By Brandon Smith
It happens every year around December, a predictable flurry of pseudo-psychology articles from low-IQ progressives expounding on the negatives of Christmas. On top of that, there’s been a pipeline of anti-Christmas films coming out of Hollywood the past decade, including some real woke bombs depicting Santa as a corporatist, a racist and a woman hater.
It’s been going on so long that in the early 2000s conservatives dubbed the annual practice the “War on Christmas”. However, at that time people on the political right assumed the vitriol was aimed at Christianity in general. What many didn’t realize is that the hatred wasn’t only about religious differences.
Around 70% of atheists identify as Democrats according to surveys, with 15% identifying as Republican and another 15% having no party affiliation. It makes sense that the majority of Christmas critics are on the political left and that their distaste of the holiday season is driven by their anti-Christian views.
After all, the political left is so obsessed with destroying Christianity that they continue to repeat the false narrative that Christmas is a “pagan holiday” and that all the traditions are stolen and repurposed. This claim is debunked every year and yet every year they keep trying to bring it back.
The pagan celebration of “Yule” often associated with Christmas by ignorant academics has always been a completely separate tradition with separate practices. As Christianity became the dominant religion in Europe, pagan groups would meld elements of their previous traditions with newly introduced Christian holidays. Every serious study of Yule admits the distinct separation between the pagan celebration and Christmas.
The Christmas tree is also a purely Christian idea, based on the stories surrounding Saint Boniface. Boniface sought to convert the pagan tribes of Germany in 725 AD and chopped down what was known as “Odin’s Sacred Oak”, a tree used by the pagans as a site for human sacrifice. A small fir tree grew in its place and was dubbed the “Tree of Christ”.
By extension Santa Claus is often wrongly associated with pagan characters; he is in fact based on the very real Saint Nicholas, a monk who traveled the known world around 280 AD, giving away his wealth and helping children in need. His good deeds became legendary and by the Renaissance he was the most popular saint in Europe. His feast day was celebrated on the day of his death (December 6th), and it was common practice to buy large gifts or get married around this time every year.
The name “Santa Claus” comes from the Dutch, who first brought the celebration of Nicholas over to the American colonies in the 1700s. They called him “Sinter Klaas”, short for Saint Nicholas. And, if you look at some of the very old fresco paintings of Saint Nicholas you’ll find he looks rather similar to the modern day folk character version of Santa Claus.
When the claims of pagan co-option failed to yield any results, leftists turned to more woke methods to undermine the Christmas holiday. Going beyond religion, progressives have even sought to take down Santa Claus.
You would think a guy that goes around giving away his wealth and helping the poor would immediately appeal to socialist leftists who claim to be the guardians of the underclass, but that’s not really the case. They say the biggest problem is that Santa is “white” and that he represents the western world’s habit of making white people the “default”. I would argue that this is a smokescreen for other problems the leftists don’t want to fully admit to, but let’s start with race…
Black Santa Claus
The leftist trend in recent years has been to hijack Santa Claus and make him non-white (as they have tried to do with almost every other icon of the west). They pushed hard to make “Black Santa” a thing over the past few years and it’s not working out for them.
This is not to say that black people can’t dress up as Santa Claus; they can do as they please. However, the idea of taking a centuries old western figure based on a real person and then co-opting their image and pretending like this doesn’t matter – Isn’t this the evil practice of cultural appropriation that leftists accuse white people of doing all the time?
Let’s be clear, the default of western culture IS white. White people created it and built it and so most of our celebrated figures are going to be white people also. Leftists are never going to successfully sell Black Santa as a cultural norm, just as it would be impossible to steal African folk heroes and turn them white.
Santa Takes Credit Away From Parents?
Another common argument I hear against the idea of Santa Claus is that parents are pressured to purchase gifts for their children on Christmas while telling them that those toys are coming from a fantasy figure (and a white fantasy figure, too! Oh, the horror!). Progressives want their children to give THEM credit for the money spend on gifts, not a magical white guy in a red suit.
