Santa Claus: I Don't Do Poor Countries

Here’s an interesting thing. Santa Claus, apparently he doesn’t do poor countries.  This is something that international aid organization UNICEF revealed in their new ad which is playing in Sweden.  An ad that although is harsh, really does get the point across.

The ad features a Santa at his desk, going through medical supplies destined for countries that need more health care than the hot new toy. He shows disdain for these items, culminating with Santa Claus coldly declaring “I don’t do poor countries.” To remedy this? UNICEF’s tag line at the end of the ad said, “We go where Santa doesn’t — Buy your Christmas gifts at unicef.se..”

And according to the NY Daily News the gifts include stocking stuffers like malaria tablets, rehydration bags and polio vaccines. You check out the video right here: Continue reading »

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Krampus!

The Travel Channel will air Anthony Bourdain’s annual holiday special on Monday, December 12, but it won’t air the excellent stop-animation below as part of it. Bourdain wrote the story for the animation based on the legend of Krampus, Santa’s sidekick in Austria and parts of Germany. Krampus reminds me a lot of the Zwarte Piet figure in the Netherlands. Like Zwarte Piet, Krampus uses a switch to whip children who’ve been bad and stuffs them in a sack. Unlike Zwarte Piet, Krampus isn’t black and a former slave (ahem), he’s an awful looking demon-type creature who would scare the chocolate out of any kid. (Which is likely why this piece was cut). Take a look and let me know if you think your kids could handle it: Continue reading »

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The man, the myth, the legend...

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or simply “Santa” is a legendary figure who, in many Western cultures, brings gifts to the homes of the good children on Christmas.

You know this.  But did you know how the American version of Santa Claus came to be?

The American version of Santa Claus – and the world that surrounds him including Mrs Claus, Rudolph and the North Pole – is a combination of a historical figure, many different legends, the work of American writers and illustrators and yes, the advertising creations of corporations.

Click onward to see how what we currently know as Christmas and the legend of Santa Claus came to be.  After reading this, you’ll be prepared to answer any and all childrens’ questions about who Santa Claus really is and where he comes from.

It all started with a man who lived 1,700 years ago in what we now know as Turkey…

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Please: don't ruin it.

Look, we all agree that the Santa myth is a ruse, and as a culture we collectively condone and perpetuate his legend for the benefit of children and amusement of adults. But it’s clear that not everyone thinks there’s any benefit to believing in the jolly old elf. Many of our readers have chimed in to tell us (both last year and this) that they feel children shouldn’t be lied to about Santa, that Santa is nothing more than a marketing ploy and that children should know who is paying for their gifts. Some readers have written that they have not told their children that Santa brings some or all of the family’s Christmas presents because they remember feeling betrayed by their parents when they discovered the truth as youngsters. Others simply think the whole thing is silly and that children deserve the dignity of the truth.

I understand all of those perspectives, and mentioned in my post about the Chicago newscaster who blurted out on air “There is no Santa!” that I have considered coming clean about old St. Nick to my daughter, who is now 6. I’ve held my tongue so far, and I figure kids in school will start the “Santa isn’t real” whispers soon enough. I can’t remember at what age my classmates started buzzing about how babyish it was to believe in Santa, but one Rockland County teacher just ruined it for her students — who are only in second grade. Continue reading »

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Bah, humbug!

A Chicago news anchor caused terrible controversy this week when she blurted out on air, “Stop trying to convince your kids that Santa is Santa …. There is no Santa.” In a grandiose display of bad taste, Fox news anchor Robin Robinson continued to rant about precisely why parents should just come clean and tell their children at a very young age, “He’s not coming down the chimney, he’s not eating those cookies, he’s not bringing you anything.”

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I have lied to my daughter. I have already started her down the make believe road of Santa Claus and his worldwide visiting frenzy each December 25th.

I want her to believe in Christmas. I want it to be a magical time and I am willing to risk the huge letdown she’ll feel when she finds the truth in exchange for several years of mind blowing joy. I am hopping on board the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny trains as well. Life is chock full of depression, pain, sadness so hell, why not indulge in a few years of magic?

Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus are the classic parenting lies. But parenting is filled with lies. In an article on Patch.com Chris Sansbury asked readers to share the lies their parents have told them. I also solicited my Facebook pals who offered up some doozies. Continue reading »

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Santa Claus Is Dead

Santa Claus is dead. Not the man of myth who magically brings presents on Christmas Eve and who keeps that list of who has been naughty or nice, but rather the ruby cheeked, chubby, white haired man who played Santa Claus for decades at our local Macy’s.

John Toomey was the only Santa Claus (in physical form) that my daughter knew. He was jolly, funny and seriously looked like Santa. In comparison to other Santa’s that her pals went to see, ours was the best. He was so accurate looking that almost all the little ones who sat on his lap truly believed he flew in from the North Pole to hold court with them.  But now this Santa is gone… Continue reading »

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