It’s no secret that I hate the 
holidays. I have tried to celebrate them. My favorite holiday character is Scrooge; unlike him, I don’t have the ghosts of
Christmas past, present, or future to help me see the error of my
ways. I am so over the “God bless us every one,” I want to take Tiny
Tim’s crutch and knock him over the head with it.
We try desperately to hold on to the Christmas holiday traditions that
have been successfully preserved and embedded into our minds. We don’t
question the rather questionable customs. With Halloween, the
inevitable dangers are so widespread that we now have our candy
x-rayed and pedophiles have had their trick-or-treating rights
revoked.
Conversely, Christmas has remained unchanged with our ever-changing
times. Do we feel that Santa Claus is an acceptable holiday icon for
the children of today? He’s a really old man, who has no children of
his own, but loves kids so much he has spent countless years
overlooking poor little elves frantically slaving away as they make
toys for the Santa following children of the world. He is welcome into
your homes. If you think about it, Santa really fit’s the
stereotypical profile of a child molester. What parent would let their
child desire the attention of a grown man who has no children and a
never-ending supply of gifts and candy? (Michael Jackson) I would be
skeptical.
I just think it’s confusing. We teach children not to take candy from
strangers… with Santa being an exception. We still lug our kids to
the mall for the traditional sitting on Santa’s lap photo-op. I have
seen so many trembling babies being forced to sit on Santa’s lap so
mom and dad can capture the perfect moment of Baby’s First Christmas.
But all the babies are crying hysterically! They don’t want to sit on
some strange man’s lap! Still, you convince your kids to pose for
pictures. It’s traumatizing.
Santa is never ever liked at first glance – we have to teach kids
that he gives candy and presents, and then they love him. Is Santa
the foundation for all of the greed and excess in our
consumer-thriving, uncaring economy? He gets all the thanks and
gratitude while most people are still paying off last year’s holiday
generosity. We do it to ourselves.
Yay, Christmas. I’m still kind of amazed that any kid could buy into Santa’s existence anymore. I mean, it makes sense that 100 years ago he was up in the North Pole making blocks and hobby horses and other basic toystuffs in his workshop, but does any kid really believe that it’s him up there now making Ipads and pre-packaged Transformers? I guess kids will give the whole concept of Santa the benefit of the doubt as long as he keeps delivering.
That’s an interesting take on the subject. I can see your point. I, on the other hand, LOVE the holidays and I love the magic of Santa. I never overspend–nothing gets paid for with credit–and it’s all about the thought that goes into giving.
Kudos, Kudos, Kudos – great post, Jessica. Not to mention that Santa is hardly an example of a healthy or fit person.
Good point!
Could I repost this on my Progressive Blogic blog?
Yes! Feel free…
Thank you – will post it sometime tomorrow.
I have a feeling the ghosts will come eventually…be patient. You just keep THIS up!!lol I see your point about Santa, but sadly, I still love enjoy Christmas with him around:)
I worked 13 years for a retail company in Texas, It completely ruined the holidays for me. So much greed and obligation. I would see people pay for their lunch with food stamps then buy very expensive gifts for their children with credit cards in the same transaction. I have seen ungrateful recipients of thoughtful gifts return them for cash,
and I am always the one having to clean up the after party mess. It can’t be a coincidence that every year around November all of my customers become jerks that rush and stress and transfer all their hate onto me. It was disappointing to witness my annual behind the scenes view of the true meaning of Christmas that thrives on consumers consuming it’s so easily diverted by the holiday smoke, mirrors, sparkly lights and candy canes. This will be the first Christmas I don’t have to work and will be spending the day with my new family. This post was written last year, and what a difference a year makes. We will see…
I’m just a big kid still I guess. I enjoy the Christmas season, although I don’t get into the gift buying frenzy at all. And I totally agree it brings out the worst in people and society in general…I just manage to steer clear of that part. Of course, I don’t have children that turn me into a monster yet, so…lol Maybe in time, but I hope not. Oh and by the way, I only meant that as a joke – about the ghosts coming for you. My attempt at humour totally failed:( The ghosts will come after those greedy folks who pepper spray others to get in line first! I hope this first Christmas with your new family is great!
