If I don't celebrate Christmas, why is it such a big deal that I don't believe in Santa Clause?
928155
It's not a big deal - believe what you want and remind them that if they are mean to you their Santa will only give them coal. Hey it's their belief and you should at least have something to say when they get annoying about it. BTW-Santa was based on an actual saint and the values he was modeled on of generosity, kindness, caring for children and good will are still valuable even if his character is a bit out dated.
4617
who doesn't?? Santa is the greatest man alive!! He gives free presents just to make us happy and to spread holiday cheer. i think that if more people started to actually take Santa seriously christmas wouldn't get as much bad press as it did last year (crimes & such):(
1163563
False, please don't talk so blasphemous about Santa.
764033
I fell into the trap around 8 to 10 years ago while working at a large corporation and because of diversity issues I was afraid of offending someone.  Not any longer, I have gone back to wishing people a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  My reasoning is that when you go into most public places, including department stores, they are decorated, and people are working for the Christmas Season!  Therefore I have taken back my right to wish people a Merry Christmas but,  I premise it by saying "May I Wish You A Merry Christmas" 98% of the time people are grateful that I have said Merry Christmas.  Like myself, people are getting tired of offending others by extending our Holiday Greetings in a way that it was meant to be.  If someone wished me a Happy Hanuka, I would graciously say Thank You and be grateful for their wishes.  \n\nSecondly,  Yes, I do not appreciate people writing XMAS,  it is the CHRIST  MAS Season and people are being sucked into the delusion that this is not what it is about.  If people are non believers, than do not participate. I won't be offended.  I am not a religious nut by any means, but I feel stripped of my right to celebrate one of the most important events in our History (as Christians).  \n\nMERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND HAVE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.
353961
I like Christmas. Not because of the Santa thing, that's all commericalism to get us to spend money on worthless BS. And not because of the Jesus birth thing either, because I don't buy into that mythology. But oh, man, a lot of people do! Which means that I get the most time off for this holiday. Very, very important.
832447
Christmas is a stolen pagan holiday. In fact, Jesus can be argued to be a regurgitated Pagan deity. \n\nThanksgiving has little to do with Christianity - it has more to do with taking land from the people who were here first. Wait, I guess that would mean it has a lot to do with Christianity then.
7510
This is a very good question. As we all know that the true meaning of Christmas is gone and now turned into a commercial holiday. As for Santa Claus, telling a child about his or her presents came from the guy in the red suit, its just a tradition that's been passed on for many generations. In a way it is lying but as the child grows older and realized that there is really no Santa Claus then it gives the child the sense of what is real and what is not. As for the lying parents, I'm sure that when they were a kid, they've been lied to by their own parents so  like I said it is then passed on, and will continue for many many years.
774521
Um, I'm not sure if I'll count but I celebrate Yule (as I'm Pagan) without presents etc etc, but a few days later I do the whole present thing as well. I personally dont see whats wrong with spoiling loved ones at that time of year. (I know its becoming more and more commercial but nothings gonna change that), to me Yule/Christmas is a time for family and friends!
797175
no---Its a celebration Of Jesus Christ's birthday\n\nits not Santamas .....its not Xmas....its CHRISTmas
710847
While I'd personally rather be wished a Happy Holiday, I don't get all bent out of shape if someone says Merry Christmas, let alone boycott a store that doesn't greet me "properly" and acknowledge I'm not religious. I managed to survive last year getting wished Merry Christmas every time I went to the local Wal Mart, so even though I don't really celebrate Christmas myself, I don't have a breakdown over it.\n\nI personally celebrate the winter solstice. Not so much in the pagan tradition, just celebrating winter and the year's end. However, my family celebrates Christmas, so, I'm sort of stuck celebrating it a little. Regardless, I still don't tweak out about it. It's not worth getting bent out of shape and spending thousands in legal fees over.\n\nSome people might get upset because they don't celebrate Christmas and don't want to be wished a happy holiday they don't celebrate, but I'm not one of them.\n\nI prefer Happy Holidays myself because Christmas isn't the only holiday celebrated this time of year. Not everyone is Christian, not everyone celebrates Christmas. We've got Hannukah, Yule, Kwanzaa...probably others I'm missing. Christmas might be the biggest or most-celebrated holiday, but it's not the only one. Saying "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" is a good way for stores and business to wish people a happy holiday without being presumptuous and wishing them to have a happy holiday they don't celebrate.\n\nIt's sort of an example of political correctness gone awry. It's a good idea to be fair and recognize that not everyone is celebrating Christmas, but suing people for saying Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays is over the top. Let clerks wish whatever they want and if people don't like it, well, tough. It's no reason to start boycotting a store because they wished you the wrong holiday. Presumptuous, but sheesh, it's not going to hurt you or cause you such emotional trauma that you need to sue 'em for it.\n\nYou don't have to like it, but there's not reason to go on a legal bender for it. I'll admit I'm not fond of being wished Merry Christmas when I'm an atheist who would rather celebrate the spirit of giving and family, but I definitly don't start calling local lawyers the minute a clerk at Kmart or something says it. At least they're wishing me a happy holiday, whatever I happen to celebrate.\n\nI'd rather smile and wish them a happy holiday and be giving this time of year, rather than turning around and slapping people with a lawsuit because they wished me the wrong holiday. Season for spreading joy and happiness, not overblown, unnecessary lawsuits, y'know?
