From Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus
From Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus
Saint
Nicholas:
The creation of Santa
Claus has a deep path into history and crossed even continents. While it is a
very interesting subject to research, unfortunately it is not a good evolution
in time of history and religion. It all started with our beloved Saint Nicholas.
He was a bishop of Myra (present name Demre), known worldwide for his
generosity towards the people in need and poor, love for children, care for
sailors, becoming a Patron Saint of sailors and children eventually. He is
considered to be a role model for the Christians. He placed Jesus in all his
life. Therefore we should also place him in every aspect of our life.
The celebration of
Saint Nicholas offering during winter gifts to children is traced back towards
the Roman Pagan Saturnalia Festival. His appearance in the Occidental world was
a mixture of God Odin, Saturn which had a white beard and owned magical powers
such as flight. He also ensured that all the children behave, pray and received
the presents. By Renaissance period he was the most popular Saint. In 16
Century in Northern Europe, after the Protestant Reformation appeared, the
people lost the desire to worship Saints. Therefore the traditions for Saint
Nicholas and other worship ways of Saints disappeared.
Although, despite this,
Saint Nicholas still remained in the consciousness of people and someone had to
deliver presents to children during the 6 December date. So they came up with
the idea to move this during Christmas period and give this task to Baby Jesus.
The problem was that an infant carrying weight is not accurate and as a baby he
was not intimidating. Therefore was created an assistant to do the threatening
and carrying the presents. Some of the Germanic characters were based on the
previous Saint Nicholas but giving up all the religious aspects from the feast
or the Saint himself.
The most famous
antagonist is Krampus, which originates in the Alpine region of Austria, he is
of pagan origin from the Winter Solstice, later being revived in the Christian
traditions. He is portrayed as a half man – half goat. In the early December,
children were waiting for the arrival of Saint Nicholas with gifts and treats
for them. But if they were bad children (in the perspective of the parent's
education) Krampus will come and chase them, if he didnapped them he would
bring them to depth of hell with him. This is called Krampusnacht (Krampus
Night), when adults dress during night as the character and visit children's
homes, chasing and hitting them for being naughty. Another celebration which
happened is Krampus Lauf (Krampus Run), many people dressed as him and running
in the streets. Was for grown men while the other had as destination children.
Unfortunately both traditions continue until today.
Other characters
counterparts from the Nordic Mythology associated with Krampus are Belsnickle,
a man covered in fur, which gives presents alone while visiting and combines
alone the positive and negative characteristics. He carried a rod in his hand
to beat children, but also has a pocket full of goodies for children such as
nuts or candy.
Knecht Rupecht is a
companion of the Saint. He asks the children if they can pray, if not they are
hit with his bag of ash, if they are good they receive nuts and gingerbread. In
other versions of this character he gives to bad children coal, sticks, while
the behaved children received sweets from the Saint. He also has a stick for
parents to give them to punish them. In some versions he appears alone while in
others he is a sidekick of Saint Nicholas.
Zwarte Piet is another
companion of Saint but in the Low Countries. His earliest representation was in
1850 as an African Moor from Spain. Those which portrayed him had to use dark
make-up, curly wig, Renaissance clothes and a bright red lipstick. Due to the
racial controversy towards Africans now people stopped wearing make-up which
suggests the specific ethnic figure. In traditional story he offers candy to
good children and punished the other category. The punishment was abolished
since 1960s.
Christkind/Kris Krigle
had the task to deliver gifts to nice children in the Swiss and German
cultures. He is seen as an angel that accompanies Saint Nicholas on this
celebration period. In Scandinavian cultures, an elf named Jultomten delivered
presents in a sleigh with goats. The English stories tell us that Father
Christmas visits each during Christmas Eve to give the children's presents and
filling the stockings with treats. In the French version we have Père Nöel
which fills the shoes for children. In Italy there is an old woman named
Befana, with a witch appearance, flying on a broomstick delivering to children
presents.
Saint
Nicholas Moving to the New World:
The Dutch people loved
Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas in their culture, so when they moved to the New
Amsterdam (present New York) in 17 Century, they continued the custom of
Sinterklaas offering the presents to children on 6 December. From Father
Christmas/Père Nöel/Christkind the baby symbolizing Baby Jesus to later
Sinterklaas, our Saint has turned into the modern Santa Claus.
