German Catholics Call for ‘Santa Claus-Free Zones’ This Christmas
- Posted on October 6, 2010 at 11:53am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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A group of German Catholics has started a campaign against Santa Clause, hoping to return Christmas to its original emphasis on giving, not just receiving. It also wants to fight consumerism, since Santa is “an invention of the advertising industry designed to boost sales.”
From Reuters and MSNBC:
A group of German Catholics wants to do away with Santa Claus because of the fictional figure’s commercial hype and replace him with St Nicolas and the selfless giving they say he represents.
The organization sees Santa as “an invention of the advertising industry designed to boost sales” and as “a representative of consumer society” who has little to do with the historical figure of St Nicolas.
Its website describes Nicolas, the patron saint of children, as “a helper in need who reminds us to be kind, to think of our neighbors, and to give the gift of happiness.”
The campaign is supported by several German celebrities.
“Unlike Santa Claus, Nicolas wants to give children inner riches and not just encourage them to strive for material wealth,” German TV presenter Nina Ruege was quoted saying.
Gawker is a little upset about the idea:
Next thing you know, they‘ll be trying to tell us that Valentine’s Day was created by the marketing department at Hallmark. Is nothing sacred?
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Comments (87)
capitalismrocks
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:33pm!!!WoW!!! When you have the very country that is the birthplace of the iconic Kris Kringle – Santa Clause not wanting Santa’s to be freely around its country, that is a very horrid and poor sign for the future, I hope Germans voice their opposition and strongly reject such a decision.
Report Post »AmericanSubject
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 7:59pmEurope is ruled by Fabian Socialists the population is devided into sheep and wolves
Report Post »SICKANTIRED
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:31pmProgressives hate Santa Claus and I don’t know why..after all they have so much in common..Claus only works one day a year..he’s overweight, smokes ( and who knows what’s in the pipe) has eight reindeer and one funny one pulling a sleigh while he goes around breaking into houses. He has a bunch of little people working for him for nothing building products that he gives away free..now I ask you, is that anyway to run a business..he lives in a house with his wife and shows no visible means of support.
Report Post »RESTORATION1787
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 7:02pmSanta is equated with Christmas, The birth of Christ. The birth of Christianity. Progressives are not in the belief of a higher power, Especially Christianity and will try to extinguish the religion or reference any way they can.
Report Post »roberja
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:29pmsorry -What are they going to do about the Kriskindle?
Report Post »roberja
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:21pmWhat are they going to do the Kriskindle? He represents the Christ child and brings the gifts. Mr. Hanky? Sorry wrong answer! I believe they were referring to Jesus, hard to understand I realize but there is hope for you.
Report Post »lihartke
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:11pmActually, I love that idea! How many people give Christ mas gifts and don’t even believe in Jesus Christ? Those same people that give and get gifts try to not let us have our mangers in the town square. If we can’t have our mangers with baby Jesus then, I’m all for removing Santa from Christ mas! They are Hypocrites.
Report Post »A1955Rosie
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:11pmThey are making way for sharia. I agree it’s TOO commercial however this is celebrated in part on a child and a saint. Don’t let them give you every logical reason to stop christian religion in America. In our EAGERNESS TO ACCOMODATE we are loosing our principlas and morals. Guess what religion wants to be THE ULTIMATE LADIES?
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:06pmI think this is a good idea. When you go back and research the origins of many of our traditions during Christmas, they have questionable and troublesome beginnings. Research makes you realize that time really is the ally of deceit.
Report Post »Freedom fighter
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:03pmIs about time that people relized we were losing the meaning of Chirst birthday. The whole santa thing was a good idea but in this day and age its just another marketing tool it has no meaning anymore.
Report Post »megansmom
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:53pmWe haven’t done Easter bunny or Santa Clause in our house for years pretty much based on the same reason, it’s about the resurrection and birth not a furry make believe bunny a for mr clause. However we do a resurrection basket and a birthday party for Jesus.
Report Post »The_Big_Z
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:45pmSounds like a good plan. But, why St Nicolas? I thought that there was someone already associated with Christmas who was an example of selfless giving. What was his name?
