Santa Clause, Christmas, and Religion

There are many people who have problems celebrating holidays, especially Christian holidays that are so commercialized. It is ridiculous to see chocolate bunnies and reindeer permeate seasons that are supposed to be so hallowed. How can we as humans cope? Should this feel like such a moral dilemma?

There are so many reasons why Christian religious days are controversial. Santa Claus is a drop in the hat. For example, how many of you knew that the Christian Sabbath was originally on Saturday? Yes, that's right, for hundreds of years, we have been resting and spending the day honoring God on the first day, not on the seventh, the traditional day of rest set down for us by God. This change came about when Constantine I (the first Christian Roman Emperor) decided to try to convert his people. He thought that by changing the day of worship to the same day that was used to honor the sun god Sol, it would make an easier transition.

Christmas was the same way. It was originally celebrated in a completely different season, but this same emperor changed the day to coincide with a pagan festival. During this festival, there was much merry making and even the decorating of trees. This was another attempt to make the pagans more willing to convert. What, then, is our true Christian Christmas celebration?

While Santa is not mentioned in the bible, his principles are. Giving and sharing what you have with others are two principles that were taught in both the Old and New Testaments. The real "Santa" was born in Turkey hundreds of years ago. He was a modest man who set out to make and give a wooden toy to each of the children in his village. Today he is all but forgotten. His mission to make each of his neighbors happy has been forgotten. It is a modest deed incomparable to a world wide trek by sleigh, but the sentiment is just as powerful. However, even Santa seems a bit tarnished in this world of store bought chocolate reindeer and plastic elves. What started out as a way for an elderly man to spread some Christmas joy has turned into a multimillion dollar marketing plan that has diminished the true holiday.

I suppose the important aspect of a holiday is not when it takes place, but the real point is that it does take place and that it takes place for the right reasons.