The Meaning of Christmas
 

What is the meaning of Christmas? Admiral Nichols White Beard who over sees the North Atlantic Polar Regions is quoted as Saying. That Christ Must Prevail. Dose it really make sense to lie to children about Santa and Elves just for the sake of presents and holiday Cheer.

I was thinking on this today as we have been celebrating winter holidays with the shorties over the last two weeks. We did Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanza. We talked about the similarities, family, food, presents, candles etc... As someone who no longer participates in religion, I can still see the value of a winter celebration of lights. I don't think its necessary to root for Muhammad over Jesus or Moses over Vishnu or whatever. Lying to kids about Santa Claus seems less despicable than other made up stuff we tell kids, so I say let humanity prevail.

What did Christmas and Santa Claus teach kids 50 years ago ?
Don't trust anyone over thirty.


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Peace

In my experience, there comes a point where the kids figure it out and start pretending to believe. It maui be that you have to live it to understand, but the people that get all high and mighty about the santa charade just come off as buzz kills.

It's fun to believe in santa. That's enough for me.

An age old pagan holiday that was co-opted to popularize aggressively expansionist monotheism. Has nothing to do with Jesus. I'm sure you don't want to know this, don't want to hear this, because you're clinging to the illusion of the infallability of organized religion as a means of compensating for your own perceived shortcomings. Wake up--you're human, and none of us are perfect. Lying to yourself about something which will never be able to fulfill the purpose you cling to it for.


And you want to complain about lying to children about Santa Claus. The difference is that nobody takes that "lie" as seriously as the bigger lie you subscribe to.

I still think the "religious" stuff is your craziest-seeming behavior. it's like you need to sober up and come back to Earth. You can't have your feet on the ground if your head is in the clouds.

My brother surprised all of us last weekend by showing up at mom and dad's dressed, surprising well except he's thin, as Santa. He knocked on the window from outside and the girls screamed and jumped around. Apparently the oldest one still believes, but I bet she's gettign to the doubting point.

It's magical kid stuff. They have plenty of time to grow up and be disillusioned. Let them have their magic, while they can.

You know, JBK, you remind me of that scene from Uncle Buck, where John Candy is visiting the principal from his young niece's school.

Buck Russell: I don't think I want to know a six-year-old who isn't a dreamer, or a sillyheart. And I sure don't want to know one who takes their student career seriously. I don't have a college degree. I don't even have a job. But I know a good kid when I see one. Because they're ALL good kids, until dried-out, brain-dead skags like you drag them down and convince them they're no good. You so much as scowl at my niece, or any other kid in this school, and I hear about it, and I'm coming looking for you!
[of Anita's mole]
Buck Russell: Take this quarter, go downtown, and have a rat gnaw that thing off your face! Good day to you, madam.

In other words, lighten up Francis. You make baby jesus cry. I don't want to know a god who would stomp on childrens' flights of fancy.

:santa:Christmas is the birthday of Jesus, it just happens at the winter solstice. Santa Claus and Elves are just part of the fun. Merry Christmas Terry & Rebecca

One of my favorite movie quotes of all time. (Made me smile.)
Perhaps because I had to deal with a woman like that when my kids were young
and I so desperately wanted to say something like that to her.

I know. I love that movie. John Candy at his finest. :)

I didn't realize until the other day that the oldest girl was this woman (in the link.) When I saw it, I could see it, but even I never put the two together. Really just a great cast all 'round.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0446465/

And of course there's this famous little gem of a scene:



Sorry I messed up your block santa party, JB. ;)

Jim FTW!

when I found out there was no such thing as Santa clause I lied to my parents and said I did... I dunno there are things that happen that you can't explain so really I do believe in Santa clause just not in the way of fat man coming down a chiminey... Santa Cause to me represents the love of Christ being fulfilled in a way that is unique to teach Children the value of Family, Giving and Love. And it also teaches us how Believe... IF you do it the right way and teach your children morals and values when the child grows up he will have an understanding of a real belief system.

And Figgy Pudding. Don't forget the importance of Figgy Pudding.

So you're saying that Jesus is just Santa for adults?

Yes, and he underestimates our capability to feel the love that christmas is supposed to represent. We don't have to believe in santa or jesus to understand the heart of humanity.

Jesus = Santa and his elves

That's what I'm taking away from this.

But Santa doesn't look like Jesus and who exactly are the elves again?
Is it Moses and Joshua and and and??? Inquiring minds NEED to know.

Imagine Jesus got older and put on some weight.

NO... Santa Is Jesus for Children.

Santa is a SFW Jesus?

What is "SFW"??

What is the meaning of Christmas? There are many meanings, as recent discussions in other places have taught, context matters. Everyone here, you and I included, have some meaning associated with Christmas. We probably have multiple meanings, multiple associations, some current, some discarded.

For me, Christmas has a lot of different meanings. When I was a child, it was about the presents, and a marker for a LOOOONNNNG year. Gosh, Christmas will NEVER get here, I moaned at Halloween. Needless to say, this is not what Christmas means to me anymore. Partly because October to December isn't such a big slice of my lifetime anymore, and partly because Christmas practically butts up against Halloween anyhow. The presents are still part of the meaning of Christmas, but I'm a net giver now in contrast to my net receiver status as a child. More change.

The spiritual and religious perspectives I've held throughout my life have changed, naturally those elements of the meaning of Christmas have also changed. Like Griff, I no longer have a religious experience of Christmas, though many around me do, and I share their Christmas holiday respectfully.

Context, that's what provides the meaning of Christmas.

Santa is Jesus for Children as Jesus is God for adults, a medium of understanding for their level of comprehension. The parents who let their children believe in Santa are just following the example laid down by their heavenly Father who let them believe in Jesus. JBKlyde poo poos Santa because he doesn't like it when God works in ways that he doesn't understand (i.e. mysterious ways). People like that are known as Faux Christians.

you just had to find a reason to try an make a fool out of me didn't you..

this is what Christmas means to me..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbdvo019mgM

Merry Christmas JBKlyde!

Merry Christmas to you to Big V

JBK, I meant to say this earlier but I was wallowing in self-pity:

Merry Christmas, whatever it means to you. You have to know that we're jokesters, but it is nothing personal towards you.

I don't always understand, but I'm glad you're here and posting.

So have a wonderful holiday, OK? :)

We have a mouse that I need to take for a ride. Since it's Xmas Eve and 10 degrees and there's still two feet of snow on the ground I decided he can stay in the house for a while.

I just gave him a piece of a Xmas cookie.

I may have to catch a weasel, you wanna trade?

Yes! We used to have ferrets, and they were a lot of fun.

Is it a Xmas weasel?

It's a garden weasel.

Yeah. Merry Christmas JBKlyde :) I hope it's a good one for you on whatever terms are important to you.

yea I was feeling a bit O-ut K-asted there for a sec.. Merry C-Mas to all..

Merry Christmas dude.













Its a chicken killin' weasel who needs to be deported or teleported.

A good swift kick in the weasel's ass should accomplish either. ;)

I think I'm just going to practice keeping my mouth shut.

Marvin the Martian...and I've never killed anything except a squril, and it haunts me.. I may have committed spiritual suicide..

I agree// 3 cheers for Santa !! Hip Hip Horay