open them in turn and fuss over all of them. I don't know why all this tension people put on themselves nowadays, except that dirty old priests corrupt the festival by telling them how they have to live and think, and make everyone toe the line as if they are all a bunch of Calvinists. It just wasn't a thing in my day. It was the beauty outside...the snowfall...a fire in the fireplace...stories around the fireplace...songs at Church or on the stereo or radio. Food and companionship with the family.
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arawngraalrd
Saint Nicolas Day is the 6th of December, when children should put their shoes out for Candy, if they've been good, or Coal, as a warning of Krampus. The spirit of Giving is ministered to by department stores, and this exchange may be celebrated as a holy involvement of Judaism, and of Poseidon, of whom Santa is an avatar. The reason of the Season is the high morbidity, leading to Easter, when we would rather not be burying our Children, in the newly softened Earth.
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John C Carpenter
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe In Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
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Richard Steven Kopcho
Still the most articulate and beautiful explanation of the nature of St Nicholas. , Santa Claus, Father Christmas, St. Nicholas - is an integral part of the Christmas holiday.
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Angel
Boy, you really need to go back in your history book! Actually, the holiday, as most other holidays, was originally pagan and was a way for the church to convert pagans. Everyone knows Christ was not born in Decemeber, and somany different cultures celebrate the winter holidays with their own traditions long before christianity was ever created.
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Diana Lynn Angell
Foolish nonsense all of it. December 25th is not Yeshua's birthday. See the Santa Claus people lie to their children and the Christian's don't even know the name of their Messiah. There is no Santa Claus folks and you know it so put away your childish things, grow up and teach your children something important like how to grow a garden or build a home. Stop wasting valuable time, energy and your wages on things that mean nothing in the end. Give your children a true heritage. That includes the Christians too. Look Nimrod the one who went against God in the Bible is the one they celebrate his birthday on that day so get your facts straight. And everyone stop lying to your children.
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Dave Graveth
There was a Santa Claus (Saint Nicolas) and his celebration 5th/6th of December has been abused by some commercial parties.
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Diana Lynn Angell
Foolish nonsense all of it. December 25th is not Yeshua's birthday. See the Santa Claus people lie to their children and the Christian's don't even know the name of their Messiah. There is no Santa Claus folks and you know it so put away your childish things, grow up and teach your children something important like how to grow a garden or build a home. Stop wasting valuable time, energy and your wages on things that mean nothing in the end. Give your children a true heritage. That includes the Christians too. Look Nimrod the one who went against God in the Bible is the one they celebrate his birthday on that day so get your facts straight. And everyone stop lying to your children.
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Stanley Edwards
My thoughts exactly. We need to stop perpetuating the same lie that was told to us when we’re children. Funny thing is. How come Santa only goes down the chimney when he delivers the toys. I guess the kids whose home don’t have a chimney won’t be getting anything!
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Daniel J. Trebas
Okay. Here's a possibility: The "santa" in Santa claus is a title for "saint". Similar to how the "Christ" in Jesus Christ is also a title. Sooooo...remove the titles, combine what's left and we could have a "Jesus Claus". Yep, Santa could be Jesus in disguise (dressed up like his dad maybe?) Who does the Santa gig to get away from all the sanctimonious and serious "Christians" and have some fun. Oh - and the elves could really be leprechauns working part time. Anyway - the point of saying all that was to just say it helps to lighten things up, if not, then the Jesus Claus may have YOU be the next angel with a Christmas tree up your backside.
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Teresa Louise Barberot
Children should be taught about balance and moderation about the material world everyday. Not just at Christmas. Only gaining material wealth does not define us or make us feel whole should we suddenly lose the wealth. Teaching children that self-esteem, confidence and self-worth comes from virtues and spiritual values that are practiced by their family traditions. They can enjoy Santa and not lose who they are in their family religion. I am Christian so I still enjoy saying Merry Christmas - not the generic Happy Holidays. We can all live in this world and respect the differences in traditions and religions among us.
