Jesus vs. Santa Clause
By knicnax
@knicnax (2233)
Philippines
December 2, 2010 8:41pm CST
I don't believe in Santa Clause, I believe in Jesus, and it annoys me that everytime Christmas is near, there's this Santa Claus hype everywhere.
It makes me wonder why Santa Clause is such a hit with everyone? Is it our greed? The fact that we want to receive gifts or give gifts to the people we love? It's too material. I think Santa Clause is a symbol of being materialistic. Oh yes, you can say that he's the spirit of gift-giving and all that crap, but seriously, it should be Jesus, not Santa Clause.
It's Jesus' birthday, we're sharing gifts and food because we're celebrating his birth, we celebrating because the savior has finally arrived and will SHARE his life to us, save us from our sins.
It used to be that people here in my country have "belen" or the nativity scene, they have big parols (the bright star), to commemorate Jesus' birth, but now all I see are flashy Santa Clauses and reindeers.
Sorry for ranting here but I just feel really upset that Jesus is turning into a nonexistent character during Christmas.
5 people like this
17 responses
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
3 Dec 10
Hi Knicnax,
Actually, Christmas is not just a celebration of Jesus Christ's birthday which as Anora pointed out, is not even his real birthday. While many do celebrate his birthday on that day, Christmas is something different for many people. People have their own traditions and ways in which they celebrate the day while others do not celebrate it at all. It is up to YOU to make your Christmas be the Christmas you want it to be and to pass those beliefs and traditions down to your children who will take them, amend them or come up with an entirely different way to do things when they become adults. As for the decorations, well they are just material decorations. You can decorate your home any way that you like...including Nativity Scenes.
2 people like this
@knicnax (2233)
• Philippines
28 Dec 10
Hogfather? Why? Haha
I agree that people celebrate Christmas in how they feel like it, like how their religion demands it.
The problem is, the country I live in is predominantly Catholic. A large number are Christians, but still, we have the same "faith". We are mostly Christians.
It's upsetting that it seems that they have forgotten why we are celebrating Christmas. We have become so "westernized" already that we are forgetting our basics
@chelseabelle (197)
• United States
3 Dec 10
I celebrate christmas and I'm atheist. I don't feel that christmas is all about matriel objects either. I like it because of being around family and what nicholas did for other people. Helping them out.
2 people like this
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
3 Dec 10
Dear friend,
I see that Jesus made a Christmas Day, that Christmas Day made those Santa Clause, Moreover it is difficult to be as Jesus in life, no one wants to get hurt. But people like to be Santa Clause, at they get gifts to give to other or not.
2 people like this
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
3 Dec 10
Christmas is a religious holiday! It is the birth of Jesus! How did Christmas become so commercialized with the presence of santa Claus. The true spirit of christmas does not come from Santa. it comes from knowing jeus!2 people like this
@Apples24 (421)
• Singapore
3 Dec 10
Well, i believe in neither because i am an atheist. But Santa Claus ONCE EXISTED. Yes true my friend, Long time ago like 400 or 500 years ago, there was this guy called Saint Nicholas. He was a very kind person who went around giving presents and gifts to good behaving children. St. Nicholas(now gone) was ever since remembered by children as well as adults. As time went on, Saint Nicholas changed pronunciation to Santa Claus. It is also called Father Christmas in the UK.
Santa Claus was used by parents to stop their children from misbehaving. They would usually say, "Son, if you don't behave properly, Santa won't give you any presents this Christmas". And it made the children more cautious and was a good way in controlling their mischeif. By the way, why wouldn't you believe in Santa Claus
, he is the true spirit of christmas, he symbolizes christmas and was/is/and will ever be an icon of christmas. Of course, his reindeers too.
P.S Santa Claus is spelt without the "e" at the back
, he is the true spirit of christmas, he symbolizes christmas and was/is/and will ever be an icon of christmas. Of course, his reindeers too.
P.S Santa Claus is spelt without the "e" at the back2 people like this
@knicnax (2233)
• Philippines
28 Dec 10
It's not called "Clausmas", so he's not the real spirit of Christmas. Jesus also existed a long time ago.
The wrong thing here is what you mentioned, parents use Santa Claus to force their children into acting the way they want them to act, telling kids that they'll get something if they do this and that. It's like bribery
@Xansus (946)
• Bulgaria
3 Dec 10
Well i don't believe in Jesus , I do believe in Santa Clause . (What is Santa - Old men that give you gifts - its not necesery to be the one with the raindeers :P and all other magical stuff :) )
But well if you take it in religion view , don't the religion want the people to be happy , well most of them are on to top of their happiness :)
And well if you so believe in your religion , you can always pass on Christmas , nobody force you ;)
2 people like this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
3 Dec 10
It is sick and blasphemous, Christmas has become a festival of greed 
all the best urban
all the best urban1 person likes this
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
3 Dec 10
I'm with you, but, if you have kids try telling them that Jesus didn't bring them anything, you know, now that I mentioned it, I think I might use that excuse and tailor it to say something like Santa Clause got your list and Jesus saw that you were too greedy and he suggested that you focus on a family that doesn't have anything and steer your efforts towards them. Nah, my kids wouldn't go for that. I'm a Christian and I know that Christmas is about Jesus's birth and the gift giving is supposed to synonymous with the wise men giving gifts. I think its too hyped too but it also has to do with people not letting the season take them over. Its about reflecting on a miracle birth, not a black Friday deal. I'm with you on this one. Merry Christmas to you.
1 person likes this
@knicnax (2233)
• Philippines
3 Dec 10
I think this hype started with how Santa and Jesus were introduced to kids. Jesus was introduced as someone to be feared, and Santa was introduced as someone who gives gifts. Jesus will punish you were bad, santa will just give you coal.
