Santa Claus—Religion or Tradition?

[SecularMotion]

Santa Claus can be seen just about everywhere this time of year. But when "Santa" disappeared from the name of a holiday event being held at Pearl R. Miller School, one parent was not pleased.

Sid Gautama questioned PRM Principal John Hynes about the reasoning behind the name change of an event that was previously called "Breakfast with Santa" now being called "The Winter Festival." The event, sponsored by the Pearl R. Miller School Home and School Association, is an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast being held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the school. Fliers for the event were sent out in the school's Friday Folder.

"My view is that celebrating the spirit of Christmas, as personified in Santa, is a completely sectarian non-religious activity, and the courts agree. I grow up in a non-religious family and am not a Christian, or any other organized religion, yet I have always celebrated Christmas," Gautama said. "I see Christmas as an American tradition."

http://triboro.patch.com/articles/poll-is-santa-a-religious-character

[Myrina]

1. "Christmas as an American tradition"

Aaaahahahahahahahahahaha :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Try again, Mr. Gautama.

[hyphenate]

2. I was thinking about that myself

this year. Santa Claus is, to me, a tradition. It's sort of like the Easter Bunny or Uncle Sam or Cupid. Let's face it--Cupid was one a religious figure, but I doubt a whole lotta people even know that. And certainly, for that same day, how many people know it came from "St. Valentine?" I remember it more for, strangely enough, the day of the St. Valentine's Massacre, for instance. (I watch a lot of crime shows!)

I'm now an atheist for the most part, but I grew up Catholic, and I can't really see Xmas being a "Christian" holiday anymore. It's a "holiday" (which came from "holy day" itself) but most people celebrate it with Santa Claus whatever they decide to call it.

[Atman]

3. I tend to agree with him.

Santa seems to transcend religion at this point. No, it's not strictly an "American" tradition, but I get his point. America certainly picked up the snowball and ran with, turning Santa into just another retail whore, just like we do with everything else. I see no reason why a school shouldn't be able to hold a Breakfast With Santa.

[MarkCharles]

5. "Pearl R. Miller School is a middle school for grades 6 through 8" from the link

Why would kids 10-13 need to see a Santa Claus? Especially those not of the Christian faith?

What kind of nonsense is this?

[Atman]

9. Okay, that is certainly a valid point.

It would seem a "Winter Carnival" makes more sense for this age group. I was just speaking to the larger issue of whether Santa is a religious figure or not.

.

[LiberalEsto]

4. Just rearrange the letters

in Santa, and you get SATAN.
Coincidence?
I think not.
:evilgrin:

[Rainbowreflect]

6. I don't know. Our neighbors have Santa in their nativity.

It looks like he is checking on baby Jesus. I think he maybe religious.

[deacon_sephiroth]

7. I've never seen that but it sounds kinda funny.

I don't have a problem with Santa, he's never done me no harm.

[Iggo]

8. Gotta admit "Winter Festival" sounds way cooler that "Breakfast With Santa".