Thanks, I am familiar w/ St Nick & my point really wasn't about him.....
No? Then why did you bring him up???
Santa also symbolizes for some, a kinda demi-god, the god of consumerism, worldly aspirations~money, politics etc.......
I don't know anyone that looks at Santa 'Clause that way, not even kids. Kids don't even think about politics or worldly aspirations. The only one I've heard describe Santa 'Clause this way is you.
So while they may claim a belief in a higher power, God/Jesus etc, it is really only Santa they actually pay tribute & tithes to.......
People don't pay tithes to Santa 'Clause. Do you actually consider leaving cookies and milk on a table for Santa 'Clause a tribute???
The date chosen for Christmas was originally the Saturnia holidays, a mid-winter festival to celebrate the beginning of the Sun moving northward again, and is marked bring a tree into the house and decorating it, and gift giving. As this festival moved northward into Norse territory, elements like lights on the tree were added (Loki's magic fire lights), at first in the form of candles. This is also when the tree traditionally became a fir tree, representing the World Tree (which is supposed to be an Ash tree, go figure).
The time of Christ's birth is unknown. Personally, I think it was in the spring during lambing season. However, Catholics chose the Saturnia holiday to try to quash pagan religions. At that time, the symbols of Saturnia were retooled as anagrams, of something representing Christ or the gospel. The tree became a representation of the Tree of Life, again the fir tree, since it does not lose it's needles. The lights on the tree (and on houses) are representative of the light of God, illuminating the world in darkness (mid winter). The gift giving was retooled to model the charity of Christ, who gave his life for man, that men may once again enjoy the presence of God. A payment of debt that we all share as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. A debt we cannot pay ourselves.
Saint Nicholas was of course a cardinal in Turkey, noted for his charity, especially towards children. Like all cardinals, he wore red robes.
As stories of St. Nicholas moved northward into Norse countries, the name was shortened to St 'Cholas or St 'Clause. Latin languages use Santa for Saint. Combining the two variations produce Santa 'Clause.
The image of the jolly old elf that lives at the North pole started as a fanciful tale told in a Coca-Cola ad. It snowballed (har!) from there, eventually introducing the bit with the sleigh, the reindeer, Rudolph, and landing on roofs of houses and coming down the chimney to deliver gifts. Children would often leave a gift of milk and cookies for Santa, a tradition still popular in the UK and the US. Parents would keep the story going for their kids, as an extra gift for them given out of love for their kids. It was fanciful, and they knew that eventually the kids would grow up and realize the truth of who 'Santa' really was. Even then a gift from 'Santa' was often still given to such children even after they realized the truth. It's a nice tradition of gift giving.
Gift giving is a charitable affair. If you have no charity, don't give a gift. You can go and become like Ebenezer Scrooge if you like.
For the Jews, which don't recognize Jesus Christ as the Savior, but only as a master teacher, will often even celebrate the gift giving and some traditions of Christmas. Their holiday this time of year though is Hanukah, a celebration of the gift God provided for his temple when oil was short to keep the altar flame burning. That flame burned for seven days on one day's supply of oil, so the story goes. This temple was reclaimed from enemy territory and rededicated to the service of God. Hanukah is a celebration of victory, recovering the temple, and rededicating it to God. The menorah (the candles) are seven in number, with the center one higher than the others. For each day of hanukah, the center candle is lit during prayer, and it used to light as many candles as the day of hanukah, until all seven candles are lit on the last day. This holiday too often is associated with gifts for children and even between spouses. The menorah stays lit until sunset, and is often placed in a window. Today, many Jews just light the menorah and keep it lit for just a few minutes or an hour.
The Winter solstice is an important date for most cultures. American iindians tended towards religions similar to Shinto in Japan, filled with many demons and demi-gods. They also mark the Winter solstice as a New Year, often associating it with certain demons (beneveolent ones usually) coming forth to bring the Sun back from the depths of darkness. This is often represented in their dances during this time as well.
In most Western cultures, the New Year is also centered around this time, beginning January 1st, despite Rome's influence, which began their New Year in March (the spring), named after Martius, or Mars, the God of War. January itself is named after the God Janus, a god representing doors and beginnings and endings. An appropriate name for a month following the Winter solstice.
So celebrate the Winter solstice in your own way. Feel free to celebrate Christ's birth, if you so desire. It's as good a date as any, and Christ's gift is timeless.
Do not begrudge the religion of another. They are free to believe what they wish just as you are. If you do not believe in any god or gods, at least join in the celebration of the Winter solstice as the solstice and the beginning of the Sun moving back northward. Enjoy the lights for what they are...a celebration of lights in these dark days of Winter.