It's really sad for me. Even my youngest brother sees christmas as a "santa event".
You're right, should be about celebrating life, love, parent's sacrifices for children.
I hope more people will see it the way we do
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
3 Dec 10
You don't have to overreact on this cuz only kids celebrate santa more than jesus during christmas. We don't have to put jesus displays everywhere cuz we only celebrate christmas once a year but we go to mass every sunday.
1 person likes this
@knicnax (2233)
• Philippines
3 Dec 10
It's not just about santa. It's about everything he symbolizes. Even if we go to mass on sunday, it's like your friends or family forgetting your birthday, and then they tell you that they see you everyday or once a week anyway, why should we focus on you on your birthday when we can focus on other things or people
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
3 Dec 10
No it's nothing like that at all. As i've said, we still praise jesus. Maybe in your place there are a lot of santa fanatics but here, we still celebrate december 25 as jesus' birthday while the kids celebrate santa.
@amora123 (85)
• Philippines
3 Dec 10
I do agree with your opinion. But Santa Clause is just and imagination of the young children and they really think that santa clause really exist. Maybe its just that during christmas season some people really forget about the true seasons of christmas. Some also says that Santa Clause is the childrens happiness during Christmas.. Oh Men! if they really try to tell their children that santa clause really don't exist, I think children will understand. It's just depend on the parents.
@knicnax (2233)
• Philippines
3 Dec 10
Yes, I agree. My siblings and I (except the youngest) Were brought up on the notion that Santa is either my mum or my dad. We were brought up in a way where the Christmas story is always told, and that we just find out about santa because our friends know santa.
I believe that this hype was really formed by parents to make their kids happy
@shattered (1728)
• Philippines
3 Dec 10
Well the hype is there because capitalist make money out of Santa and most capitalist won't mess with Jesus. They can exploit Santa all they want and it won't bother their conscience. But if they try exploiting Jesus they would have a problem. That is not to say that there is no sector exploiting Jesus or religion in general.
But the reason why santa is more hyped during Christmas is simply because Santa is all about fun, there is nothing religious about the image which makes it generally acceptable. While Jesus would automatically eliminate a sector of the market. Capitalist normally capitalize on religion during Holy Week instead of Christmas.
@shattered (1728)
• Philippines
3 Dec 10
Glad I made sense and was able to contribute!
1 person likes this
@Andyvil (793)
• Philippines
3 Dec 10
Actually December 24 isn't Jesus birthday. We catholics adapted that date since a lot of previous messiahs birthday were celebrated on that day. Anyway as for Santa Clause I think there is two side we should look into it. The negative side is that people usually spend a lot to buy into the idea of Santa Clause. As a kid I always looked forward to Christmas since we would get a gift from Santa Clause. I guess this is one of the good side. Kids get to enjoy Christmas because they look forward to what Santa has in store for them. It also makes kids behave a little bit cause they don't want to miss out on the gift from Santa.
1 person likes this
@knicnax (2233)
• Philippines
3 Dec 10
No offense meant here, but making children behave by telling them that they won't get decent gifts for Christmas makes the kids materialistic. I strongly dislike the idea of telling kids to behave then santa might give them the toy they wanted. Enjoying christmas because of the toys should not be the primary reason for enjoying Christmas. The reason should be because of love. Jesus is born to serve and spread love, we should do too.
@whitestich02 (1056)
• Philippines
9 Dec 10
dont compare the two of this. because Santa clause is not rally true. and Jesus is 100% true. i believe that we have a Jesus that give strength to us. and Santa clause only give a gift and of course it it not real. happy mylotting keep up a good work.
1 person likes this
@pancymavis (93)
• Philippines
3 Dec 10
Well i do not believe Santa Clause, i only believe in god for his presence in my life. For me, only kids think that there is a real Santa Clause. But for me it never become true. Because i never receive a Christmas gift coming from Santa Claus but Jesus always give abundant blessings and it is enough for me to have this CHRISTMAS.
1 person likes this
@gengeni (3308)
• Indonesia
17 Jan 11
Christmas is the time we checked again, what does the presence of Jesus Christ for ourselves and our life. I do not remember Santa Clause. In the church, the children were celebrating the birth of Jesus, with no Santa Clause. Santa Clause is a Christmas tale for children in the west. Positive lesson is that, on Christmas day, as Jesus is not concerned with himself, and the Santa Clause who spent his Christmas night trying to make others happy, we also must not be selfish. Do not just dissipate, but had to share with others, while pleasing God with our obedience. But the real example of Jesus is far more valuable than the paragon of Santa Clause in a fairy tale.
@ngoctruong92 (152)
• Vietnam
3 Dec 10
Hi. I never meet Santa clause or Jesus. Did anybody here meet them? I don't know much about jesus because i don't have religion. when i was a little, i received a gift. My mother said to me: " That was Santa Clause's gift". I have beleived that. But when I grow up, I realized that the santa Clause didn't give my that gift. that gift was from my mother. I don't angry about that. I just feel happy because my mother wants to make me smile and feel happy when i receive it from Santa Clause. Because every children always like to receive a gift from him. So, I don't believe in jesus or santa clause. But I still respect them.
@ngoctruong92 (152)
• Vietnam
3 Dec 10
Hi. I never meet Santa clause or Jesus. Did anybody here meet them? I don't know much about jesus because i don't have religion. when i was a little, i received a gift. My mother said to me: " That was Santa Clause's gift" I have beleived that. But when I grow up, I realized that the santa Clause didn't give me that gift. that gift was from my mother. I don't angry about that. I just feel happy because my mother wants to make me smile and feel happy when i receive it from Santa Clause. Because every children always like to receive a gift from him. So, I don't believe in jesus or santa clause. But I still respect them.
1 person likes this
