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Post by pigdish on Dec 17, 2007 7:56:45 GMT -5
That is the question. I see no point to having this figure or imagery in society at all.
Why does there have to be this figure to distribute gifts to kids?
Most of the year kids are told to not accept things from strangers but on this one day it's okay to accept presents from a stranger? Oh he is a stranger despite the societal acceptance.
Why can't the kids look up to the parents for their hard work and be recognized for this good deed rather than having this strange figure.
Some might say it brings happiness to kids and adults. What! Why can't the happiness be shared between parents and their children?
My point is that having this figure shifts the focus (of kids) from the parents and family which I feel should be the main influence for kids.
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Post by Lady Winter Wolf on Dec 17, 2007 8:37:35 GMT -5
Just my humble opinion of course, but I see these "imagery" figures (Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, etc) as a way to help open up a child's imagination. Unfortunately, society is very big into reality, and making a child "grow up", and deal with reality, just seems to be happening younger and younger.
What's wrong with letting the imagination run wild for a time? What's wrong with keeping the spirit of the child alive?
Being a parent is not an award winning job, and if recognition is what one is looking for.....good luck. Heck, I try to do a good deed everyday, and if I hear at least one person say "thank you" out of 100 deeds done, than I'm a very lucky person indeed. Doing good, being nice is something we should just be, and feeling good inside about it should be a bigger reward than a trophy.
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Post by pigdish on Dec 17, 2007 9:23:08 GMT -5
I guess I didn't make my point clearly. I'm not saying that parents need or want awards or recognition. I'm saying they should be the primary focus of a child's world. I think it might be a cultural difference. In the Indian culture and most Asian cultures we have a closer bond with our parents.
Imagination is all well and good but people live in reality not in a fantasy world. So while it is nice to have a child practice imagination s/he needs to be grounded in reality. Imagination by itself is detrimental to a person's well being. A person needs to be proactive in the world to make a difference. Which means knowing and showing love, appreciation, and respect to and from the parents and child. I would not consider Santa Claus as imaginary given the deluge of input children and adults get everyday.
Being a parent is an award winning duty. I don't consider it a job. It is the culmination of millions of years of evolution. My award is unique which no one else can have (other have their own unique awards). My award are my kids. Smiles and manners are nice but what makes me happiest is just having them.
Thank you for your input but the search continues.
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Post by Kaber on Dec 17, 2007 9:28:22 GMT -5
First of all, Christmas should be about sharing, with family as well as friends. Yes, in today's society we can't trust strangers. We have to teach our children to be cautious and yet kind at the same time. The ideals of Christmas are good, I believe. The execution is flawed. We should be charitable, kind and courteous all year long but Christmas has been reserved as a singular time of year when humanity should reach out to each other in warmth and friendship.
Why Santa? The concept of today's Santa means nothing to me. A little spooky in fact if you think about it. A Jesus figure for non christians, a "Big Brother". Christmas is meant to be wrapped in magic. A mystical time of year when miracles happen. I think kids should beleive in miracles and wonder. In the magic and mystery of life but they should be taught that Santa is not the cause all and be all of this magic and wonder. Santa is a relic left over from better ideals. In other cultures, Santa was a punisher. In others he was simply a man who made and gave toys and gained mythic proportions. Today, Santa is a spirit of commercialism.
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Post by Antioch on Dec 17, 2007 9:48:30 GMT -5
Today, Santa is a spirit of commercialism. I couldn't agree more. We really don't do Santa. We've explained who he is so Carol is aware of what all the fuss is, but we don't buy her gifts and say they are from Santa. I feel like that is not contructive imagination but just a way to lie to your children and perpetuate a myth. We play with her imagination all the time. I don't need Santa to do that. I think the original idea of Santa has been so corrupted by today's material focus that he is no longer relevant to the season. This is to be a season of family and giving and hope and love. I had a lady flip me the bird yesterday morning because she cut me off in traffic and thought I shouldn't have been in her way. Is this truely what the holiday season is about? Please! Religion aside, I think most of our society needs to refocus ourselves out of the commericial spirit and into the holiday one. |
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Post by pigdish on Dec 17, 2007 11:01:22 GMT -5
You two have made excellent insightful and informative points. It doesn't surprise me that my thoughts and views are in line with the two of you.
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Dmitri
Land Owner
D&D Geeks of the World Unite!
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Dmitri on Dec 17, 2007 11:19:40 GMT -5
I think Santa is a little silly myself, and was always the kid who got yelled at by teachers for explaining to everyone that Santa wasn't real.
I don't think he is necessarily harmful or detrimental, unless he is "used" wrong. Having a hard time putting what I want to say in writing... hmmm...
I guess the commercialism kinda irritates me. Also the dechristianization of the holiday. While I am well aware of the other religious holidays at the same time, and won't try to claim that Christmas is really the birthday of Jesus, it is still the celebration of Christ's Mass. And I think that the modern Santa is a secularization of that concept, and for that distraction I fault him.
Anyway, I realize I am not making much sense probably, so I will be quite now...