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Kimberlee Renee' Griffith
Satan has fooled the masses once again by changing one letter around in his name. Move the N in satan to make Santa. He will try to take away the praise of Jesus the Saviors birth and trick man kind into greed, anger, going into debt, feelings torn. Etc. And mankind will eat with me instead of Jesus, on his celebrated day. The great deceiver is making himself look jolly, so the uninformed can revel in his grand trickery every year... Christ mass is about Christ, Jesus. Can you not see the lies that are satan. The world is deeply corrupt and very few are truly happy anymore. And isn't that what jolly satan Santa wants.
Jesus, we pray for your kingdom to come home here on earth as it is in heaven. Thank you for being born human and living like us humans. You felt what we feel and you know are hearts, as you were born and died as one of us. We celebrate YOUR BIRTHDAY KING JESUS...for you were born on Christmas day !!!
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Robert Edward Szekely
Stop adding paranoid fantasies to your twisted dogma. Yeshua ben Yusef was not born on December 25th. He is not king of the Winter Solstice. He was first among favored son's of Israel's God, and was born a Jew. It was because he set the moral exemplar for others to follow that he was so favored by God, to show humankind the example to follow, not the one to worship. His apotheosis by the Western Roman Church when the Nasarites flipped from being persecuted by the State to being endorsed as the official state religion was an error. The message that is too often lost is to "Be like Jesus, learn from Jesus", not "worship Jesus, let Him act in your stead". God does not intervene in those areas in which he has granted us the ability to act. Jesus ministered to teach those he met a better way to be human. Paul of Tarsus was a charlatan who claimed to have met the spirit of Jesus posthumously, during which Jesus purportedly contradicted many of those things he had taught his apostles during his life. "Jesus" was the Latinized version of "Joshua" - since there was already a Joshua in the Bible. In closing, grow up.
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John C Carpenter
Satan did not create "Santa." Santa is "Saint." in Italian, and every Saint is "Santa" therefore, so unless you are someone who wants to condemn all saints by tying them to this mythical Satan, then you better learn your etymology and stop taking your talking points from idiots.
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Dave Graveth
Santa is by the way the female version in Spanish and the male version is Santo. In Italian it's San and in Latin the original language is Sanctus.
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Colleen McAllister
First of all the name is Santa Claus no E at the end. I see no standoff. The two mesh very well in my home. Both are real people at the core of it. Using the secular trappings of Santa Claus does not negate that I worship Christ. I know of no one who worships Santa. My belief is summed up in one of my favorite decorations that I place first each year. It is a small figurine of Santa kneeling before the baby Jesus. Everything bows before my Lord.
Merry Christmas
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John316
The battle is the lords. Jesus Christ our king has drawn the line brothers and sisters. Hail to the alpha and omega. Repent and believe in the gospel.
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Robert Edward Szekely
"The battle is the Lord's"? Oh, c'mon, for chrissakes, you warmongering nihilist! Why would a man who preached peace during his life be 'drawing line of battle'. For the love of God! I don't know what train stop you left your brains at, but I think you need to retrace your steps and go back to find them, or sew shut your mouth and open your ears!
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John C Carpenter
I don't know. John 316 doesn't know, Robert Szekely doesn't know and John Carpenter doesn't know what exists beyond the 5 senses If Santa does not exist because we do not see him, than what of God? We don't see Him, and nobody, nobody knows what happens to us after we die. Anyone who says the contrary is lying to him or herself, and I don't know what is a worse lie than the one you make to yourself. You can believe anything you want to, but mere belief where there is no ability to act upon that belief through constructive action is worth anything. So if Jesus helps you to be good and to love others as He preached, then do it, because He also said that those who call Lord Lord don't get into the kingdom, unless they heed His words and act upon them to make this a better World. Because the coming world, the Kingdom of God, is going to be right here. Using religion as a battering ram to insult people of conflicting opinions to you is not Christian. It is often done in the name of the religion, but it is not consistent with the teachings of Christ.
