Santa Clause

[TimOliv]

Well, that’s two Italians. And this middle aged Italian lady is very impassioned about Santa; the good Santa, not that greedy weasel that guzzles Coca-Cola and makes people spend money they don’t have on Nintendo games for children who deserve coal and switches.

See, my daughter’s confirmation name is Nicholette, for St. Nick. St. Nick and Santa are special in our house. You have to understand the tradition behind him. Look him up, St. Nick. We use him as our family patron. Patron saints are good things. He is the “excuse” we use because we don’t want to call attention to our good deeds in light of the day.

And I wasn’t trying to condescend. St. Nick does things in our house. We’ve had our share of troubles, but it’s so much fun to be sneaky for a good cause when you’re feeling bad, to go do something nice for somebody else, and blame it on Nick so nobody has to say, “thank you” of feel indebted. It’s not like Befana, who has no saintly counterpart.

Happy now, boys? You’ve made an old Italian Nona cry.

Very strong arguement for St. Nick. But I’m missing the strong connection to Santa…

 

[Julianna]

I try to avoid extremes. I’m a middle path kind of guy.

Born to be mild.

Oh no, Tim, say it ain’t so! I wouldn’t admit that outloud if I were you… (Trad Rads are watching…shhhh)

I was so glad when this forum came back…I ran skipping all the way. For the past 3 weeks I have been on another forum, being beaten for my “middle of the road” viewpoints. Whew…bad dream…now I’m awake in the real world…with Tim and Santa Claus!

 

[jmcrae]

…that has to be the dumbest arguement I ever heard in my life.

So because you need a name to put in the “From:” part of your gift tags we should just run with Santa? Get real.

How about signing them “In Christ’s Love” or “Your Brother in Christ.”

I’m just trying to explain what goes on. You don’t have to play if you don’t want to. You can even put your real name on it, and put a receipt in, and say, “When you can afford it, here’s what you owe me.”

Nobody has to play Santa Claus, if they don’t want to.

And how would that be blasphemy exactly? By your logic many Hispanic parents commit blasphemy when they name their children Jesus.

“Blesphemy” because I would be attributing my own action to God and saying “God did this” instead of “I did this.”

Naming a child after Jesus isn’t the same thing, since they aren’t saying that their kid is really Jesus.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Very strong arguement for St. Nick. But I’m missing the strong connection to Santa…

I like him, the real one. I don’t have to not like him. You can not like him if you want to. But the one you don’t like is not the same as my Santa.

 

[TimOliv]

I like him, the real one. I don’t have to not like him. You can not like him if you want to. But the one you don’t like is not the same as my Santa.

The real Santa? Can you folks explain to me the real Santa vs. the fictional Santa?

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I was so glad when this forum came back…I ran skipping all the way. For the past 3 weeks I have been on another forum, being beaten for my “middle of the road” viewpoints. Whew…bad dream…now I’m awake in the real world…with Tim and Santa Claus!

See? Bad dream over! Kind of like that commercial for the prescription sleeping pill where the guy sits at his kitchen table with a gopher eating leftovers and Abe Lincoln.

 

[Saint_Michael]

The real Santa? Can you folks explain to me the real Santa vs. the fictional Santa?

The real Santa is Sant Nicholas:

catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=371

The fictional Santa Claus can be seen here:

adpunch.org/images/r_santa-claus-ad-coca-cola.jpg

visitsfromsanta.com/images/Santas/2005/DSCN1895b.JPG

(Only $20.00 for an 8x10)

i10.ebayimg.com/02/i/06/1d/fd/86_1_b.JPG

I’m not really a Santa hater, I just hate the commercialism surrounding Christmas. The holiday turned into a time or peace and love, to a time of stress and maxing out credit cards. That’s my major issue with Santa.

I could teach my child (and try to) about charity and giving without Santa. he has now become a HUGE distraction to that regard.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

The real Santa? Can you folks explain to me the real Santa vs. the fictional Santa?

Both are fictional. Both, however, engender a spirit, if you will, and are causals for others to act in a certain manner.

MY Santa is good, generous, doesn’t sell stuff. He is really a descendent of St. Nick’s myths. His existence is to attempt to persuade people to be kinder, more generous, and in the case of small children, well behaved. He even lets people like me impersonate him. He is, therefore, promoted to a “real” or “true” status. You will see his portrait in the words of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

That other guy wants to push materialism to its max. He doesn’t care if kids have been naughty, nice, or indifferent. He’s just out to be sure their parents spend the money. He’s avarice on steroids. He engenders false values, and is regulated to “fake” status.

 

[TimOliv]

Both are fictional. Both, however, engender a spirit, if you will, and are causals for others to act in a certain manner.

