Three days till Christmas – Santa controversies

December 21, 2007 in Australia, Christmas, Wagga, Wagga Wagga
Tags: Christmas

Well with it being a wet day in Wagga not much is happening today. Just found this interesting article that summarises some of the problems that Santa has experienced this year.

Link 

From Barney Porter (ABC News)

While Christianity’s religious leaders are trying to draw attention to the real message of Christmas and the birth of Jesus, for many little people the immediate focus is on someone else: Santa Claus.

But every year there’s some controversy, somewhere, surrounding Santa. This year is no different.

With only four sleeps till Christmas, people everywhere are becoming increasingly nervous as their behaviour over the past 11 months comes under close scrutiny by the jolly guy in red.

For children though, it’s still a simple process.

“Santa comes down the chimney and gives us presents,” one little girl explains. For her and millions like her, Santa Claus is real.

In adult-speak, he’s a legendary, historical, and mythical figure, who in western cultures brings gifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or on his feast day of December 6.

The modern depiction of Santa Claus – as a fat, jolly man wearing a red coat and trousers with white cuffs and collar and black leather belt and boots – became popular in the United States in the 19th century, due to the influence of political cartoonist Thomas Nast.

The image has since been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, and films. But in modern times the image has courted concerns.

For example, the recent debate about WorkChoices legislation here in Australia prompted some observations about the big fella’s work conditions.

“It’s a hot day today and he’s wearing a coat,” a young girl remarks.

“He must be getting warm. How does he get that on?”

And in Scotland there’s now a Slimline Santa, who disguises himself as 80-year-old Bill Winton for the other 11 months.

The Santa without a fat tummy has a simple message for the kids.

“Look how healthy Santa is. And one reason that he is as he is, is because he eats healthily,” Mr Winton said.

“There’s no reason why you can’t do the same.”

Controversies

There have been other controversies. When Santa hit Rio recently, he swapped his sleigh for a helicopter which was then shot at by suspected drug-runners.

Problems surfaced in Canada too when a rogue elf wrote obscene letters to children. There was also an incident during Santa’s visit to Adelaide.

A recruitment firm insisted Santa should drop his traditional call of ‘Ho, ho, ho. Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas,’ saying it could actually frighten kiddies and might be derogatory to women, because ‘ho’ is also American slang for whore.

By the time Santa hit Sydney, though, he rebelled, saying it was a case of political correctness gone mad.

Whatever the facts are, there has always been opposition to teaching children about Santa Claus.

Some critics believe Santa is an elaborate lie and that it is unethical for parents to teach their children to believe in his existence.

Still others oppose Santa Claus as a symbol of the commercialisation of Christmas, while some Christians say the Santa tradition detracts from the religious origins and true purpose of Christmas.

Some enterprising people in Asia have tried to get around that conundrum. Over the years there have been reports from Thailand and Japan of department stores and shopping malls vying to produce the most eye-catching Christmas display.

They have come up with the concept of a huge crucifix. But instead of Jesus Christ on the cross, it’s – you guessed it – the fat man in the red suit.

Merry Christmas.