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Richard Steven Kopcho
For a few thousand years before Christmas humanity celebrated the winter solstice and the yule season. "Christmas" is a mash up of many sacred and wonderful "pagan" (christian term for non-christian) religions, plus christian, jewish and increasingly other modern religions. Saint Nicholas should be recognized and embraced as many entities: the spirit of the solstice and the personification of winter, the christian and patron saint of children, king of the elves and fairies. Just don't reduce Santa to the commercialized present toting caricature presented in hollywood movies and advertising media. Keep him mysterious and magical - he should be understood as a kind of mystery. then there is no conflict with those who want the holiday to be centered on Jesus. Of course that is the battle - commercial entities want to shape and sell his image and concept simply for profit and commercial gain. We must keep him as something far more mysterious, magical and wonderful and resist all the forces that seek to make him common and vulgar.
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Angela Hartfelder
Why, oh why, are you giving this narcaccistic miserable excuse for a human any more attention than he's already had? He got his 15 minutes of fame in malls and on street corners back in the day in the Texas panhandle and even the hyperconservative belt buckle of the bible belt people there couldn't stand him and quite giving him the limelight he so coveted. So he up and moved to Alaska to see if he could start anew there. Please stop feeding his ego! There are far better ways to get the point across, even if it is an inaccurate and flawed perspective as several have already pointed out.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
After seeing the "Christian Right" in action, I say we need more Santa and less Christians. Cause it's Christians who've lost the true spirit of the holiday, not children.
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flugo
'Standoff'?! Whatta crock!. The King of Kings; the sovereign Creator and Lord of all; the unchanging, holy, loving, living God . . . in a 'standoff' with Santa Clause?! What an epitome of the absurd, the blasphemous, the vain!
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John C Carpenter
You believe all that Flugo, with no more proof than that of the existence of St. Nicholas, and actually a lot less. And where is the fun in it? Is God and his creation so dreary that he has to send a person to be a blood sacrifice for the fact that people are human? That is a weird creation and a strange God.
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Dorothy E. Cogswell
We can have both
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Colleen McAllister
Amen
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Amber Fry
To me it really doesn't matter. There are just too many holidays at this time of year that make up the entire season joyful. That's what matters more to me.
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Franz Von Hofler
dec.25 is the birthday of mitr.mithras, the lord of light who cult came to europe from persia. he was a god of light, justice, and honor. ussualy worshiped by roman and later military men. women were not involved. there for jesus of nazereth does not have any position histrically for this guy to harrass other people about their fantacy while missubderstanding his own. sept. 19 was jesus of nazereth;s birthday, if you want a manger buy it with school cloths and leave otheres in peace, because thats your holiday. Happy Holidays. (PLURAL).
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T Kosse`
Christmas is mostly for the children anyway let them have their Santa because their life should be filled with magic and wonder. They will be much better people when they get older because of it.
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John C Carpenter
And us old people can capture again and hold onto his whiskers and experience a piece of the wonder again too. And frankly, as the Baltimore Sun told Virginia, who knows what wonders exist beyond the veil that can be revealed only by art and poetry?
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John P Maher
YEAH and MAYBE next YEAR SANTA tRUMP dressed in ORANGE GARB, BEING PULLED by HIS G O Pigs WILL DELIVER ALL YOUR DREAMS of EVER FOREVER, GET REAL, REAL NOT REALITY, DREAMS are for SLEEP, FEEDING your KIDs is REALITY, NOT BUYING CHEAP CRAP MADE IN CHINA or ANYWHERE for THAT FACT !!!