MY Santa is good, generous, doesn’t sell stuff. He is really a descendent of St. Nick’s myths. His existence is to attempt to persuade people to be kinder, more generous, and in the case of small children, well behaved. He even lets people like me impersonate him. He is, therefore, promoted to a “real” or “true” status.

That other guy wants to push materialism to its max. He doesn’t care if kids have been naughty, nice, or indifferent. He’s just out to be sure their parents spend the money. He’s avarice on steroids. He engeders false values, and is regulated to “fake” status.

So why not just use St. Nick?

 

[magician]

Some say that Santa Claus is innocent childhood fun, others say it detracts from the true meaning of Christmas. Thoughts?

Buddy, you have too much time on your hands. I suggest you volunteer to a Catholic mission in Africa.

 

[TimOliv]

Buddy, you have too much time on your hands. I suggest you volunteer to a Catholic mission in Africa.

…I’m a Seminarian, what else do I have to do but study and contemplate issues which affect Catholic Living?

But thanks for your concern.

 

[magician]

…I’m a Seminarian, what else do I have to do but study and contemplate issues which affect Catholic Living?

But thanks for your concern.

I am not concerned about you. If you can’t take care of yourself, then …
The topic of your post, however, suggests that you need some serious discernment as to what your mind should be doing in its free time.
If you are a seminarian as you say, I am appalled that you have nothing else to do with your time.

 

[TimOliv]

I am not concerned about you. If you can’t take care of yourself, then …
The topic of your post, however, suggests that you need some serious discernment as to what your mind should be doing in its free time.
If you are a seminarian as you say, I am appalled that you have nothing else to do with your time.

I am indeed a seminarian as I say, and believe it or not, the occasional post on CAF does not occupy one’s day. It is, in fact, a discussion forum. A forum for…wait for it…discussion.

Plus, YOU don’t get the right to tell people they need to discern differently.

 

[magician]

Here’s a link to a worthwhile project. I suggest you view Fr. Abel’s video.
Your time would be better spent contemplating the real problems of the world rather than Santa Claus.
catholicmission.org.au/

P.S. I happen to like Santa Claus. At least he makes well of his time.

 

[TimOliv]

Here’s a link to a worthwhile project. I suggest you view Fr. Abel’s video.
Your time would be better spent contemplating the real problems of the world rather than Santa Claus.

P.S. I happen to like Santa Claus. At least he makes well of his time.

And you spend your time harassing people for posting on CAF…what did Jesus say about hypocrites?

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

So why not just use St. Nick?

Well, why not, Tim? As I stated earlier, I can like Santa and still be Catholic. There is no pronouncement against him, the one I like, the Revival Santa if you will. You don’t have to like him. I’ve explained until I’m blue in the face, cried real tears, and gotten an upset stomach. I’m not committing a sin or crime by allowing myself and my children and grandchildren to believe in Santa, at least the Revival Santa. I won’t call you Scrooge, because I don’t think you are, nor do I think the other young man I promised to ignore is Scroogish. But I am entitled to my opinion, and I don’t have to account for it if it’s not wrong.

Look, I hate to argue. Really. I am married to a philosopher ethicist, and they don’t argue. They discourse; sometimes it’s pendantic, but it’s not a fight. So, that’s it on the subject.

 

[magician]

I am indeed a seminarian as I say, and believe it or not, the occasional post on CAF does not occupy one’s day. It is, in fact, a discussion forum. A forum for…wait for it…discussion.

Plus, YOU don’t get the right to tell people they need to discern differently.

Sure I do. You’re on a forum to solicit opinions, are you not?

 

[TimOliv]

Well, why not, Tim? As I stated earlier, I can like Santa and still be Catholic. There is no pronouncement against him, the one I like, the Revival Santa if you will. You don’t have to like him. I’ve explained until I’m blue in the face, cried real tears, and gotten an upset stomach. I’m not committing a sin or crime by allowing myself and my children and grandchildrne to believe in Santa, at least the Revival Santa.

Look, I hate to argue. Really. I am married to a philosopher ethicist, and they don’t argue. They discourse; sometimes it’s pendantic, but it’s not a fight.

Well I don’t want to argue the point either. I am simply asking people why they feel more comfortable calling the same person “Santa” instead of “St. Nicholas”

 

[magician]

And you spend your time harassing people for posting on CAF…what did Jesus say about hypocrites?

How am I hypocritical? I work in African missions. I see the sick and dying. Do you?

 

[magician]

Well I don’t want to argue the point either. I am simply asking people why they feel more comfortable calling the same person “Santa” instead of “St. Nicholas”

Perhaps they feel more comfortable because it really doesn’t matter what they call the giver of gifts.
Why not celebrate Christmas for what it is? The birthday of the Christ. Whoever decides to give gifts in his favor is to be celebrated, regardless of name.