Santa Claus--Secular or Religious Symbol?

Santa--Secular or Religious Symbol

  • Religious

    Votes: 4 21.1%

  • Secular

    Votes: 15 78.9%
  • Total voters
    19
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Rose Immortal

Rose Immortal

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So, do you consider Santa Claus to be a religious symbol (Christian, specifically), or a secular (non-religious) one?

I saw this discussed today, and I was curious how people think of this.

I'll say what I think a bit later--I don't want to bias anybody's responses.
 
How in the world could anyone find Santa Claus to be a religious symbol?????
 
Rose Immortal:)

I guess Santa Claus is a symbol of regilious. Few people heard it and they told me. There was no Santa in thousands of years ago. I guess. And I'm not sure when Santa was invented. There was a story in Europe. Something to help poor children or sick child. I'm not sure. I don't remember the story. It's a symbol for Christmas. I just learned so much this year and last year from the Bible and God. It is very overwhelmed to me. So, I'm not sure about this story related to Santa Claus. So, I guess my answer to your question is regilious. I may be wrong. I don't know.

Momoftwo:)
 
"Santa" is pagan and should be done away with. Period.
 
The person who helped poor and sick people was St Nicholas - not Santa Claus!

And Santa Claus is not pagan.
 
For me, St Nicholas is a religious person who was a patron saint for the children. He comes on December 6th, visiting houses and leaving presents next to the plates of cookies and hay in shoes for the donkey. Then we have Christ Child who comes on December 24th, leaving presents to good children. Bad children get beat up by Black Peter. Then we have the Holy Three Kings on 6th or 7th January. They leave small presents as well. I usually have my Christmas tree up as close to 3rd Advent Sunday, and take it down after Day of Holy Three Kings.
 
This is going to seem a little brash but *deep breath*

I think Santa Claus is a fat old ficticious bastard who's purpose is nothing more than to distract consumers away from the religious aspect of Christmas and focus on consumerism and the fueling of seasonal capitalism.
 
Santa Claus came from St Nick. It became traditional since then. I had a good memory and want to keep this traditional alive for next thousand years. Of course it is symbol of a religion.
 
*ahem* Since some of you know that I used to live in Alaska...so, here's the real Santa Claus who live in North Pole, Alaska.

Here's a picture of Santa Claus:
180pxnorthpolealaskasantaclaus.jpg


To learn about him, read below:
Santa Claus' home:
http://www.santasmailbag.org/

Santa Claus' home address:
http://local.yahoo.com/results?fr=dd-local-more&stx=santa+claus+live&csz=North+Pole,+AK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Pole,_Alaska
 
Do any of us actually see Santa carry a religious symbol with him wherever he goes?

Richard
 
If the real St. Nicholaus was truly a man of God, I am sure he would not want his image used to steal attention from the Baby Jesus at Christmas time.
 
OK, now that the debate is well underway, I'm going to weigh in.

I think that while Santa Claus may have started with religious origins (the generosity of St. Nicholas), the idea has been distorted into a secular one that bears little relationship to the original, religious premise. It seems to promote the worship of commercialism and gift-giving.

Further evidence that Santa Claus is now secular--even when religion was banned in the Soviet Union, there was a totally secular "gift-giver" they used there.

After this debate goes on for awhile longer, I'm going to explain a bit of why I asked this question.
 
Santa has religious origins and got secularized. I found a lot about the origins of Santa here.
Santa is a composite of Saint Nicholas and Father Christmas. The name Santa Claus came from the Dutch Sinterklaas, which was based on the saint. That comes from when the Dutch owned what is now New York. Father Christmas goes back to Old Winter, which has elements from the Norse god Odin. The Christmas Spirit of the Present was based on Father Christmas. The tradition of leaving food for Santa is the Old Winter part of Santa. In pagan Britian, an old man the community would go around and get food from homes dressed up as Old Winter. Respecting Old Winter would make it more likely for the winter season to be easier on you. The American Santa got exported to Britian where it merged with Old Winter to make the present Father Christmas.
Then people who sell things like toys used Santa to promote business by doing things like have people dress up like Santa in stores to attract kids and to encourage parents to buy stuff that the kids ask for.
 
There are at least 700 Saints or maybe more...

And the reason why St. Nicholas is so famous is because
he gave toys and gifts to many people...

He made toys and stuff.

So if you guys do what St. Nicholas did, make toys
for a living and give toys to children and all...