The initial holidays were nothing like today. They
were ignored by the locals of New World and honored similar to Saturnalia, the
Roman Pagan festival. It was celebrated with alcohol and libertine actions
which expanded to England as well and was no particular gift bringer. In the 19
Century this changed because of authors desire to make Christmas as a family
celebration by reviving and shaping Saint Nicholas.
In 1773/1774 a New York
newspaper published that Dutch people commemorated the death of Saint Nicholas.
In 1804, John Pintard distributed engraved woodcuts of Santa Claus. In 1809,
Washington Irvin published the book "Knickerbocker's History of New
York". The book belongs to the satire category of politics and history.
There Saint Nicholas is described as a mischievous man that smokes pipe, flies
with a wagon upon rooftops and delivers through chimneys presents.
Knickerbocker's History of New York
The
Creation of Santa Claus:
In 1821 an anonymous
poem was published in New York named "Old Santeclaus with Much
Delight". It was the 1st description of modern Santa riding a sleigh
pulled by a reindeer. This poem had 8 illustrations in a book with title
"The Children's Friend: A New-Year's Present, to the Little Ones from Five
to Twelve". It was removed all religious connection with the Saint and
dressed like how we know Santa today. He delivered presents to behaved children
but had a birch rod that was used by parents when children misbehave.
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In 1822 the famous poem by Clement Clark Moore was created, named initially "A Visit from St. Nicholas", which turned later into "Twas the Night Before Christmas". It was published anonymously in the Troy Sentinel (in New York) on 23 December 1823. He claimed authorship only in 1824, but after his life ended, some claim that someone else had written it not him. Because of its popularity, Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus were linked permanent with this holiday. Even if was established in America, Santa took reverse migration towards Europe and adopting the local names like Father Christmas. In the popular poem Santa is described as a chubby jolly old elf coming on a miniature sleigh with 8 reindeers. They were named: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner/Dunder/Donder, Blitzen/Blixem/Blixen/Blicksem.
Poems of Clement Clark Moore:
Old Santeclaus by Clement Clark Moore
Between 1820 and 1840's
stores began to popularize the image of Santa Claus by creating advertisements.
Were separate sections at newspapers for this holiday with the new character
Santa Claus. In 1841 a Philadelphia shop decided to create a life sized Santa
Claus which generated a new passion until everywhere was a live version of
Santa. In the Victorian period Saint Nicholas was depicted with Bishop Clothes,
which was inspiration for the “Ghost of Christmas Present” character in Charles
Dickens story: “A Christmas Carol” in 1843.
In 1849 appears a short
story named “A Christmas Legend” by James Rees, here it is mentioned the first
time the wife of Santa. In this story, an old couple, carrying package with
gifts in back, they offer them to the shelter during Christmas Eve as unknown
travelers. The next day the children found the gifts and the couple was
revealed to be the host daughter with husband in disguise, not Santa and his
wife. In 1851 it is the first time when the name of Mrs. Santa Claus is written
in a story from Yale Literary Magazine. In 1857 was released another short
story about Santa Claus in Harper’s Weekly named “The Wonders of Santa Claus”.
Thomas Nast, a Bavarian immigrant, political cartoonist at Harper’s Weekly, designed the first contemporary image of Santa Claus in 1863, which was a model to further representations of this character.
In 1902 author Frank L.
Baum created the book “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus”. In this book
are listed in paired rhymes 10 reindeers: Flossie – Glossie, Racer – Pacer,
Fearless – Peerless, Ready – Steady, Feckless – Speckless.
In 1931 illustrator Haddon Sundblom defined
the Santa's image when he created the Coca Cola Santa Claus, based on Thomas
Nast’s illustrations. In the 1939 book written by Robert L. May for the
Montgomery Ward department store, it was mentioned a new reindeer named Rudolf.
Later was created a cartoon of it in 1948 and later the famous song under title
"Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer".
Santa Claus, a winter
character, loved by many, it is said to live at the North Pole (Greenland),
while others mention Lapland from Finland that would be a more appropriate
place. He lives along with his wife, Mrs. Claus, where they create toys all the
year with the help of their elves and deliver the presents, flying with his 8
reindeer sleigh, to children during Christmas Eve. Children make a wish list
which they send to his address, Santa also has a list of his own with good and
naughty children. Climbing on roof, going down through chimney he puts the
gifts under the tree. The children should be sleeping but before that to leave
a glass of milk and a plate with cookies for him. This celebration is it a
combination with commercial interests and with the family union and holiday.