Not surprisingly, these people have missed the point of gift giving on Christmas, though it is funny to see leftists essentially arguing in favor of meritocracy and individual recognition.
I see the idea of Santa Claus as very useful, not only as a way to bring a little wonder into the tradition for children, but also as a way to keep adult egos in check. Giving Santa credit for a gift is a valuable exercise in humility that every parent needs. The gift should not be about you, it’s about the happiness that the gift inspires.
Gift giving is not a trade for adoration, but that’s exactly how narcissists see it. And since the political left is absolutely infected with narcissism these days it’s not surprising that they hate Santa Claus for taking attention away from them at Christmastime.
Santa Has A Naughty List, But What If You’re A Moral Relativist?
Keep in mind that a lot of progressive academics that write criticisms of the holidays don’t have any kids. They are childless cat ladies and beta males with no experience in creating and caring for a family. Their opinions are worthless when it comes to child rearing (and most other things). That said, this doesn’t seem to stop them from giving advice on the trappings of teaching kids the value of morality and the consequences of their actions.
It might be a fading tradition but for the longest time parents have told children to be on their best behavior around Christmas because if they don’t they could end up on Santa’s naughty list and get coal in their stockings. Leftists argue that this punishment and rewards system should not be a part of Christmas.
Firstly, people without kids don’t understand that when the youngsters are on a school break for two weeks straight and everyone is stuck together in close quarters in a house in winter there is a need sometimes for extra policing. You use whatever tools are at your disposal because reasoning with children only works half the time. Their brains aren’t fully formed yet (like woke activists), and they tend to act out wildly based on impulse and emotion.
I really don’t think that lefties are particularly upset by the idea of Santa having a naughty list (I’ve never met a well adjusted parent that went beyond the threat and didn’t have presents for their sons and daughters on Christmas). I think they are upset by the idea of moral compass and discipline. They seem to think that children simply raise themselves and that the parents never need to do anything to mold them into proper adults.
This is exactly why our society is in a death spiral today; because progressives have convinced so many parents to stop parenting.
Santa (Like Christ) Represents Individual And Voluntary Charity
Leftists are socialists (or communists) – It’s the foundation of almost all their beliefs, and the root of socialism is the sacrifice of the individual for the sake of the collective. Meaning, the government in the name of the majority must intervene in the affairs of individuals in order to force them to serve the interests of the group.
In other words, leftists believe that the environment determines everything and people will not do good for society unless they are extorted into it by the system. In a way they fulfill their own prophecy by making it almost impossible through the legal environment to do good for others unless you have permission from the authorities.
Over the years I have noticed that one highly destructive side effect of socialism is the exponential decline in personal charity. If the government handles everything, why should the average person take action to help others? Why even care? And if you do still care, it doesn’t matter because the system will punish you for acting on your own accord.
There’s a reason why socialist and communist regimes are mostly atheist and seek to eliminate Christianity through history; the government must become god and they can’t allow any alternatives to exist. When you see progressive governments ban private charity activities or prosecute people who go out on their own to help the homeless, you might be confused and wonder what the motivation could possibly be?
It makes perfect sense when you realize that leftists see voluntary charity as competition with their own god (government). In the past they have even tried to misrepresent Jesus as an early socialist figure, when in fact Jesus promoted individual acts of compassion, not deferring to a government authority.
The underlying impetus for socialism is forced wealth redistribution, but in a world of voluntary charity there is no need for governments to control wealth or property. That is to say, socialists exploit the existence of poverty as an excuse to take control of all personal wealth (and thus control the population). They can’t do that when Christianity, Christmas and symbols like Santa Claus show people there’s a better way.
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When my daughter was six or seven years old, she asked me who Santa Claus really is. I told her about Saint Nicholas and that he lived many years ago. The next week after church her Sunday School teacher told me I was an awful parent for telling my daughter that Santa Claus is dead. I thought I was doing the right thing but I guess I got it wrong. Our family still enjoyed Christmas after that. Santa Claus was never the main focus of our Christmas anyway. Jesus Christ and being together as a family was what we found to be important.