769268
I'm really not sure on that one!  I don't think he should be though!  If we can't celebrate the birth of Jesus or have God in school then why should santa be allowed there?
6811
I love Christmas. I love the idea of passing on the celebrating of the birth of Christ to the children. I hate the commercialization and the "Keeping up with the Jones'" aspect of it, that's so prevalent nowadays. I remember a day when parents didn't have to over-extend their credit and take out a second mortgage on their house to buy presents for the children.\n\nI wish there was a way to celebrate His birth closer to the "real" date that it "actually" took place. I guess it would be difficult to celebrate the birth of Christ before Easter when we commemorate His death on the cross.
12224
Christmas is no longer a religious holiday. It is a commercial holiday endorsed by the toy companies and the greeting card industry.\nChristmas, once called Yule before Christians took over the holiday, has been around far longer than the Christian religion. It was, and still is, a Pagan holiday celebrated during the Winter Solstice.\nChristmas is a time for families to get together, to  eat good food and listen to stories you've heard a million times. It's for turkey and mashed potatoes, and Christmas trees and broken ornaments. It's for watching your father fall off the ladder trying to put those icicle lights up just the way your mother wants, and watching little children's eyes light up when they see the "From: Santa" sticker on their presents.\nAnd please, not to be rude, but if you're going to call me a hypocrite, at least have the courtesy to spell the word correctly.
746648
Yes. Santa is real, if you believe in him! I think the world would be a much better place if people quit trying to destroy other peoples' happy illusions.
1187867
Yes I believe in Santa Claus. There was a fellow who went around doing good deeds for people named Saint Nicholas. He was became a Saint in one of the branch of the Christian Religions. He lived in Turkey during the 4th Century and he was best known for his good deed to a poor man who had three daughters all of them wanted to get married but the father had no money for a dowery for each of his daughters. So that none of them would become prostitutes, Nicholas as he was called at that time went to the man's house and through an open window placed money in each of the daughter's stockings. Hence the idea of putting gifts in one stockings. There is a shrine to him in Bari Italy. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of archers,children,prostitutes, lawyers and pharamacist plus a few other people in different trades. So yes there really is a Santa Clause and he wasn't made up by coke-a-cola.
811534
I believe in Santa - Because of the spirit of giving and spreading joy to people. So, in a sense- there is a part of santa in people.
904104
Wow..someone is really missing the whole point of christmas. Thats really sad Cynthia K if you dont know that the whole idea of santa claus was based on a man who really existed. Christmas is about the birth of jesus, and is about others being kind and warm to each other and showing how much they love each other. It was based on Saint Nicholas (dutch), who gave presents to poor children. The custom of giving gifts on a special day in winter was around before christianity came to be.  The first Dutch settlers who came to America had a figure of Saint Nicholas on the front of their ship. After christianity was well established, Saint Nicholas became a customary symbol among christians for christmas. The Dutch celebrated the feast day on December 6th and said Saint Nicholas visited their homes the night before leaving gifts. In time, English settlers adopted the legends and festivities associated with Saint Nicholas. English-speaking children spoke the Dutch name for the saint, Sinterklaas, quickly and excitedly so that it sounded like Santy Claus or Santa Claus.