It's Christmas time once again! My favorite time of the year. It's the season of giving and receiving for many. When most people think of Christmas, they think of Santa Claus. For those who don't know, Santa is the fat man in red who lives at the North Pole with thousands of elves. Santa watches over those who believe and places them on either a naughty or a nice list. This determines if you will receive any presents on Christmas. While Santa is watching over you, his elves are busy crafting the toys and objects requested by those who write Christmas lists and send them to the North Pole.
Yes... A fat man is watching you at all times... judging you... deciding whether or not you are going to get presents. It's interesting that this is what children have been brain washed with. Whether it's a lie so that kids will listen to their parents or just something "fun" for kids to believe in... it's interesting. Why a fat man in red? Why elves? Why is he watching over us?!
Santa's image is said to be derived from Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" and of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast in the 19th cntury. Elves were brought about by Scandinavian story writers such as Thile, Toplius, Rydberg. These autors sketched the elves' true role in modern life: fairies that are somewhat mischievous, but the true friends and helpers of Father Christmas. Santa's naughty and nice lists were brought about in the 20th century by the 1934 song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."
So now that history has served its purpose for the image of Christmas, the question of society is left. Some "criticism about this deception is not that it is a simple lie, but a complicated series of very large lies."
-Objections include that it is unethical for parents to lie to children without good cause, and that it discourages healthy skepticism in children.
-Some have charged that it is more about the parents than it is about the children. For instance, writer Austin Cline posed the question: "Is it not possible that kids would find at least as much pleasure in knowing that parents are responsible for Christmas, not a supernatural stranger?"
Do not get me wrong, I love the jolly Santa. I am not a Grinch. It is just very interesting, to once more say the least, that such a figure is created for kids to bury their joy, fear, and beliefs in. "You better behave because Santa is watching you!" How about behaving because it is the right thing to do? "I don't want to talk back to my parents because Santa is watching me and won't give me any presents!" How about not talking back because it's disrespectful and trust me presents are the least of one's worries in life. It may be harsh but isn't lying to your kids about a false sense of higher being? Think about when you discovered Santa wasn't real. Then think about how mislead you were. Then think about your kids... just think.