Amen I could not agree more and yet somehow folks with our unique take on Christmas are somehow bastardized…everything that’s wrong is labeled as right etc. etc…
Good work, keep at it
Pingback: “Santa’s Sweat Shop” – reposted with permission « Progressive Blogic
F!@# Christmas. F!@# all the holidays, really. Why do we need ultra-extra-special-sparkly days to tell our loved ones that we love them and be together as a family? I agree with you. Being home on the holidays is all I’ve done so far in my life, and it’s boring and stifling and consumer driven. It has this mystic appeal that you’re supposed to live up to, and so we create this stupid beatific atmosphere “for the children.” Whatever. The kids are fine, they have a f!@#ing great time with sticks and mud, why are we going so far out of our way to provide expensive shit in glittery packages? The entire thing makes me want to punch face. Christmas Fight Club, anyone?
I fairly certain that if I slipped down a chimney of a stranger’s house to deliver things that I mysteriously knew they wanted despite the fact they had never seen me in person before, I would not be greeted with milk and cookies.
Jessica – Interesting post … I guess I’m an old fool – I love the holidays … all of it from the sentimental movies to the cookies to the story of Santa Claus and most of all the time spent with family and friends. Thank you – Susan
Jessica, This was a good post and an interesting perspective. I actually love Christmas – my favorite part being the Christmas Eve candelight service at church where we sing Silent Night. I do not, however, like the consumer focus that has become such a part of Christmas for so many people. Thanks for stopping by my blog this morning and liking my Christmas post. 🙂
By the way, if you want to get a better feeling about Christmas, watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” I watch it every year and it reminds me what Christmas should be about. Peace and Merry Christmas, Linda
Hi Jessica,
My column recently fielded a letter from a woman who was equally disappointed and depressed about the holidays. She found it as a time of great hypocrisy and disingenuous behavior. I think that the holidays as an ideal can be very beneficial; however, I agree with your points. What the holidays actually are and what they should be remain two very different things.
🙂
This made me laugh. I esp love the hitting Tiny Tim over the head with his crutch. Then again, I’m thinking of The Muppets Christmas Carol and Tiny Tim was a froglet.
I grew up without holidays and for me, this has been a very new thing with my husband who has done them forever. I think holidays can be very confusing for kids. One of the things that has turned it around for me this year is turning it a little upside down and putting my own bent on it, which takes the perspective of Winter Solstice. I.e. YAY Winter is almost over!!!
I told a friend, “this means spring is almost here.”
She told me I was certifiable. Lol.
Love your style of writing. Keep it up.
I totally dig the holidays…family time, Christmas cheer, the whole nine yards.
But I do have to agree with the child molester vision of Santa…and some of those mall Santa’s are really creepy looking! Same thing with the Easter Bunny…that’s some crazy shit right there…
Somebody asked me this evening what kind of special things we do in the States for Christmas. We heard about a special Romanian candy only available this time of year and some of the distinct German Christmas traditions. But when the question came to me…I couldn’t answer it. Have I already spent too many Christmases away from the US? Or is it so diluted that there are no more specifically American Christmas traditions? I suppose it doesn’t matter as long as I get to gorge myself on clementines, chocolate, and roasted almonds at all these German Christmas markets. 😉
Growing up, my mother emphasized that Christmas was not about Santa at all. I knew there was no Santa and I celebrated the birthday of Christ. II know other people celebrate it the way they want, but in my family its always another holiday we can get together and actually be together. So this has always been my favorite time of the year because of those reasons. I was more thankful.. yes I was fortunate to get presents but my family’s presence ended up being the highlight of my day
thanks for liking my post. have a good day!
Very well said. Glad you liked my post which lead me to your blog. I enjoyed reading this very much.
Hello. I just stumbled in, because I saw on that wordpress statistics thingy that you “liked” a post I did. Thank you. I am not familiar with this and have no clear idea about what that means, but it sounds good.