Then you'll be famous forever... Ain't that neat.

Even Saint Valentine was famous for giving candies to people.

Somebody said that Jesus didn't born on Christmas Day, he was born
in February or March... or close to Easter.
 
I was surprised when I read your link over Germany because none of that word "Pelzmärtel" on the list but Christkind, Weihnachtsmann & Nikolaus, RedFox...

I searched to find out about Pelzmärtel in English website but I can't find them... I'm surprised to know that Pelzmärtel is not important to the world. :eek: I find no English for Pelzmärtel to translate... It's similar as Claus Santa.

Well we have 2 different Claus Santa accord religions ground here in Germany. Evangelistic/Protestants Germans celebrate with Lantern - songs and meet and greet Pelzmärtel on the street at 11th November every year like this. http://www.hannesrall.com/illustration/bilder_kinder_2_6/grossbilder/Laterne-4c-4.jpg
They received packet of oranges, nuts, chocolates, lebkuchen (gingerbread) etc. from Pelzmärtel (Claus Santa). We have hot Gluehwein & children punch to serve with hot wienerwurst with roll, mustard to celebrate on the street - (Of course other beliefs are welcome to join them). This is Martinstag (St. Martin's Day)

Those hot drink to keep our body warm during cold weather. Children punch for children and Gluehweine for adult are everywhere between November and January - they sells at every Christmas markets. mmmmhhhh
Receipe
Kinder punsch (Children punch)
http://www.germany-info.org/relaunch/culture/life/kinder-punsch.html

receipe Gluehwein
http://drink.allrecipes.com/AZ/Glhwin.asp

I involved with them every year since kindergarten to school.

Catholic Germans celebrate at Nikolaus Day on 6th December every year. We don't involve with them but Pelzmärtel and Lantern at 11th November.


I would say yes, Santa Claus come from kind of religious.
 
CyberRed said:
*ahem* Since some of you know that I used to live in Alaska...so, here's the real Santa Claus who live in North Pole, Alaska.

Here's a picture of Santa Claus:
180pxnorthpolealaskasantaclaus.jpg


To learn about him, read below:
Santa Claus' home:
http://www.santasmailbag.org/

Santa Claus' home address:
http://local.yahoo.com/results?fr=dd-local-more&stx=santa+claus+live&csz=North+Pole,+AK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Pole,_Alaska
Click to expand...

I would lovveeee to have my children to meet real look Santa Claus like this. I can't stand to see 'fake look' Santa Claus because they wear wool cotton beard... :eek:

I fall in love when I saw the picture of one American member's little cute daughter with real look Santa Claus at other forum at last year. I wish to have like this here in Germany.
 
kuifje75 said:
For me, St Nicholas is a religious person who was a patron saint for the children. He comes on December 6th, visiting houses and leaving presents next to the plates of cookies and hay in shoes for the donkey. Then we have Christ Child who comes on December 24th, leaving presents to good children. Bad children get beat up by Black Peter. Then we have the Holy Three Kings on 6th or 7th January. They leave small presents as well. I usually have my Christmas tree up as close to 3rd Advent Sunday, and take it down after Day of Holy Three Kings.
Click to expand...


:lol: you has good memory...

Yes, 1st Advent start on 27th November but more and more Germans put Xmas tree at 2nd than 3rd Advert. They send their children out to Grandparent or whatever to leave parent alone to decorate Xmas decoration on the tree to surprise the children when they come back from outing and tell them that it's Claus Santa who help to decorate the tree.
Old Germans during old tradition put 1 to 2 days before before 24th December. They swap the presents on 24th December evening. I don't like it but I can understand that this is German custom.

To me, I would love to have my children to help me to decorate Xmas tree at 1st or 2nd Advert (Most trees are deliver to any stores few days before 2 Advert). My children confused their mates about tree decoration because they helped me to decorate the tree every year because their mates thought Claus Santa help their parents to decorate the tree... :Oops: We open our presents on 25th December (early of morning). (British custom)

Holy Three Kings on 6th January 2006. Yes, we pulled tree down after 6th January.
 
Reba said:
If the real St. Nicholaus was truly a man of God, I am sure he would not want his image used to steal attention from the Baby Jesus at Christmas time.
Click to expand...


As far as I know that there're 10 month calendar instead of 12... I didn't know either it's true or not. Nobody knows when Jesus born... :dunno: I really don't know why 24th or 25th are choose to celebrate on Jesus's "birthday".
 
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