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Minister Ivette
I cannot believe in people who go to such extremes as to make children cry, that is definitely not the Christian way. I raised my children with Santa Clause, Jesus and God Almighty. Santa Clause is not a lifetime belief. After a certain age, they know who the gift givers really are. But the belief in Jesus and God is for life, and they are who they pray and turn to. Let them enjoy the holiday as they wish
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Lionheart
But children also cry (but often they are older children) when they find out their parents indoctrinated them into a religious belief that cannot be demonstrably proven to be true. I know of many that have been so traumatised by religion to the point of considering suicide. I don’t know any that have been that traumatised when they found Santa wasn’t real.
🦁❤️
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Chaplain Shawn
If you remember I presented a logically valid argument for the existence of God. There is also Anselm's Ontological argument, which has been modified. It too is a valid logical argument. However, your mere disgust and hatred of God is absolute proof of his existence. If God does not exist, then why are all you nonbelievers so salty? lol You use this platform to cry a river over someone you claim does not exist. Such a bloody waste of time for f sakes. lol
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Lionheart
Thank you for your less intelligent and vitriolic reply, often expected from theists, so I’m used it. I not only don’t see any demonstrable evidence of any god, even yours, I don’t see any factual evidence of Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster, Fairies, Leprechauns etc, and I suspect you don’t either. And the reason is because neither of us have any sufficient demonstrable evidence they are real, just like your imaginary god.
I actually don’t have any disgust for your fictitious god, and why should I? That would be like saying if I had disgust for Voldemort it would prove he was real. Can you see how illogical your statement is? I strongly suspect you don’t, being as you clearly don’t understand logic, and what that is. If you did, you’d understand why using logic and reason sees no evidence for any deity.
Happy holidays Shawn. Stay safe and we’ll during these difficult times.
🦁❤️
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flugo
'mini ivy'; You condone your children 'praying' to and 'turning' to Santa?! Wow! I admire your responsible parenting, your instilling into your kids the effectiveness of 'Santa homage'! Good luck!
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T Kosse`
What didn't Santa give you what you wanted as child flugo is that why you are such a Grinch.
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flugo
'tea cozy': Yep! Teach 'em about the the existence/activities of the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Santa Clause, etc. A great way for kids to learn honesty, truth and veracity from their parents/adults! The world needs more parents like you!
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John C Carpenter
I am sure kids do much better with the blood sacrifice of Christ for sins they don't even know about to the pleasant aspect of a man who actually lived and gave out presents being remembered.
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John P Maher
HEAR YE, HEAR YE, HEAR YE, RIGHT ON FLUGO, THEY CAN'T WAIT to ORDER from AMAZON !
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Daniel Gray
Sorry but there IS a Santa Clause, the proper name is St Nicholas. If you cant even get that portion right then why should anyone worry about the story when the main factor is a lie...
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Stewart
They are running scared the very methods their founders used to abolish existing religions are being used against them in the name of corporate greed grub up those dollars .
Most of this much ado about nothing is not because of religion per se but look at me I am somebody Matthew 6:1 King James Version
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
“Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:5-6).
They preach one thing but do the opposite .
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John P Maher
I REALLY DO NOT BELIEVE that JESUS CHRIST WOULD APPROVE of the WAY CHRISTMAS HAS BEEN and STILL is CELEBRATED, COMMECIAL B S !
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Why not? Didn't Jesus receive: gold, frankincense and myrrh for Christmas? I don't remember any stories about anyone complaining about that.
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John P Maher
MAYBE, but DID HE JESUS MAKE A LIST,or EVEN ASK for IT, SCREAM, CRY, ANNOY EVERYONE AROUND HIM for IT, LIKE I'M SURE YOUR KIDS DO !
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Dave J
Is there a reason you are yelling? It doesn't make your point any stronger, in fact the opposite.
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John P Maher
YEAH DAVE J, I AM HARD of HEARING ALL the B S on HOW NOT MY KIDS, YEAH RIGHT, HYPOCRITES !
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Richard Steven Kopcho
Maybe some children are like that, but mine weren't. They were always thrilled with the season, slightly terrified of a guy who flew with reindeer and sneaked into the house when they were sleeping. Maybe it depends how the family presents and talks about Saint Nicholas. Sorry you have such a terrible opinion of children and their relationship to the king of the elves and the patron saint of children.