If you don’t mind I hang around here a bit and read.
And about St.Nikolaus – he’s just one form, there is Grampus, die Hullawez and another one I forgot. There is a large gap between what it was, and what it is, became, over the last 150 years. I have no idea whether Nikolaus-day was celebrated in America before WWI. I remember my first encounter with “Nikolaus”, and it was very frightening – and it was meant to be, because this was no loving catholic Saint but a damn aggressive heathen being from the woods that came through the door. I’m sorry, it’s early in the morning here, and I am pretty knackered, so please excuse my incoherent blab.
I always figured Santa Claus’ popularity fulfilled the need of some for a God substitute.
P.J. O’Rourke had a bit about it:
“God is an elderly or, at any rate, middle-aged male, a stern fellow, patriarchal rather than paternal and a great believer in rules and regulations. He holds men strictly accountable for their actions. He has little apparent concern for the material well-being of the disadvantaged. He is politically connected, socially powerful and holds the mortgage on literally everything in the world. God is difficult. God is unsentimental. It is very hard to get into God’s Heavenly Country Club.
“Santa Claus is another matter. He’s cute. He’s non-threatening. He’s always cheerful. And he loves animals. He may know who’s been naughty and who’s been nice, but he never does anything about it. He gives everyone everything they want without thought of a quid pro quo. He works hard for charities and is famously generous to the poor. Santa Claus is preferable to God in every way but one: there is no such thing as Santa Claus.”
Santa and child molester: hmm, interesting observation 😉
Uhm. I pretty much love everything about this. I’ve always been vaguely uneasy with the idea of Santa, and you put the “why” into words perfectly.
I think kids posing with santa is pretty hilarious though. They are generally uncomfortable and that moment makes a great Christmas card.
I agree with you about the Tiny Tim bit. I avoid all versions of “A Christmas Carol” as much as possible (except perhaps the Blackadder one). Anyway, Santa, like most holiday symbols, is what you make of him. I think the problem is less with Santa and more with parent’s attempts to manufacture a perfect childhood for their children. I believe in technical terms it’s called missing the forest for the trees.
Jessica,
I like the issues you raised. You are an institutional entrepreneur in the making!
Christmas is indeed an institution and Santa is one of its artefacts. The way it is used, is a reflection of a nation’s culture. I do agree that the “consumerism” version you refer to is on the extreme and is the characteristic of an institution evolving into an unwanted mutation.
On the other hand if Christmas and Santa are used to feel the gap between harsh reality and hope for children in deprived societies, then one may argue that there is still a point for its existence.
Very interesting picture you paint there. Always good to see the other persons viewpoint!
Interesting post. “We don’t question the rather questionable customs.” Indeed we don’t. I think it’s because we need the lies to survive, because we all agreed, that lies are necessary, not only about Christmas. Take capitalism, take Christianity, you name it.
At the end of the day you’ll simply be happy to see your children and loved ones at this event, especially when you’ve grown old.
Anyway, good posting.
Interesting back at ya! I like what you said but I feel that saying lies aid in survival is a bit dramatic. Lies aid in stabilizing denial. I don’t think the truth has ever killed anybody, if anything it strengthens you. If we all faced our truths just think about how much stronger we would all be. We might even be able to put forth the hard work and monumental effort it would take to implement positive change in our lives and the world. Lies are a disbelief in the existence or reality. It’s one big fat gelatinous copout….
Mostly the truth is not a truth but an agreement. It’s not done because one wants to be mischievous but because you don’t now better. And as the peer group stays with that opinion you’re not very keen on analysing deeper.
“If we all faced our truths just think about how much stronger we would all be.” Sure, but you don’t want to do that every day, maybe not even every month. You want to go on your one pace. It takes very much strength to cope with the real truth and I think nobody is to blame if he doesn’t want to know.
It’s been one of the main problems of mankind, to cope with the truth. And for sure does modern society want to know less and less of it. And the problems become bigger and bigger because of that. But to know the truth and not to commit suicide that’s the real challenge we all will have to deal with.
