![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I spent my formative Santa years, three to eleven, as one of the very few non Jewish families in a Florida condo complex. Rather than being forgotten as a Christian icon, Santa was friend to every good child. He visited all, regardless of their denomination. In this respect, he was far more inclusive than any sectarian figure I've seen.
That Santa's generosity coincided with the birth of a religious icon meant little to most children I knew. For those who didn't summon him with the traditional tree, eight nights of candle flame would often suffice. The Santa of my youth was egalitarian in his largess.
The rules of Santa were simple; good kids get toys.
As kids got older and their faith in old Nick began to falter, a parental addendum was often added. Santa would now only preform for those children who believed. Regardless of how many hours a kid spent daydreaming in church, this one crystallized the nature of faith based reward like no other. Even a kid who secretly doubted Santa would continue to show outward signs of belief, the threat of toy loss fueling their insincerity.
Parents perpetuate Santa because they believe that the jolly old elf brings joy and happiness into the hearts of the young. And so he does. However, in choosing to invoke the magic gift giver, the cost of deception and truth is understood. The lesson of charity will soon be overshadowed by that of distrust.
When Santa's true nature is revealed to young adults, the very fabric of their reality changes. The unwavering belief in the sanctity of parental law is shattered. But more than that, with a loss of faith in Santa, there are inevitable questions on other matters of faith.
Santa is a Christ like fellow, extolling charitable virtues, demanding faith for salvation, having a fear of barbers in defiance of all fashion trends. If Santa is a parental deception, the next question of faith is obvious.
I don't mean to be a downer on Christmas. I was quite uplifted to reason that Santa was indeed the subversive influence on Christian belief that the Church has always claimed. And he has slave labor, unrestricted air transport, can smoke as much as he wants and not die. His name is an anagram for Satan and then there's that saint Nick versus old Nick thing. Praise Santa, we sacrifice unto you cookies and milk, please don't set this bush on fire with your displeasure. And that threat with the coal, makes sense now, doesn't it?
Happy Christmas
That Santa's generosity coincided with the birth of a religious icon meant little to most children I knew. For those who didn't summon him with the traditional tree, eight nights of candle flame would often suffice. The Santa of my youth was egalitarian in his largess.
The rules of Santa were simple; good kids get toys.
As kids got older and their faith in old Nick began to falter, a parental addendum was often added. Santa would now only preform for those children who believed. Regardless of how many hours a kid spent daydreaming in church, this one crystallized the nature of faith based reward like no other. Even a kid who secretly doubted Santa would continue to show outward signs of belief, the threat of toy loss fueling their insincerity.
Parents perpetuate Santa because they believe that the jolly old elf brings joy and happiness into the hearts of the young. And so he does. However, in choosing to invoke the magic gift giver, the cost of deception and truth is understood. The lesson of charity will soon be overshadowed by that of distrust.
When Santa's true nature is revealed to young adults, the very fabric of their reality changes. The unwavering belief in the sanctity of parental law is shattered. But more than that, with a loss of faith in Santa, there are inevitable questions on other matters of faith.
Santa is a Christ like fellow, extolling charitable virtues, demanding faith for salvation, having a fear of barbers in defiance of all fashion trends. If Santa is a parental deception, the next question of faith is obvious.
I don't mean to be a downer on Christmas. I was quite uplifted to reason that Santa was indeed the subversive influence on Christian belief that the Church has always claimed. And he has slave labor, unrestricted air transport, can smoke as much as he wants and not die. His name is an anagram for Satan and then there's that saint Nick versus old Nick thing. Praise Santa, we sacrifice unto you cookies and milk, please don't set this bush on fire with your displeasure. And that threat with the coal, makes sense now, doesn't it?
Happy Christmas