Report Post »BornOkTheFirstTime
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:49pmMr. Hanky.
Report Post »Devil in Arkansas
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 10:29pmBornOkTheFirstTime:
ROFLMAO!!!
Report Post »RichardSaunders
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:44pmSanta Claus is OK with me … and I’m a Catholic. A return to the “real reason for the season” would be a great improvement however… Wrong target, Good Message!
Report Post »Mithra
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:35pmThat sounds great to me as well. No Black Friday after Thanksgiving would be a treat too
Report Post »Catherine A.
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 3:38pmDITTO, Mithra! I’m sick of Thanksgiving being eclipsed by Christmas.
As a Christian, I consider Christmas the more significant holiday, but Thanksgiving is (or was) a great time for all Americans, of all faiths, to thank our Creator. But since I was I child, Christmas has been almost completely commercialized and has just about turned Thanksgiving into its appetizer. Don’t even get me started on Halloween.
I say, dump Halloween, dump Santa, and bring God back to Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Report Post »flagbearer
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:29pmSanta used to be such a joy, but greedy merchants/manufacturers/advertisers took the good elf and turned him into a false god idol. I’m all for scaling back and returning to a meaningful Christmas without all the comercialism. Let Santa come, but have him take a back seat to Jesus Christ. How many people go to church on Christmas Day? I don’t think the president or his family did.
Report Post »BornOkTheFirstTime
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:39pmNo, sir, they will not. They’ll be at Cordova.
Report Post »Contrarianthinker
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:28pmAs long as they don’t try to get a law passed, fine to educate and convince people to make Christmas a celebration of Chist’s birth
Report Post »Devil in Arkansas
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:58pmContrarianthinker,
I agree 100%. Commercialism of Christmas has gotten out of hand, and the original meaning lost in the shuffle. However, the typical knee-jerk reaction is, to ‘pass a law’ that gives any group with a gripe the means to institute a heavy-handed approach. Why can’t those who oppose the way this holiday is now celebrated, simply use the most fair method of expressing their views, and develop a media campaign to get their message out, instead of restricting the freedoms of those who choose to celebrate it in the manner of their choosing? Or is that too much trouble for them? Sheeesh.
Report Post »The Dude
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:27pmMaybe they can gather all the Santa’s together, put them on trains and take them somewhere undisclosed?
Report Post »leftiesaredangerous
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:23pmAnd the problem is…?
Report Post »patriot4ever
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:19pmI think it’s a good thing…we (our family) quit doing the commercialized Christmas thing years ago, no one expects anything from anyone. No one goes deeper into debt or has to deal with the shopping nightmare. My celebration is personal, usually spending it by myself with a Happy Birthday prayer to Jesus.
Report Post »JB-Illinois
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:11pmCan we do this with Politicians? Remove ADS during elections..???
Report Post »Remove pro agenda media …..
missmarie
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:09pmAn opportunity exists to educate Jeff Neumann, author of the article on the Gawker. He asks “Is nothing sacred?” Well, since you used that term, I have to go with the Catholics on this one, as the definition of sacred includes:
1) a. dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity
b. devoted exclusively to one service or use
2) a : worthy of religious veneration : holy
b : entitled to reverence and respect
3) of or relating to religion : not secular or profane
Sacred is religious by definition, so I’m thinking that is exactly what the Catholics are saying.
Star Spankled
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:09pmAs long as no ones trying to take Christ out of Christmas I’m ok with it .
Report Post »BornOkTheFirstTime
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:36pmToo late.
Report Post »PeachyinGA
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 3:41pmYou must have gotten stuck in the way-back time machine. Sadly, the true meaning of Christmas was successfully watered down a long time ago.
Report Post »Deutscher
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 5:30pmThere is no “Christ” in the German word for Christmas, so no worries.
Report Post »RESTORATION1787
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 7:50pmIt won’t be much longer, They have been trying for years.
Report Post »Stevsea
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:05pmGood, more toys for everyone else.