The Sunday school teacher was right, he’s not dead. Saint Nicholas’ work (inspired by Jesus) lives on through our folklore and our mythology. That’s why leftists want to get rid of the symbol. The tradition of Santa does not interfere with the celebration of Christ, it’s part of that celebration. There’s nothing wrong with doing both.
Brandon, you are right. I wish I had found a better way to word my response to my daughter. I didn’t have a good response for her Sunday School teacher either. My intention was not to ruin the idea of Santa Claus or of gift giving.
David, this is a good way of delivering the Santa message.
https://liveorthodoxy.com/en/2017/12/06/2017-12-06-saint-nicholas-or-santa-claus/
Hey Brandon, another great article!
About 20 years ago I argued with my cousin’s husband that Christianity wasn’t under siege by the government and schools in this country. Hadn’t really noticed the trends because I am not a parent and not religious.
Boy, was I ever wrong about that. Much of the misery we have in our culture today is directly a result of the war on Christianity and the replacement of solid moral values with poor choices, poor role models and a vacuum of responsibility.
The U.S. is not well prepared for the coming crises, and that includes a moral crisis of right and wrong.
Remember the 1980’s and 90’s when leftists were the easy going, fun types? I do.
I grew up in a preacher’s family and attended a conservative church and strict parochial schools. Because of my father’s position I felt a lot of constant pressure to act and look perfect since I was a child. I developed social anxiety as a result. The TV and movies revealed a world of people who were not obsessed with long lists of strict rules, who did not always look serious, who were okay with having a good time.
Now the Left are a bunch of angry killjoys. SNL has become the Church Lady.
That the next generation of lefties has gotten worse is part of it. They hate Santa just because he is harmless fun. Fun keeps people from smashing things. Laughter keeps people from taking themselves too seriously. Big threats to communism. Almost as bad for it as charity (unconditional love).
All leftists I’ve ever talked to about the topic think that socialism is the exact same thing as people voluntarily sharing and helping one another. They seem incapable of understanding that socialism is slavery by an all-powerful unopposable ruling class that has malevolent motives in just wanting to do whatever they want and get away with it at everyone else’s expense. In other words, they don’t recognize it as a giant scam and the perpetrator of mass murder wherever it’s been tried. It’s like they see nothing wrong with political slavery and all the murder, and can’t understand anyone objecting to it.
Just to expound on the myth of “pagan Christmas” and how it has been debunked – The claim that Christmas is actually Satunalia is disproven by historians. There is zero evidence supporting the idea which was fabricated first by certain sects of Puritan zealots and then adopted by leftist academics rather than people who actually study the early Christian era. It was held on Dec 17, not Dec 25, and focused on animal sacrifices and a loosening of moral rules. Christmas was started as a completely separate tradition with separate beliefs and a Christian message.
The claim that Christmas is actually the Solis Festival? Debunked. The Solis Festival doesn’t show up on the Roman calendar until 354 AD. That’s hundreds of years AFTER Christmas celebrations were started. It was an attempt by pagan Romans to undermine Christianity.
Records show that Christmas was being celebrated widely by Christians since at least 115 AD on Dec 25th. Keep in mind, Christians were still persecuted at this time and had no power whatsoever to “co-opt” any pagan celebrations.
The claim that Saint Nicholas was Turkish? False. He was Greek and born of Greek parents in a Greek colony in Turkey, as part of the Roman Empire.
Here is an excellent synopsis with a list of historical facts and reference links breaking down the Christmas paganism claim and why it’s a lie. For anyone clinging to this notion, I recommend they study the facts and abandon the disinformation they have been taught by progressive propagandists.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2021/12/christmas-dec-25th-not-derived-from-saturnalia.html
Thanks for posting the truth about Christmas and St. Nikolai. My parents and grandparents were born and/or raised in Harbin China, and since my childhood, I always heard the story of St. Nikolai. This particular story was told to me long before the existence of the public internet because my family was in Harbin when it happened and remember the giant icon at the train station.
https://www.stnicholascenter.org/who-is-st-nicholas/stories-legends/modern-miracles/miracles-china/rescue-in-harbin-china
You can go to the home page for more info about this wonderful Saint.