Authors of 19 Century
decided to give Santa a wife also named Mrs. Claus. Traditionally is believed
that her name is Gertrude also Jessica. She was created to define the role of
women during that period. She also had as role to debate the gender and
politics topics of that time. The women prepared these family celebrations also
organized the community and the church ceremonies.
A short analysis will be written further about
the assistants of Santa Claus: The reindeers and the elves. They appeared first
time in literature in the story of Louisa May Alcott "Christmas
Elves" in 1850 although she never published it, it was discovered after
her death, therefore had no influence over the Santa phenomenon. In 1873, in
Godey's Lady's Book, appear images with elves in workshops and Santa surrounded
by toys and elves. In 1876 "The House of Santa Claus, a Christmas Fairy
Show for Sunday Schools" by Austin Thompson received additional
acceptance. In Moore's poem Santa is also described as an elf. Another story
related to elves is "The Elves and the Shoemaker" publisher by Grimm
Brothers in 1812.
From a scientific point
of view elves are considered to not be real, but in fact they do exist, just
not in the way we fantasize them in stories. Elves and dwarfs, along with
gnomes are usually associated with crafting. Elves in the North - East Europe
had pagan roots. In the winter solstice exists a Scandinavian character Nisse/Tomte
(mythological figure described as short, long, white beard, with a conical cap
in gray or red color, their appearance is similar to garden gnomes).
From a historical
perspective are 3 approaches of these elves: firstly they are seen as demons,
second approach is that they were more or less humans and the third approach
were seen as neutral angels banished by God on Earth instead of Hell. Elves can
be a symbolism for Indigenous people as metaphors, or other ethnic people.
People that had specific illnesses such as dwarfism or William Syndrome were
also associated with these mythical creatures like dwarfs or elves. In history
there is a type of elf named Alfar from the Ancient Norse Mythology. It was
believed to occupy the unseen kingdom between the 2 worlds.
The elves which help him are a combination of
more stories. Kobold is a mythical sprite (a fairy like creature) which is
similar to a goblin mixed with an elf. The Christmas elves are usually
represented with green/red cloth with big pointy hats and elvish ears. They are
usually depicted as humanoids but sometimes as mammals with tails. The
Christmas elves are a combination of Kobold, Nisse and other Nordic and Celtic
Mythological legends. In the Santa's story the elves have as duty to take care of
the reindeers and sleigh, create the good and naughty children list, to craft
toys for children and assure everything is in right order.
Regarding the reindeers
they were a symbol to Northern Europe. The Sami, Indigenous people, used these
animals for meat and milk production also for transport. These reindeers belong
to the species "Rangifer Tarandus", native to Arctic, North Europe,
Siberia and North America. Santa's reindeers are also female because only the
females keep their antlers during winter.
Reindeers appeared in
America in the middle of 1800's with the help of an entrepreneur named Sheldon
Jackson, that wanted to help the Inuit population survive. Because of
commercial fishing the food received from whales was dropping considerably and
they suffered starvation. Reindeers seemed a good choice for the Indigenous
population, so the entrepreneur Carl Lomen decided to create a reindeer brand
as alternative to the beef meat and the fur.
In 1926 he persuaded
the Macy's Department Store to create a Christmas parade led by Santa Claus and
the reindeers. Next to Santa and the animals were also the Sami population in
traditional clothes. Soon after similar parades appeared in the US and Santa
with his sleigh and reindeers became a symbol for the winter celebrations. It
is a probability that Carl Lomen might have created fake letters in name of
children for the local newspapers, to confess the desire to bring Santa Claus
and his reindeers to visit them.
In 1920's Lomen
Reindeer Co. Owned more then 250.000 reindeers and Carl Lomen gained the title
of "The Reindeer King". Unfortunately for him his company shortly had
to come to an end. The reindeer meat was never favored by the American
population and the Congress made a law, at insistence of the Cattle interest
group, in 1937 that only the Indigenous population of America could own
reindeers and exploit the animals for their benefits. Therefore the company
came to its final.
Psychological
Perspective over this feast:
Fairy stories are
essential to the universe of the child. It helps them educate their mind,
develop their imagination and creativity and to observe unconscious ideas.
Until 7 years the child absorbs everything around him like a sponge and does
not have any judgement whether that aspect is negative or positive, it takes it
as it is. He will reproduce everything he sees or hears and even when he will
be an adult he will still practice that thing despite the fact that it may not
be good. It is very important the environment on which our child is developed.
The fairy tales also
have the role to expose the child how the world they live in it is constructed.