Report Post »pr0mma0ut2help
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:04pmi dont mind this 2much
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:02pmI have long been bothered by how commercialized our holidays have become. I am on the way to the halloween store to throw away $40:) Just Kidding. I love the Thanksgiving celebration the most since we just spend time with friends and family. No useless obligation of gifts.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 3:40pmWe also tried to focus more on Thanksgiving than Halloween, and tried to mold our Christmas celebrations more around the birth of Christ than the presents under the tree.
I was called a grinch when we basically banned the “Ho,ho,ho!” when our son was born. We managed to get around “Santa Claus” by celebrating St. Nicholas Day (December 6th), which primarily involved chocolate candy coins. I tried to reschedule the gifting to January 6th, but the best I could do for years was one [small] gift a day between Christmas and Epiphany.
Since the grandparents have passed away, Christmas has become greatly reduced in size and scope. It’s a much quieter day for us, with more of a focus on Christ’s birth. Our gifts for one another are chosen more on need rather than for show.
My extensive collection of Christmas music does not include reindeer, singing snowmen, or nice/nasty lists. Our son, now an adult, never felt deprived.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:02pmCommunists all……
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:01pmno problem with that
Report Post »Independent Tess
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 12:34pmSanta has been completely commercialized and for many the Christmas holiday has become a Greedfest. The original idea of St. Nicholas has been lost.
Report Post »We celebrated with gifts, but my kids knew from the beginning that Santa was a personification of giving (not getting) and not a real person. It never took anything away from the fun and magic of our Christmas celebrations.
GENZERO
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:07pm@DimmuBorgir…I agree, I too have no problem with the true meaning of Santa Clause being returned form the commercial debauchery that has become known as Christmas. Christmas has been lost as an almost entitlement to receive rather than a true gift of giving.
And on a side note…how come i never hear any politician argue the redistribution of wealth as being exactly the same as being robbed by a burglar, carjacker, etc. All that this criminal is doing is wanting to redistribute your wealth??? Will all robberies become legal? Will everyone get and receive the exact same gifts for Christmas? Will Jessica find out that Chester has been cheating all along? Find out next time on SOAP!!!
Report Post »Skwerl E. Muckenfutch
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 1:25pm@Dimmuborgir….I am loving the username. I still like Santa though.
Report Post »VanGrungy
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 3:06pmSt. Nicholas, even as Santa Clause is far to valuable right now and going forward against the Jihad…
“Proposed return of his bones to Turkey
On 28 December 2009, the Turkish Government announced that it would be formally requesting the return of St Nikolaos’s bones to Turkey from the Italian government.[11][12] Turkish authorities have cited the fact that Saint Nicolas himself wanted to be buried at his birthplace. They also state that his remains were illegally removed from Turkey.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholas
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8432314.stm
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-196814-100-santa-clauss-bones-must-be-brought-back-to-turkey-from-italy.html
Wake up to the cultural jihad!!!
Who the hell are these so called Catholics who have disdain for the history of Christiandom and the great relics that now muslims want to claim…
And what do you really think muslims will do with a Saint that our Children hold dear in their hearts? Do you really expect the increasingly islamist Turkey to protect such sacred relics should Erdogan reach for the Caliphate brass ring?
Pay attention people… Santa Clause is the cushy cuddly kids Saint… Get to know your history and you won’t be so flippant about Hate for Santa.
Report Post »GeorgeSoros
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 3:06pmSanta Claus has been corrupted by the evils of capitalism much like everything else it touches, i suggest we stop giving gifts by way of this evil capitalist icon, and create a government entity to preform the fair and equitable distribution of holiday presents..
PeachyinGA
Posted on October 6, 2010 at 3:29pmAgreed, Santa is not the meaning of Christmas, nor is a tree, stockings, candy canes… But at the time that is all the left has allowed us to use in public places to celebrate and remind people of Christmas. Don’t expect to see Santa replaced with the more appropriate, Baby Jesus, nativity scenes, star of Bethlehem, the cross… Do expect to see all non-Christians symbols on display.
Report Post »Shagrath
Posted on October 7, 2010 at 1:49amFirst off Dimmu love your name that is an awesome band! Secondly doesn’t that quote from Gawker seem really stupid? “Is nothing sacred?” Apparently not! That’s what this article was about how they took something sacred (St. Nicholas) and completely warped it into Santa Claus.
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