I am amazed that every Christmas people say that children need to believe in Santa Claus and that for Christmas to be magical they must believe that Santa delivered their presents. All I can see is this being a sure way of destroying children’s imagination because this ubiquitous white bearded creature, who has nothing to do with the real Santa, is pre-programmed belying children’s wonderful ability of imagination. Even as a non-theist, and an ex catholic, I am offended on behalf of all the Christians who try convey a message of tolerance and peace all year and not only when Santa tells them to.
Saint Nicholas, who was born in what is now Turkey, and whose ‘saints day’ is celebrated on 6 December among many Christian nations,always tried to help the poor secretly and I imagine he would be more than appalled that the Anglo Saxon world made him the figurehead of Christmas ahed of JC. He is probably spinning in his grave since the red and white clad Santas started harassing people in the name of consumerims.
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=167