All these fairy tales have the role to alter the child's mind and perspective
of the world. All this can actually change the views upon the world that he
belongs to. They also have the capacity to teach children how to behave also
and they will imitate what they see/hear/read at these stories.
At idealistic level all
that sounds great, but unfortunately there are several issues with fairy tales.
Even if some agree that negative events that occur in the stories are
beneficial for the children to learn that not everything is good in this world,
I personally strongly disagree with this affirmation. I will mention some
examples of why it is important to be selective when you show the child
inappropriate situations.
One major example is
Cinderella's story. It is mentioned that one step sister cuts part of her foot
to enter in the famous shoe. Another version it says that the evil step mother
is forced to dance wearing heated iron shoes until she dies. In another earlier
version it is said that the evil step mother and sisters get their eyes pecked
out by some birds. Now to look at these situations realistic on how can
influence a child in a negative way: first of all it can generate the image
that all step mothers and siblings are evil, which is not the case since are
many that love their half siblings or adopted children. Another aspect that is
essential is the materialistic and superficiality of the prince charming.
He meets Cinderella in
one night, barely talks with her, feels good and then they loose contact. Then
he searches within the kingdom for the owner of that shoe. Realistically
speaking it is impossible to be just 1 person with that size in shoe, unless it
had deformed feet and was made custom order the shoe. The fact that he wants a
beautiful woman without talking to her and see if they have anything in common
and wanting to make her the queen shows how superficial he is, so why would
someone teach a child that is good to be in the position of a man looking for a
pretty woman and situation of a woman accepting to be considered just to be a
pretty face and body for a man. Sure, we know Cinderella comes from an
educated, noble family both spiritual and materialistic but that is a rare case
especially in contemporary times.
Another thing that can
teach a child a wrong ideal is to chop pieces from you as woman for a man to
like you. Unfortunately we have in present times all these esthetic surgeries
which sadly are most of them a failure and people are looking deformed not
beautiful. In parts of Asia are extensions at bones from legs to be taller,
maxillary reconstruction and double eyelid instead of mono eyelid. These
surgeries are even worse for health and more painful then a toe/heel cut from
the step sister honestly.
Can be more examples from other stories and
animated movies but I think these are enough to prove my point why parents
should be selective and first check themselves those before showing the child
to be influenced in a wrong way. Even if some of these are traditional stories
which we all grew up with this does not mean they are healthy. Especially from
0 to 7 years is essential to protect the child from anything that can alter
their perception in this world. After 7 years appear first conscious thoughts
so gradually can be added new things in the child's life.
Another major issue
with fairy tales, is that they are not real and they create an illusion in the
child's mind and generate real feelings for a fake thing and when they discover
it is not real they suffer a major disappointment and hurt them in real this
suffering for something that is not real. So is not healthy to expose the child
to some events, stories, characters which can do them more harm then good.
Besides the fairy tales
concept another major issue with the Santa Claus (which he is not a real
person, it is based on a real human, the Saint Nicholas, but everything is
altered at him so they have no connection in present time), is the
psychological abuse done to the child because of this celebration. The major
issue is with parents threatening and beating the children to behave so that
they receive presents. Especially with creepy fake characters which I mentioned
above why is not good to invest in that. Are many reasons why is not healthy to
treat a child this way.
Firstly people
associate spanking with something less violent then hitting. Well hitting and
spanking is same thing and is domestic violence, also the word minimizes the
gravity of the situation and side effects caused to the child. Secondly
associating the word "spanking" for a child's behavior correction
with the sexual fetish of being spanked by partner is wrong at so many levels.
A better term for spanking would be: hitting/physical punishment/ corporal
punishment.
The child is already
scared and understands something is wrong based on your reactions, voice,
expressions as parents and your scolding. Beating/slapping or anything similar
can cause him more damage. Also a correct approach is to explain with arguments
why something is bad and let the child understand the meaning not just say no
or hit him. Children are not idiots and they understand and feel more then us
adults.
If they refuse to
listen there are other ways of punishment such as not giving them access to
something they want (TV, going outside, toys etc.). There are many methods and
ways to get away from a situation with the child without having to access such
extreme actions. If you had to beat, threaten or make scandal you are the one
which lost the control as adult. Hitting a child is a failure as human and
parent.