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Post by Dragonsrule on Dec 17, 2007 23:20:54 GMT -5
I see no problem with Santa Claus. Both my boys knew young, that Santa was fictitous. However, I still get joy watching my daughter's face light up at the sight of Santa. Christmas was destroyed years ago, by the mighty money machine. But I personally see no harm in Santa.
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Post by MjolnirH on Dec 18, 2007 6:15:56 GMT -5
I get "to be" Santa again this year and guess what I love every minute of it. I especially love eating the milk and cookies my boys leave out for Santa AKA me ;D . I see no problems whatsoever in perpetuating this myth, I grew up loving it and love "living it" this week Mrs. MH will be taking to boys out to see Santa at the Mall. I still love all of the shows and stories from when I was a kid and watch em every year. I've added a new one, the Polar express I love that Movie!!
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Post by Lady Winter Wolf on Dec 18, 2007 15:40:02 GMT -5
Today, Santa is a spirit of commercialism. I think the original idea of Santa has been so corrupted by today's material focus that he is no longer relevant to the season. This is to be a season of family and giving and hope and love. I had a lady flip me the bird yesterday morning because she cut me off in traffic and thought I shouldn't have been in her way. Is this truely what the holiday season is about? Please! Religion aside, I think most of our society needs to refocus ourselves out of the commericial spirit and into the holiday one. The true meaning of the holiday season? Good question. If one believes in the pagan ideals, it was a time of rejoicing because it meant the winter would eventually end and the summer return. Of course various cultures had various meanings, but that was the gist of it. The onset of Christianity brought about twists and turns of its own kind. But being kind to one another...THAT SHOULD BE A DAILY EVENT!!! I can't believe that people believe that the "holiday season" is the only time that people should "change" their ways and be nice to one another, and all because...it's the season. As to Santa, he's had many meanings throughout time, and various cultures, but he has been so abused throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, that his meanings have been lost. All he is now is another icon of business sales. |
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Post by Rincewind on Dec 18, 2007 20:19:50 GMT -5
We've been avoiding emphasizing the whole Santa thing with Gareth because 1) he's not really what Christmas is about, and 2) we try not to lie to him about as much as possible. But he gets excited when he sees Santa, just like he does when he sees Christmas trees, because he likes all the trappings of modern Christmas. I'm afraid it's all made him a bit confused, though- ever since the local fire department rode through town with sirens blazing so that their Santa could give out fire safety-related presents, whenever Gareth hears a fire truck he rushes to the door telling us it's Santa Claus. Try explaining that one to a 2 and 3/4 year old.
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Post by MjolnirH on Dec 18, 2007 21:53:33 GMT -5
I am and always will be a literal hodgepodge of contradicting theories, conjectures and beliefs. Just ask LWW LOL. When I was growing up x-mas was always a magical time for me (see I just contradicted myself). I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad x-mas and I count myself lucky for that. At a certain age I snuck out one x-mas eve and saw my mother and father putting all of the presents under the tree, you know what though it didn’t bother me. The “spirit” of x-mas and Santa Claus will forever live in my heart, hell I still picture him getting presents ready at the North Pole and flying around delivering them, I still to this day get a giddy feeling in my chest when I get up x-mas morning thinking that Santa had come to our house. I still get that feeling even though I set up the x-mas tree and put all of the presents underneath it. Is Santa a Myth? Well if you’ve ever seen the movie The Polar Express, you’ll understand this.
I can hear the Jingle Bells because I believe
Even at 35 Santa is more than just a shopping Icon or Marketing gimmick to me, and hopefully will be for my children
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Post by Antioch on Dec 19, 2007 9:05:15 GMT -5
I honestly think that's great MH. I'm just surprised how many people see Carol and ask her if Santa is coming to visit her. Everyone is so stuck on Santa it's amazing. I don't know, I just don't get it personally - and I've had many a great Christmas myself. Some people are really shocked that we don't do Santa, but I don't think we are robbing Carol of that experience. We do gifts for each other and it is always a holiday to focus on the family, which is what is important.
I agree with LWW. Common courtesy is not so common anymore. It's really sad.
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Dmitri
Land Owner
D&D Geeks of the World Unite!
Posts: 1,466
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Post by Dmitri on Dec 19, 2007 12:14:59 GMT -5
Yea, I get looks at a little strangely because I tend to fuse Easter, Christmas, Ascension Day, and Pentecost. From a Christian religious standpoint, they are not seperate events. But everyone likes to emphasize the little, non-threatening baby Jesus. The other pictures of Him presented in the New Testament are not nearly as popular.
And yes, LWW, it amazes me that people act as though the first 25 days of December make up for a year of greed and self-centered action.
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Post by pigdish on Dec 19, 2007 15:05:42 GMT -5
All the recent comments are spot on. People shouldn't just be nice during holidays. It is the "spirit" of the holiday (be it Christmas, Eid, whatever) and have with people you love and care about that are the important things not idols or imagery.
Have a good one all!
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