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Dave J
Of course if three wise women showed up they would have brought diapers, a casserole, and a certificate for a massage. :-)
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Charlene Newman
Christmas is a beautiful Energy and Spirit of caring for, giving to and helping othes. It is the one time of the year that many people feel more open to this Energy.
We often focus on the physical, but God is Energy and Spirit, Jesus said that we must serve God in Spirit and in Truth. '
What ever things that be of good report' serves us well to focus on; whether that is:
seeing the joy in small children on Christmas Day,
or love ones who are thankful and happy for family and friends gathering together,
or our honoring the Christ Child and what He came to teach us. We all do well to focus on the Spirit and Energy of Good (God).
Happy Holidays
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Alicia Szot
"Christmas" was NOT always about Jesus. The Winter Solstice/Yule was the Pagan holiday celebrated with decorations, parties and presents. When the church wanted to convince Pagans to join, they chose December 25 as being the "birth of Jesus" (or, the birth of the Son) because it was in close proximity to December 21, which was the "re-birth of the Sun". Here you go, Pagans! You don't even have to change your celebrations! Just do it a couple of days later.
To this day, cards are sent with "Yuletide Greetings" and the Yule log is burned.
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
I am a practitioner of a modern reconstruction of the beliefs and practices of my Germano-Norse ancestors.
The 12 Days of Yule is part of that, though I celebrate the 12 Nights of Yule, starting the night before Winter Longest Night (aka Winter Solstice). I use the convention of celebrating that as Mother's Night, where I hold a special observance honoring the memory of my mom, grandmother, great grandmothers and back.
The 12th Night of Yule is celebrated as the First Night of the New Year.
I left Christianity in 1975, so the Jesus vs Santa argument is of intellectual interest, not personal.
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Minister Mike
Well, now, boys and girls, let's give credit where credit is due.
• First up, there is more reliable documentation that Santa Clause (St. Nicholas) was a real flesh & blood person than there is that Jesus existed at all. • Next up, Christmas is, theoretically, a celebration of Jesus' birth, which, by the only account (christian bible) did not occur in December no matter what calendar is used.
• And, in which Bethlehem did the birth occur? • So, the real false-hood is by the very people who want to keep "christ in christmas". The holiday was observed (but not so-named) by a multitude of unchristian tribes and religions long before 0000 BCE/CE • So, boys and girls, Mesdames et Monsieurs, Ladies and Gentlemen, the real Grinch of Christmastide are christians, the very people who shovel their dung-filled lies about the holiday.So, ignore the grinches, enjoy the entire holiday season, celebrate any and all the holidays you wish, and spread cheer and goodwill to all.
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Dave J
I don't really see the difference between Jesus and Santa. Both are mythical figures imbued with a spirit of giving and caring for your fellow humans. In our house when the children were small, they never thought of Santa as a real person. Santa is a feeling, and as such he embodies the care we can feel. Jesus is the same way, he fellowshipped with everyone, helped the downtrodden, etc. If you want the season to be about your version of caring and Jesus, you better move it to August or September. And for Odin's sake, don't celebrate it on a day of the week named after some other religion's gods. (Friday, Saturday, etc.) Get over yourselves. Christmas is a commercial enterprise. Get with the spirit. Spend money! Give presents! Help those less privileged than you are! And have your self a merry little Christmas now.
The funny thing here is that Santa Claus (Saint Nicholas) is celebrated on the 5th (Netherland)/6th (Belgium) of December. This is done in the Netherlands and Belgium this way and by doing so it makes a clear difference between Christmas and "Sinterklaas". Christmas season starts in the Netherlands on the 6th of December, this is the time that most people start their Christmas decoration. It ends on 7th of January the day after Epiphany.
So this might be your solution, but it's going to be a difficult thing to solve in your country.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas_Day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)