Many adults forget how
they were as children and think like they were born yesterday without mistakes,
they forget that they might have done same or worse things in the position of a
child. Because of this a child's behavior, actions, words are often
misinterpreted. Their world is a new reason to explore everything without
thinking much of the consequences. That is why until 18 years and in some
places at 21 years, they become major. Until then they don't have judgement to
know the right and the wrong. They need barriers from parents to understand the
limits which they do not agree with them and will try to break that limit. For
example to a child an empty white wall is a perfect canvas to draw, for us
adults it’s a wall that offers us protection and money invested in it to look
so clean. A child, especially a very little one will not have the perception of
money and time to understand is not good to ruin it with painting on it, hit it
or even make holes.
In the adult's
perspective, they believe that the child is purposely annoying and shaming the
parent so he gets angry and wishes to punish the child. What in most cases the
adult calls "misbehave" is actually a misinterpretation of the
child's action or words or simply a mistake he didn't know about before
correctly and did it wrongly. To majority parents is easier to believe that
hitting a defenseless child is an emotional and mental release from the shame
or anger they had been through.
The common
misconception is that the adult believes that this "correction" will
make the child stop and do better next time. Well unfortunately this is not the
case. Not to mention that such type of abuse at children can generate hate and
disgust towards parents, even unconsciously. The adult believes that when they
assault the child will stop and they feel justified and released from the
stress. They have the impression that this strategy works and needs to be
applied again because the child is a weak, direct target.
Physical punishment is
the result often of the adult's failure of supervising the child and protect
him from danger. When this happens, unconsciously the adult is thinking that he
failed as parent/supervisor/care taker and appear feelings of shame and regret
that will not keep him in peace if something goes wrong. The main task of the
adult which has the responsibility to care for the child is to offer and make
him a safe environment. Is impossible 100% to keep it secure and never make
mistakes but in most cases is possible to avoid and anticipate dangerous or
shameful situations.
When these do happen,
is the adult's responsibility to solve the problem without physical or
emotional harm. Most people which apply the physical force they received it
also when they were children and even if they hate it or say they would never
do it with their children, they end up finally doing that. The use of physical
and emotional abuse towards children has deep roots in history. One of the
oldest representations in archaeology is the ceramic vase with Goddess
Aphrodite spanking her child from Ancient Greece.
So that old it is the
child physical punishment. Throughout centuries, children were objectified and
seen as inferior beings, a property of parents to do what they please with
them. Even the expression "I made you I kill you" is a result of such
old mentality.
Maltreatment was the
main education and correction for the child to make him civilized with beatings
and worse correction methods. God gave us the children as a gift to take care
of a life, a soul to guard and teach them to survive as adults, also offering
us too life lessons to become better humans.
Children will generate
a dependence like an attachment over the adult because they can't survive on
their own, especially at very young age. So when the child experience any form
of pain from the adult which is supposed to offer him support, keep them safe,
is one of the worst kinds of experiences and pain he endures.
Their nervous system,
designed to keep them secure, will start being shape around the constant
threat, creating the brain circuitry to be vigilant, reactive and irregular. At
the same time it enters in conflict with their attachment and dependence, forcing
to maintain the relationship with the abuser, so will generate excuses to
survive this loop: "it is not that bad", "I deserved it",
"it made me a better person" and other reasons to justify the abuse
and being able to survive it. Children will learn to dissociate these negative
feelings and considering pain and fear a natural interior feeling. It was
proven in several ways that hitting the child will create a trauma and there is
no evidence that such punishment changed the original behavior.
There are very obvious and significant side effects
of this correction at both adults and children: lower moral reasons; increasing
childhood aggression and antisocial behavior; going external the issues the
person has and targets other living beings or objects; internal behavior issues
such as anxiety and depression; mental health problems; damaged parent - child
relationship and cognitive ability with academic achievements; very low
self-esteem; high chance to be a victim of physical abuse or himself becoming an
abuser; alcohol & substance problems and list goes on to other similar side
effects. All these can occur as child and continue them as adults or can appear
when the person becomes an adult. And the higher and deeper the experiences the
child has the higher the impact it is. Other side effects include: increased
risk of physical illness like cancer, mental illness, diabetes, heart disease,
early death, suicidal thoughts or attempts, lower educational and professional
capabilities, reduced income. Studies show that children which suffered from
physical punishment have the same circuitry as the one which were physically
abused. To the child both are same. When the parent hits the child they are causing
fundamental, serious damage to the child's brain and heart.
As a conclusion. When
an adult hits another adult it is considered assault. When an adult hits a
child is considered correction. This couldn't be more wrong, especially that an
adult views different the life and also has power to fight back in many ways, a
child is defenseless and has no power to fight, is even worse because his
organism is still growing and the damage done to the body and emotional side is
even worse then to an adult.