Happy Christmas, by the way.
I’m just going to assume that your seasons greetings send-off was really a seasons greetings F-U. Don’t be Butt-Hurt by what I said. I totally get your point and I’m grateful for it.
Not hurt at all, Jessica. I may have jumped a bit havily on this wagon but as I’m actually reading about how Nietsche struggled all his life with the problem of truth and when it’s rather advisable not to want to know it, I just couldn’t resist.
Greeting was but an offer to look at the funny side of this Christmas madness. No offence intended. See my posting here: http://cnorthe.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/christmas-kitsch-starts-rolling-out/
And permit another side remark: I don’t believe in protecting children from lies. If you trust in their cleverness and manage to keep truthfully to yourself everything will work out fine in this relationship.
Just ask yourself: who’s better off? Those who can cope with lies or those who will collapse when they discover they have been cheated? The demand to always tell the truth, is just another very “questionable custom”. Children shouldn’t be taught that it’s best not to lie. This is a lie in itself just to make life easier for those in power e.g. the parents!
Well – endless topic. But nice to chat about.
I have enjoyed your blog. You are funny. I think Christmas becomes stressful buying gifts keeping people happy, running around like a mad woman to make everything perfect….. to have a nice peaceful holiday…. but with 5 kids, a grandson, an ex-husband a husband who am I to think I will have peace on a holiday.. haha.
Hey, Jessica. Thanks for liking my post. I’m really happy to cyber-meet you! Since I’m Jewish, I’m not quite connected to the whole Santa Claus thing, but to be honest, I never understood how parents let their kids sit on strangers’ laps, so thanks for confirming that for me! I think it’s partly a matter of the emperor and his clothes. People don’t or can’t see the obvious.
Delightfully twisted reading, with a very good point at the end… Merry Christmas, and don’t forget that it’s only 17 days away! Ho! Ho!! Ho!!! Lol 😉
It’s interesting – I’ve been more honest than usual this year about not really liking Christmas and I’ve found a lot more people than I thought feel the same way! So why are we all such sheep? Especially those of us without children? Hmmm.
I enjoy the Christmas season for what it means to me, I do not enjoy of what it has become elsewhere, Thank you for a wonderful blog, I appreciate your talents and writing perspective
“I want to take Tiny
Tim’s crutch and knock him over the head with it.”
Hilarious! You rock, you young, hot miser, you!
AHHHH it’s not the ghosts you have to worry about that might set you straight, it’s the live weirdos who love Santa and put up plastic snow bubble nativity scenes that will get ya! HAHAHAHAHA keep touchin those keys!
http://yesisedit.wordpress.com/
It is an interesting viewpoint, worth thinking about … I have had it presented to me before but my personal experiences don’t reflect the damage that some people had. Is there a right way and a wrong way to “lie” to your kids? I was never told outright, I came to a slow realisation. I guess my folks had always incorporated a sly wink and nod during all the preparations, so somewhere deep down it was always a story, but it was exciting because we were the characters. We weren’t raised Christian so there was no Santa/God correlation.
As long as we’re on the subject of truth, it is worth noting that the myths surrounding child molesting are far more damaging than Santa. Child molesters aren’t usually old, they often do have kids of their own, and statistically the perpetrator is known and trusted by the victims and their family. They are often well employed and a pillar of the community. If we are going to teach our kids raw truth, why are we teaching them to fear strangers but not their dad or uncle? It’d be real nice to make truth a permanent fixture in everybody’s house, but I think as long as people are raping their own children you’re fighting an uphill battle with that.
After that epic comment … thanks for liking my post 😉
Really good comment thank you…
I enjoyed your post. I found you because you “liked” my blog, but I don’t really know where your found me to like. I’m glad you liked it.
