What has this to do with the Spirit of Christmas??

1. Arguing over whether Santa Claus is black, white, hispanic or whatever.

2. Being offended when soeone wishes you a Happy Holiday.

Feel free to add to the list or comment.

Santa Claus is a fictional character. He can be purple.

Good point, Chris.

12/17/2013

                       Santa Claus is a legend , he was brought over from Europe in the
                   16th Century, who cares ! If a child wants to believe if he's white,
                   black, purple, he 's Santa a great beuatiful legend for children and Oh
                   yes , I'm a child at heart and I believe in Santa and no one can take
                   that away fro me..

                                                            Cheers..Joe.. 

Beautiful!

I cannot ever remember expecting presents at Christmas.  I think that Christmas came and went and I never knew it was there at all .  Once I was in school, the school put up decorations and I remember how beautiful and sparkling they were.   
Once I found out about Santa, I thought he was only for other kids, not for me or my siblings.  It just was not something he would do, come and drop presents at our house.  He never did.  

It was not until much later that I began to understand the idea of Santa and how your belief made Santa real.  I also came to my own conclusion that Santa was not a personage, but a thought and a feeling of love.  That idea, for me, made Santa real.  I believe in Santa this day.   Love,
Betty

Lovely; lovely.

As a child, Christmas was a special time of year.  Being in a religious family, Santa Claus was introduced reluctantly and most likely because other kids made a big deal about it.  I expecially liked the stories, i.e., "Twas the Night Before Christmas..." It was great to imagine Santa Claus trying to get down our chimney with a bag full of gifts. 
As an adult we know that we are Santa Claus.  So if we are white, Santa Claus is white.  If one is black or whatever, that is what Santa Claus represents.  To make a political issue about it is absurd and reflects on the person making the noise.

Imagination for a child is a wonderful thing.  Santa Claus is just one representation of that.

As Joe said, the idea of Santa Claus originated in Europe from a bishop, Saint Nicholas.  See the following Winkipedia for more info.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

12/18/2013

                        " It Was The Night Before Christmas," By Clement Clark Moore, he owned
                all the land in Cherlsea New York City in the 17th Century, that's my neighborhood
                where I lived for over 30 years, across the street was The Theological Seminary,
                it ran from 9th to 10th Avenue, 20th to 21st Street, his house was on 20th Street
                and 10th Avenue, I love his poem and I have a pop up book on his poem, he wrote
                for his children. He donated the land for the Seminary Episcopal , for free.

                                                                Cheers...Joe....

I imagine we all grew up on that one. I remember my dad readng it while the rest of us set out milk and a slice of apple pie for Santa. We knew he was real because when we got up to see what he had left, the milk had been drunk and there were only a few crust crumbs on the plate where the pie had been. Can't argue with that kind of proof!

Clever parents, Ann.

I accept a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Chanukah" or "Happy Winter Solstice" for that matter in the spirit in which the greeting is offered. My Jewish Friends and colleagues usually wish me a Merry Christmas and I them a Happy Chanukah (or Happy belated Chanukah this year when the holidays do not coincide). How a well-intentioned greeting can be offensive is itself offensive to me. Billboards on Times Square broadcasting "Who needs Christ in Christmas -- Nobody" on the other hand are extremely offensive, as are the idiot attempts to "sanitize" "Silent Night" by omitting references to Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary in today's news from some misguided school in the U.S..

Can you imagine the universal (and righteous) outrage if anyone put up a billboard in Times Square with similarly intentionally offensive comments about religious holidays like Ramadan, Chanukah or, for that matter, any religion but Christianity? Humanists, atheists and run of the mill cranks and wingnuts of all stripes should take notice, in case they did not get the memo: Christmas is exclusively about Christ. It is not about comsummerism, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, Jack Frost or blooming chestnuts roasting on an open fire, any more than Easter is about chocolate bunnies or baskets of goodies doled out to children.

In our insane politically correct society, anything that offends anyone must be co-opted, changed or banned. (Unless, of course, offense is directed at targets for which the political left feels disdain and contempt, like Christianity (and, to a lesser extent, all organized religion), Conservatives, Republicans (from the right, left and center), Tea Party members, the military, and so on.
If anyone is offended that Christmas is a Christian holiday and “feels bad” about it for much of December, then the response is to secularize the holiday. Ban the wishing of a “Merry Christmas,” and push for getting Christ out of Christmas. And, of course, let’s inject race into the equation. Santa Claus should not be portrayed as a white man. The fact that the character is based on a white Christian Saint of Turkish/Greek origins is, well, irrelevant. Does any thinking human being other than a bigot actually believe that GOD gives a flying fig about the color of St. Nicholas' skin? Of the race of His only son? Or of yours, mine or of the misguided fools who put up the billboard on Times Square?

I respect all religions and I equally respect agnostics and atheists who question all religion or reject it outright. How could I not, having had friends and colleagues whom I dearly respect who are atheists, Jews, Muslims and, yes, even Wiccans? (Yes, I actually know a good witch or two and care for them no less or more than my good Catholic friends.) I do no impose my religion on anyone or, in general, wear it on my sleeve. If you do not practice a black mass or worship Satan, I will respect your religion too and expect the same courtesy in return. I also give very wide berth to those who would push any religion--including mine--on me or anyone else. But I will not tolerate anyone co-opting a religion or a religious holiday for their own use.

If you like the spirit of Christmas but are not Christian, no problem. Erect your own holiday tree, Chanukah Bush, Winter Solstice Tree, or Frosty the Snowman and have a great time. The spirit of Christmas transcends the religious significance of the holiday; good will is not the province of any single religion and is, in fact, independent of religion altogether. Having said that, Christmas is, has always been and will always be first and foremost about Christ. Anyone who did not get (or does not like) the message is free to foam at the mouth, howl at the moon, and to celebrate (or invent) their own holiday to coincide with the Christian Holiday. Americans can celebrate the season any way they wish, or not celebrate it at all. They can rail against the blatant commercialization of Christmas (and I will agree with them on that front). What they cannot do is redefine a High Holy Day for the vast majority of Americans to suit their political, philosophical or religious predilections. Doing is, well, un-American.

12/20;/2013

                          Victor..

                                    Bravo..! My sentiment too...  


                                           Cheers....Joe Santa... 

Agree with Joe.

Victor,

Well Said.

Great responses, all. Thanks for participating.

Thank you, friends. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

Are we done here?  When so much of the world is not Christian, it strikes me as pretty ego-centric to think the western, Christian traditions at Christmas are sacrosanct or nothing at all.  They just are.  They certainly harm no one and bring joy to many.  There certainly needs to be more joy in the world!

There are some Christians who do not celebrate Christmas because it is not the real birthday of Christ.  That's fine for them too.

Many people in the U.S. who are not Christian celebrate the Santa Claus and symbolic elements that emphasize family and dining together and sharing gifts and presents.  How fun!  Of course they are welcome.

Politically correct?  To whom?  Let the joy ring in from wherever it comes.  I have no idea what religion has it right or if any do.  I'm happy to enjoy the joy that each wishes to share with me.

I'm done. Yes.

 

As far as I am concerned,  all of this hoopla over a greeting is ridiculous.
Act in accordance with your wish and all should be  well.

Merry Christmas everyone!

The celebration of Christmas is not relevant to political party that I know.

Don, enjoyed your post.  I think you covered all bases.