What if Jesus started His ministry when he was 30 years old?
What if Jesus’ ministry started when when He (the Most High) was baptized (anointed) in the beginning of the last week (7 years) of Daniel 9:24-27?
What if Jesus ministered for 3.5 years until He (Messiah) was cut off in the midst of the 70th week? (Daniel 9:24-27)
What if Jesus’ death is KNOWN to be 15 Abib (in March – April) and His birth must be 6 months apart (in September – October)?
What if the Biblical feasts pointed to Jesus?
What if 6-30 December is a bit cold for the shepherds to stay outside with their flocks?
What if there was no space in the Bethlehem inn during the census and Jesus was born outside in the fields where the lambs for the temple sacrifices were raised?
What if shepherds were led to Him and the angels sang for joy?
What if the feast of Sukkot, on 15 Tishrei, is 6 months apart from 15 Abib?
What if the feast of Sukkot was celebrated by staying outside in booths and it was a feast of great joy?
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It sure seems to indicate that Jesus was born on the feast of Sukkot.
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What if cutting a tree out of the forest and decking it with silver and gold is an older tradition than Saint Boniface in 725 AD?
Thus saith the LORD, Learn NOT the way of the HEATHEN, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the HEATHEN are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people [the HEATHEN] are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
Jer 10:2-4 (about 627 to 586 BC, more than 1000 years before Saint Boniface)
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What if the war on Christmas is yet another Luciferian ploy to get conservatives to rally around a HEATHEN custom?
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What if Christians need to choose between the Bible and their “holy” traditions?
“Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Mar7:9
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Does opposing a heathen tradition make someone a raving liberal?
Except your “what if’s” are all disproven nonsense. The date of December 25th for the birth of Jesus, is a straightforward deduction from Scripture, analyzed in conjunction with historical knowledge about those who worked in the temple. St. Luke related the announcement of the birth of St. John the Baptist to his elderly parents, St. Zechariah and St. Elizabeth. St. Zechariah was a priest of the class of Abijah (Lk 1:5), the eighth class of 24 priestly classes (Neh 12:17). Each class served one week in the temple, twice a year.
Josef Heinrich Friedlieb has established that the priestly class of Abijah would have been on duty during the second week of the Jewish month Tishri, the week of the Day of Atonement or in our calendar, between Sept. 22 and 30. While on duty, the Archangel Gabriel informed Zechariah that he and Elizabeth would have a son (Lk 1:5-24). Thereupon, they conceived John, who after presumably 40 weeks in the womb would have been born at the end of June. For this reason, we celebrate the Nativity of St. John the Baptist June 24.
St. Luke also recorded how the Archangel Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth was six months pregnant with John (Lk 1:36), which means the Annunciation occurred March 25, as we celebrate. Nine months from March 25, or six months from June 24, renders the birth of Christ at Dec. 25, our Christmas.
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Records of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th go back to at least 115 AD, LONG before Christians had any power to co-opt a pagan holiday – Also, NO PAGAN HOLIDAYS WERE CELEBRATED ON THE 25TH OF DECEMBER at the time the Christmas tradition was started.
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You have been lied to. Stop repeating the lies and learn actual history.
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PS: Side note – the average temperature in Israel in December is 50F to 73F; that’s warmer on average than Southern California in December and more than warm enough to herd sheep. AND there was a warming period in Israel at the time of the birth of Christ, meaning it was even warmer back then than it is today. Please use critical thinking.
Also consider that the pagan Julian calendar was in place at the time of Christ’s birth. Traditional Orthodox always use the old calendar for church holidays. Of course not because it’s pagan in creation, but it’s what was in place during Christ. Christmas is always January 7th (new calendar), which is December 25th on the Julian calendar – to reinforce the point of your reply above. There is a 13 day difference. Easter (Pascha) is calculated from the spring equinox, Jewish calendar and the phase of the moon – even though earthly calculations have no bearing on anything divine, but this is what we get. The astute observer will notice the natural succession of events between the Jewish and Christian holidays when looking at Christian holidays on the old calendar.
