Ahh,
Christmas. A time for family gatherings, rejoicing, happiness, joy
and arguments.
Yes,
arguments.
While
doing my daily browsing of news and social websites, I constantly
come across the argument for Christmas. Facebook users: “I have a
Christmas tree, not a holiday tree”, Rick Perry's controversial
video “Gays in the military are ruining Christmas”.
The
debate of the true meaning of Christmas, what is origins are, where
did Santa come in to it? Truly, the list just goes on and the
variety of topics is diverse.
The
one argument that stands out to me at the moment is what to tell the
kids. Do kids have to believe in Santa for Christmas to be more
enjoyable? We hold this tradition with such high regard. Adults who
no longer believe in Santa hold on to the story for the kids sake.
But, really, how important is it to our children to believe in Santa
at all?
As an
atheist, I was quite at ease letting my children know, at an early
age, that Santa was not real he is merely a symbol for the event. My
children didn't enjoy Christmas any less, they still enjoyed the
presents, the family meal and of course the time off school. It
doesn't seem to have affected them as adults they are well adjusted
average people. So my question is: If it is okay for some children to
understand at an early age that Santa is not real? With no adverse
affects later in life and their Christmas is no less joyful, then why
are we so determined to insist that kids believe in Santa to the
point of making a huge deal out of it?. We place so much importance
on it but really is it more important to the adults than to the
kids?. Children don't even know the existence of Santa until we tell
them.
As
humans we make up a lot of stories just to make things nicer or to
feel better about ourselves, Santa and the Easter bunny are examples
of this and then we hold steadfastly to those stories and defend the
'use' of them, but to what advantage? We insist that kids believe in
Santa up to an undetermined age then they find that none of it is
real and they in turn have to start the tradition all over again with
their children. I mean seriously, who are we really fooling?.
Traditions hold fast with humans, we hold on to them and try to
retain the image for all of eternity but surely some traditions are
just moot.
Sure,
you think I am bah humbug about Christmas and yes, I am. Mainly
because I do not understand the ridiculousness of it all. The
hypocrisy, the lies, but mostly the corporate push to buy lots and
lots of silly presents. Spend, spend, spend. How many of you get into
debt over Christmas?.
I
think it is time for the human race to grow up and stop all the silly
stuff. I can't help but think that perhaps evolution is taking a back
seat when it comes to the thoughts of certain humans. There doesn't
seem to be any evolving intelligence at all. It really is okay to
say there is no real Santa and still keep the Christmas tradition
alive and as for Christmas being a religious event, well I think we
are all over that now. We know that Jesus wasn't born on the 25th
December and we can accept that regardless of the inconsistencies,
Christians can celebrate Christmas according to their religion
without affecting others and certainly other faiths or faithless can
celebrate in their own way as well. We don't have to push our ideals
on others we can enjoy the season any way we wish. But I certainly
don't want to have to tip toe around so that I don't actually mention
the lack of evidence for Santa's existence in front of a child.
Seriously, I don't like lying to anyone let alone a child!.
So I
am openly, publicly announcing, there is no Santa and I am no longer
going to lie about it. Please humans, get over yourself already and
admit that the world is real after all, just as we see it everyday,
just as our children see it everyday. We made this world what it is
today and regardless of good or bad, we have to accept it the way it
is.