Research shows that
such type of punishment is associated with increased criminal records and
delinquency, antisocial behavior, aggression towards other people and
internalize the issues, hiding them with different actions. Adults that have
experienced this as child even if they desire or not they will most likely
apply the same techniques to their own child and continuing this toxic loop
where innocent souls suffer. They also learn that using violent verbal and
physical ways is the key to solve the problems.
Another issue is that
spanking the child generates the sexual fetish of desire to be spank or to
spank the partner as sign of expressing affection and dominance over the other
person. This along with fairy tales and characters, making them interesting and
appealing to the child or creep them will only generate even worse negative
impact of the interior of the child and will become a dysfunctional adult, with
psychopath and sociopath tendencies. Other side effects from such actions can
be: bigger impulsiveness and no self-control, risky sexual behavior as teenager
and tendencies to enjoy forced sex and sexual coercion.
Religious
Perspective over Santa Claus and the Story:
As we know, Saint
Nicholas is a very popular and beloved Saint. He is a role model for a
Christian person how to live within the Christian way. At first glance it all
seemed nice that, despite the Protestant Reformation, he still was in the
consciousness of people and that they took him to America and honoured it.
Well things are not
that sweet. In fact are very serious and did a lot of damage to the
consciousness of minds all this walk-through of Saint Nicholas - Santa Claus.
Most important aspect
is that people had lost the desire to worship the religion and stop following
the Saints in the Renaissance period. Giving up anything religious about this
celebration and taking out the belief and customs out of Saint Nicholas is an
extremely insult towards the Saint. He had lived all his life for God and
Christianity and by taking his religion and belief out in the context just for
some people to enjoy some presents and have meals and feasts home for personal
pleasure is extremely offensive and major disrespect towards Saint Nicholas.
Another issue is with
the name "St. Nick/Saint Nick". Saint Nicholas is not your brother or
best friend to be so familiar towards him and call him Nick/Nick Boy/Old Nick
and other appellations.
Another extremely major
sin and offense is that within this celebration converting our Savior, Jesus
Christ, into a delivery toy boy/courier is something that should have never
happened, and even worse, being continued.
Another disrespect is
the associating with anything pagan Saint Nicholas and Jesus Christ by adding
them pagan sidekicks. Even worse some of those are demons such as Krampus and
his corresponding Germanic characters (taking children to Hell for behaving
inappropriate)... in Christianity it is considered that all children are gift
by God and that they are innocent and pure. God doesn't want even adults to go
to Hell and wishes they repent and change their life...how could he accept a
pagan, demonic character be his sidekick or a Saint's assistant to beat
children if they misbehave or even worse to send them to Hell...
Another issue and insult towards Saint
Nicholas is the transformation from a serious, devoted Christian Bishop,
helping people for better life and less suffering into a goofy, old man, which
looks cartoonish. Including in poems and characteristics later words like
"rascal", "mischievous" very offensive towards the Saint,
even worse smoking pipe, something against Christianity to promote vicious
habits.
More about this is the
fact that it wasn't enough that Saint Nicholas took appearance before
Renaissance period as pagan Gods Odin, Thor and others and sending gifts to
children, but now exists chocolate Santas dressed as bishops (especially in
Nordic Occidental Europe) and in parades, something against the religion to use
sacred clerk clothes which he does religious rituals for such cheap Winter
Carnival/Fairground.
Another issue regarding
this is that you are not allowed to throw at trash religious objects, they are
either burned or buried, so by consuming such products and throwing the package
at trash (regardless if is the Holy Cross or the clothes of the Santa) is still
a sin. Same goes with the parade clothes when they face deterioration.
And the most important
sin and disrespect done by this Santa Carnival obsession during winter is the
absence of preparation and the celebration itself of Nativity of Jesus Christ.
Therefore as a
conclusion from a religious Christian Orthodox point of view this celebration
should not exist due to the arguments mentioned above. Since it is in the
consciousness of everyone and is almost impossible to remove it completely, it
is best that people learn the truth about this historical walk-through of Saint
Nicholas being misrepresent as the false image of him as the new Santa Claus,
and to put accent on Jesus Christ Nativity and Saint Nicholas religious
celebrations. It is not that big problem if someone wishes to keep as decor a
Santa or listen to some Christmas Carols, since the industry implemented them
in our consciousness, especially since we were little, but should not be the
principal aspect of our lives, like how it happens now in the society.
