“Reason for the Season” might just rhyme words that don’t make sense if you're materialistically o'er head for Christmas. Much more if you don't have a single penny to dodge just a simple omelet for the eve of the celebration. You might as well raise your head up the starry night and wonder who would you whisper to – a jolly old man with his sledge led by red nosed reindeers or the Big Guy above who once shivered at the cold of the night when he assumed a human body? It would be easy to think that Christmas is a joyful celebration and tempting to associate it with the stereotyping image of a Santa Clause.From a distance, there are two Iconic Figures we see come Christmas season – Jesus Christ, particularly as a Child in a manger, then Santa Clause, the big fat fellow in a ho ho ho sleigh. Closer, we notice that the first seems always “behind the canvass,” and the latter is always on the “limelight.” You see, Santa Clause is ornamented everywhere, is seen everywhere and could be gotten everywhere, well, as a toy stuff. Some said Santa Clause is in malls, streets and chimney walls, while Christ Jesus is in our hearts. That's the loose compensation and statement of things at the verge of forgetfulness, while faith, like love must be redeemed by actions. We don't mean to say no to Santa here, just the right thing on the right place – give to Caesar what is due to Caesar – we give the real thing to the real reason for the season.
Most just don't want Santa to “gatecrash” on the celebration of the season and gets all the folks in town. A real Santa wouldn't like that thought even. Since he knows that he's just a messenger of kindness, generosity and jolly soul to everyone, especially to children. He knows he doesn't own the piece of cake and the piece of blow every Christmas. He himself knows who’s the Reason for the Season.
WHO IS SANTA CLAUSE?
Fairy tales after fairy tales accumulates every Christmas books and stories we read. Nonetheless, here are few thoughts about Santa Clause:
Would you wonder if there is really a Santa Clause? The answer is – yes! Well, I mean not really that fat bellied fellow on his mighty gifts-stuffed chariots and reindeer, he's quite far from what I mean.
The practical “Santa Clause” is said to be Saint Nicholas of Patrara, Turkey. He was a priest who became a bishop of Myra after the bishop of the district died. Though he was orphaned at a very young age, his Christian orientation has greatly contributed to his charitable acts. He is honored by children as well as parents all over the world because of his exceptional generosity. He is in fact born of wealthy parents, but he doesn't mind spending his wealth for the orphans, widows and poor families. His acts credited him, especially to the Western countries the title “Santa Clause.” Saint Nicholas is also the great Patron Saint of children and gift givers.
The Santa Clause we've mentioned earlier is not a white-bearded in a red furry coat old man and doesn't even count pounds and pounds of weight. He doesn't even own a reindeer, though he might afford one. So, is there a Santa Clause? Yes, he made it a few lines above.
On the other hand, the other Santa Clause or Santa Clauses, as there might be few not mentioned, are details of mythology and childish narratives such as the one, I presume, hanging on your doors. Yeah, he can fly miles and miles from the thick snows of the North Pole all the way to the streets, to your doors and to your chimney holes.
JESUS VIS-A-VIS SANTA CLAUSE
Meanwhile here are few thoughts that would reconcile Child Jesus and Santa Clause (fictional) on their right place:
• Jesus is a factual character noted by redoubtable individuals in history themselves. While Santa Clause is a fictional character for something else.
• Jesus performs miracles and claims to be divine with authority. Many witnesses attested to this since Jesus lived with us 2000 years ago and the words transmitted to us by meticulous textual adaptation, while the fictional Santa is still in the North Pole buckling up for another Christmas.
• Gospel writers intend to relay the physical reality of Jesus Christ such as His nativity all throughout his crucifixion. Santa on the other hand has been made to cater the wandering imaginations of kids.
• Jesus' existence has verifiable names, places, events and cultural as well as political dimensions. Santa Clause squeezes on non-factual elements such as flying reindeers and his visitation to every house.
Parents have to be reminded that they have to remind as well their children that Santa Clause is just a fictional figure that flies only on silver screen and in their dreams. He is pretty much like the tooth fairy that comes in trade for a kid's tooth that fell. Though Santa's character is worth emulating, as in the act of being generous and kind, this has to be confined on parent's sense of diligent supervision to let them understand who Santa is.
Children's anticipation for (material) gift during Christmas may led them to overemphasize materialism with Christmas. It would be a tough job for Christian parents to explain to their kids the mythology of Santa Clause and the factuality of Jesus Christ, if they are continually teased to Santa Clause.
Though, the thought of a Santa Clause is secularly entertaining, we must spearhead in letting our loved ones understand, specially little kids, that a Child, shivering the cold nights in the manger, no matter what is still and will always be the Reason for the Season.
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