Do you think Santa Claus is Just a symbol of commercialism?

In my opinion I believe the whole santa claus thing is satans way of leading people away from christ. Notice how santa and satan are not far off. lol, just say no to christmas without christ!

Hi krystalheart: I think the smae. The birth of Jesus Christ is the true meaning of Christmas. And as Christian that's what we should celebrate. Santa is the symbol of commercialism, he was actually a Saint, a bishop that gave gifts to the poor but the companies has completely changed the image of this man that was a Christian. Jesus is the center of these days, at least for as the Christians and we should not think about what commercialism want to make us know these days are about. Thanks for starting this discussion. Have a nice day. -Alvaro.

No. Santa Claus, or in the Catholic religion, Saint Nicholas, is actually a saint who gave toys to children who were poor and had nothing. He is not a product of commercialism, although, given time, people have made Santa Claus a product of commercialism. As I have said before, Christmas is a Pagan holiday adopted by the Christians. Christians took Christmas from the Pagans and made it their own, when it truth it was never really their holiday to begin with. Jesus wasn't even born in December, he was born in or around Summertime, but the Christians will swear up and down that "Christmas is about Jesus Christ", when that really isn't it. Also, I say "Happy Holidays" because I recognize all holidays.

NO, he is not. But now days many people use him exactly with this purpose. Santa is the symbol of Christmas, symbol for the kids, who are waiting for their present, because they have been good during the year. Santa is the symbol of the winter- the good old man, who brings joy and happiness to all( not only to children). Santa is that man, for the sake of we believe in the good thing on Christmas. Santa is SANTA!!!!

I do believe Santa Clause is a symbol of commercialism. As the classic Santa Clause now a days is the color of the coca cola colors, this is not a coincidence. Coke bought out Santa a long time ago. It doesn't have anything to do with Christmas. Father Christmas is a completely different story. I believe Santa Clause was just a made up character as a way of helping parents to get their children to behave, "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake." Also he was a way for different companies to make millions every year from parents trying to fulfill their children's wish lists.

I agree. I even think Christmas should be moved away from the pagan festival and to a time of the year when historians think Christ might actually have been born. Mind you Santa is supposed to partly have some kind of connection with St Nicholas isn't he? Or was that just something made up to co-opt pagan traditions too, in the same way that Santa is now the spirit of the coca-cola company?

"Santa Claus" is Anglicized German/Dutch for Saint Nicholas - a very old saint in the Christian churches. I believe his holy day is like December 6th. He was a Bishop known for his charity - including giving money, in secret, for a dowry for some poor girls in his area as a gift for the Nativity - hence the gift giving tradition of St. Nicholas bring gifts. Christmas doesn't mean "Christ birth" it means "Christ MASS" as in the service in the Orthodox and Catholic churches. It is also called the Nativity - that does mean birth. So, get it right

To me Santa is just a fun thing for children, nothing more.

I definitely believe that Santa Claus is a symbol of commercialism. He's the one that brings all the toys and goodies to the children where as Jesus is the one that helps to bring us together I believe. I think that's what we should be focusing on more is spending time with our families and friends but I know that we all feel bad if we can't get certain people gifts.

My family believes the same way, but we do exchange gifts mostly to the children in the family..... I buy for all my nieces and nephews but not my sisters ... money is tight and we all agree that christmas is for the children...... We do go to the Christmas program which is all about the birth of Jesus and the act of giving. We also have a Christmas message the Sunday before Christmas and if Christmas is on a Sunday we usually have a great message and a socializing time with everyone at church with a dinner following afterwards.

sure, santa claus was invented by coca cola company, have you ever noticed the colors? white,red...it was created by coca cola for commercials, and now is the symbol of christmas, a commercial fest. The true meaning of christmas is now lost. If you ask to a child "what's the true meaning of christmas?" he'll not respond "it's the jesus birthday" but "It's the day when santa put our presents under the christmas tree" look: santa, invented by coca cola, christmas tree, invented by coca cola, Presents: something bought in a shop.

I think Santa Claus began as a symbol of giving...but now it seems like he's all about toys and spoiling children by giving them what they want. So yes, I guess Santa is now a symbol of consumerism and commercialism. :/

Hi Krystalheart I TOTALLY agree with you.I think the whole meaning of Christmas had gone and Santa has taken over.People are excited only to get presents, It is indeed a sad state of affairs...

I have to agree on the aspect that Christmas has become too commercialized. But of course the business need this to up their sales. I believe that people have forgotton the true meaning of Christmas.

I know that modern society has commercialized Santa Claus, but St. Nicholas/Santa Claus, albeit folklore or legend, was a character that embodied unselfishness and love for fellow man. He represented generosity and giving. Yes, Christmas is the day we celebrate Christ's Birth. It is too bad that this spirit has become the gimme, gimme spirit.

to a certain extent. the myth of sants has been fueled by companies that are trying to make a buck this season but the original santa (as we know him today) was first introduced by coca cola (during the 20's i think). as christians, hubby and i have always told our kids that they get their presents from people that love and care about them, not from some impersonal santa.

Sta. Clause is just created by whom ever he is hahahaha. the name is associated with St.Nicholas. Correct me if I am wrong on this. Santa Clause is for kids but the true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ. When I was young I long for him to see at our window and will give our gifts, but I never see them in person because Santa Clause is just invented. Santa Clause is for kids, they are the hope of kids during Christmas because parents and grandparents hide their identity in him. Yes I agree is just a symbol of commercialism, because Sta. Clause was used in some movies. I guess in times like this we can never dettached Sta. Clause because he have been a part of every holidays. But we have to do not forget the real meaning of Christmas, Jesus christ birth.

That was the original of it all. Christmas being the birthday of the christ child that is. But now days it certainly seems like commercialism has taken the hat and run away with it. Seems true indeed. I think it is up to grown ups to make the Christmas myths and the realism of it something our children can experience in an appropriate manner.

Supposedly Santa was actually a real man who lived many years ago that would go about handing out gifts to the poor children of his home land. Being that he was suppose to be a christian man I don't think he would have approved of his God status at all. To me this day is about the birth of Jesus and for those who are christian it should be treated as such. Not this Santa Claus, I want gifts, gimme gimme. We should also have a birthday cake and follow the example of giving rather than receiving. But thats just me

You are right Christmas goes to the father who is Jesus and that was there day which He was born.Actually I do not believe in anything as Santa.So happy Christmas to yoou in advance