But I digress. I’m rather “bah humbug” about the holidays myself. They seem little more than greed wrapped in pretty lights and sentimentality. I was the eldest child and the truth about Santa was presented to me as a secret shared that I had to keep quiet about for the sake of my younger sibs to make it fun for them. I felt special knowing the secret. It relieved me to get rid of an idea I had trouble aligning with my perception of reality, e.g. how could he get to every child in the world in one night? I used to worry about that stuff, as well as how could the Easter Bunny carry all those baskets without a sleigh?
Your take on Santa as a pedophile is wonderfully sacreligious. I use the term sacreligious on purpose because it seems to me, especially here in the Bible Belt, Santa’s image as “you better watch out . . . . he knows when you’ve been bad or good . . . ” is melded with the image of the other big man in the sky.
Having not been raised with any sort of make-believe traditions (Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, etc.), Santa is something that I have a hard time with. I don’t have kids yet, but I had a conversation with my boyfriend about what to tell future hypothetical kids about Santa. He thinks Santa is good. I think I would have a hard time lying to my kids about this fictitious superhuman being able to visit ALLLL the kids in the world in one night…..
um, bitter much?
seriously?? a child molester? nothing like having a little child’s innocence and believeing that there is something good about the world today, that someone would take the time and on one night to deliver joy to kdis.
i worked retail too and it never bothered me. its a hectic time for everyone but you gotta leave the stress of work at work. sounds to me like you brought it home and it ate away at you.
i’m in no way a believer in the birth of Jesus being on that night (how convinient it happened on that night?) but rather, i celebrate the night/day like the pagans did so many years ago (it was after all, about light taking back its rightful place above darkness)
it makes me a little sad that you have so much hatred for the season and this post almost felt like an attack on anyone who actually enjoys it. I dont know, the whole thing just rubbed me the wrong way.
to each their own i guess.
btw, the modern santa is a far cry from what st. nick from back in the day; north americans apparently needed one more excuse to shop and this was it. thats the sad part.
Are you reluctantly agreeing? I can handle the virtually painless verbal bashing but I’m trying to understand your point. And to be clear there was absolutely NO rubbing…
figure of speach?
and no, i’m not agreeing. i’m simply saying we can each have our own opinion. i just dont get why St. Nick had to be so perverted into such a horrible thing; whats wrong with what he stands for? yeah, some kids are scared of him but forcing your kids to like him can be squarely (sp?) blamed on the parents.
i dont know if you had a bad experience as a kid or what really formed such a hateful reaction to the season…..but it seems like you’ve lost sight to what this celebration is really about (and i’m not talking so much about the falsification of the celebration by the Church).
you just came off as really bitter.
i dont mean to offend, just commenting outloud (as opposed to thinking it)
Hi Jessica Ward! first, thank u for liked my current post although i didn’t writing in English, but soon I’ll translate it, I really appreciate it so much :). Second is, this post (Santa Sweat Shop) is an interesting themes. it takes couple times to read and understand due to my standard language, but at last i can see your point, and it gives me an idea to write about Christmas also, i can wait to be home for Christmas to share story for my daughter about the magic of Santa. anyway, wish you enjoy your Christmas eve. Cheers
~Askey’s (mossac.wordpress.com)
My own thoughts on the season:
Rethinking Christmas
http://shadowsofhistory.wordpress.com/2011/11/27/rethinking-christmas/
Thank you for sharing all this. The first one was funny as hell cose I’ve tried it myself and it works, there’s nothing more disgusting than flatulent man around and you walking right behind his arse lighting up matches, LMAO. Thanks again for sharing, made me start my day with a smile, and thanks for checking out my blog, glad you liked it. Lucianus
Love your honesty!
Jessica, I love this post. So funny I was just having this conversation with my fiance the other day. I explained to him we will raise our children with the knowledge of CHRISTmas and explain the toxic myths of “santa” and “others”. We believe it’s important that children know where the gifts come from (if even bought at home) and teach them that it’s giving of a positive spirit and of self and endearment and helping others that attracts positive attention, gifts, and so forth. The fun that is shared cooking and baking, traditional decorating and rituals, herbs and spices and scents and treats(and their history) and such, are more rewarding than a pair of jeans, hat, and scarf ANYDAY!