As a side note, Zelensky has banned the long standing traditional Orthodox church in Ukraine (UOC) and created the false new calendar OCU church. This is not good!
Yes, and it’s also important to remember that for hundreds of years after the birth of Christ there were attempts by the Romans and others to destroy written Christian records (the Solis Festival was created by pagan Romans in 354 AD as a way to co-opt the Christmas holiday – Then idiots today argue that Christmas was a co-option of the Solis Festival). The attacks even included records surrounding Saint Nicholas, which still pop up around 150 years after his death. Yet, enough archeological information survived to prove that the pagan holidays have NOTHING to do with Christmas. Leftists today have tried to use the destruction of Christian records from the first 400 years after Christ’s birth as a way to plant the seeds of doubt, but there’s still too much verified evidence and they have failed.
So Brandon, it looks like the real Saint Nicholas had an impressive beard but was not fat at all. Of course, back then, you had to be fairly wealthy and selfish (gluttonous) to be fat. How did Santa end up being morbidly obese in folklore? Is Santa being fat an attempt at undermining Christmas?
I don’t think everything needs to be a conspiracy. The most modern image of Santa Claus comes from the poem ‘A Visit From St. Nicholas’ published in 1848 by Thomas C. Moore. You might know it better as ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’. It was one of the most popular American poems ever written. Moore describes Santa as having a “round belly that shook like a bowl full of jelly”.
Just saw this great story about a very old and special icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker that was written for the future Czar of Russia (the last Czar).
https://tsarnicholas.org/2023/12/30/icon-belonging-to-nicholas-ii-discovered-in-the-funds-of-state-hermitage-museum/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3xtrKQ_CJQNng0UUPcdjUmHBl5QqoDGRBYk-lYOBJL0IjRw1XPcHyEtuk_aem_gcNBOuj2IheIq8DF4YKD0A
Making Santa Claus almost Christian is a bit laughable as the current fat guy in a red suit has zero relevance to the original Saint Nicholas. Furthermore, he helps take the world’s interest off the real meaning of Christmas, the birth of Christ. Lots of houses with Santas out front, but not many with nativity scenes or any other Christian symbols.
You forgot to address why is it okay for Christian parents to lie to their children as to where the presents come from? It is lying. Is it okay to lie about the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny too? I grew up in a Christian home and my parents told me from the beginning where the presents came from. They didn’t do this for credit, but truth for truth’s sake. I wasn’t deprived of any joy and enjoyed Christmas presents as much as any other child.
Incorrect and short sighted. Santa Claus is entirely Christian, from the real person to the traditional folk figure that he became. His ideals of charity were Christian and those ideals have been celebrated for thousands of years. It’s funny to me that some very arrogant people today suddenly think they know better and are smarter than the Christians of the past; as if those people were mistaken (or pagan) but you have it all figured out in your modern superiority. They were much closer to the events of Christ than you are. And, as noted in the article, Santa Claus is not just about joy for the child, it’s about HUMILITY for the parent; learning to give without expecting praise and adoration in return. Something you don’t seem to understand, because you obviously and deliberately skipped over that lesson.
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Finally, to ask a child to use a little imagination while giving credit to a folk figure for a gift is not “lying” because lying requires malicious intent. What do you gain from it, and what harm does it do? You gain nothing, and no child in the history of the west has ever been done harm by the Santa tradition. Nor has anyone EVER forgotten about Jesus because of Santa Claus. That claim is pure nonsense designed to justify a puritanical view meant to make you feel superior. Your argument is not meant to protect Christianity, it’s about making YOU feel better about your zealotry. You can celebrate the holiday however you like, but you’re not any better than people that bring the VERY old and original Santa Claus tradition into the equation.
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So, don’t get your panties in a twist over what other people do, especially when the manner in which they celebrate does zero harm. In other words, lighten up, Francis.