Santa Delusion

s/santa/god/g (this may be the nerdiest post I've ever made)

*looks up to see Santa’s sleigh flying over her head, shortly followed by Dan’s post* ~ www.fabulousmother.co.uk(link is external)

It's one of those corrupted Pagan myths, isn't it? And as for the Tooth fairy, it was always a welcome 20p. And when I complained to my parents about the lack of inflation, it magically became a pound for the last few teeth. I also wrote to Father Christmas once. Receieved the gift I asked for for Christmas AND a Christmas card from the man himself, courtesy of Royal Mail! Imagination is what children do best - what do you want? To ban Harry Potter too? Poetjude, you are in danger of sounding like a Christian! Magic is the Devil's work! And yet, aren't our own little beliefs and faiths the things that get us through?

Adults tell children loads of lies: That gooseberries are delicious. That eating crusts will put hairs on their chest. That their goldfish went to a better place. That standing up to bullies is a good idea. That they're just big boned. That atoms are the smallest things in the universe and look like little snooker balls. That actually protons, neutrons, and electrons are the smallest things in the universe and they look like little snooker balls. That people get rich by working hard. That policemen are always to be trusted. That mummy and daddy know what they are doing. That IT JUST IS! I don't think learning that Santa wasn't real upset or disappointed me in the least, in fact, as far as I recall, it felt like being let in on a secret.

But gooseberries ARE delicious, and they go pink when they're cooked! I vote for gooseberry crumble all round! Why are they called gooseberries?

What was that line in 'Almost Famous'? 'And then it was celebrating Christmas on a day in September when you knew it wouldn't be commercialised.' Does anyone know the real histories of the Santa and Tooth Fairy myths?

Why are they called gooseberries? From etymonline.com(link is external): c.1532, perhaps from Ger. Krausebeere or Kräuselbeere, related to M.Du. croesel "gooseberry," and to Ger. kraus "crispy, curly." Under this theory, gooseberry would be folk etymology. But OED editors find no reason to prefer this to a literal reading, because "the grounds on which plants and fruits have received names associating them with animals are so commonly inexplicable, that the want of appropriateness in the meaning affords no sufficient ground for assuming that the word is an etymological corruption." Which seems to be a very verbose way of shrugging and saying "dunno mate."

Jude, I wrote this a few years back when thinking of the same idea. J.X.M Christmas is for big kids too! The magic of Christmas is an often-elusive chimera that can elude the sophisticated. Life, and the vagaries of winsome fate, sometimes condition those of us “on the shady side of forty” to look with irritation or indifference on the “hustle and bustle” of Christmas. The overt commercialism of the holidays can be sometimes less than appealing. It is a mindset that I think we all would like to get more away from, returning to the religious and spiritual side of the holidays. But, we have to balance the commercial side of Christmas with the ecstatic smile of a small child who has just “talked to Santa” or written a hopeful letter to the “North Pole.” There are indeed “visions of sugar plums” delightfully whirling around in their small heads. Who among us does not remember wondering how Santa was going to climb down the narrow chimney with all of those toys? Or, how was Santa going to get around the whole world in a single night? And some few of us even remember looking into the starry night sky, on a cold Christmas Eve, and wondering if that glimmer of light, just to the right of tomorrow and onward towards yesterday, was a reflection from Santa’s sleigh, carried aloft by colorful reindeer in the inky night sky? The wash of emotions, that surrounds us each Christmas, are a tidal wave of memories. Visions of Mom & Dad, family members, and friends from the past, float through our heads like ephemeral visions in a scene from “A Christmas Carol.” Thoughts of a younger and more carefree self give us pause to reflect nostalgically on the magic of a yesterday now far away. There is some regret for those no longer with us, but the ache is softened by time, blurred in memory to a soft and hazy glow. All around us we see acts of generosity, to the less fortunate, by people from every walk of life. The kindnesses are heart warming to even the most cynical among us. It reveals a basic decency and a good-ness in people that often times lies submerged during the rest of the year. We see looks of appreciation, from the recipients of this generosity, that bring mist to our eyes and make us wonder why we are not more appreciative of the good fortune that God has blessed us with. In our families, we remember the many selfless acts, performed for us daily by those who love us. Somehow we have come to expect this exemplary behavior from those around us and in doing so, lessen its value. We would do well to consider how much family and friends do to enrich our lives. And as we look around us at work, we see the many unique and special people who daily labor along side and share our lives with us. They too perform many acts of kindness. They too do it daily and without thinking. They share with us a camaraderie and a concern for our welfare that is much treasured, especially when periodic shadows block the sun in our lives. Their “Christmas gifts” are given to us daily, like family, and with much the same magic. For those many daily gifts, from each of those around us, I would suggest we offer a sincere Thank you for the spirit in which they were given. Like ripples in a pond, the effects of this generosity of spirit will flow outward and into our entire lives, enriching them immeasurably. My very warmest wishes to all for a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year. And, as Tiny Tim said in Dickens’s “ A Christmas Carol,” “God Bless us, every one.” -30- (628 words) Joseph Xavier Martin

"The Santa illusion" has never done any harm to children or had any long lasting detrimental affects to people in adulthood, lol. We all made the relatively painless transition from believing in santa to not believing in santa and if I recall rightly, the majority of kids are silently relieved that this fat weirdo isn't breaking into they're homes once a year. ~It's a maze for rats to try, it's a race for rats to die.~

Hmm, perhaps we need to concentrate on protecting our children from the *real* dangers of life... http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=baby+p&meta=(link is external) pe ps oid "the progenitor"(link is external) "the art of tea"(link is external) "that's an odd courgette"(link is external)

Tragic though the baby p thing is, being beaten to death by their parents is not something most children need worry about. Anyway, my brother just sent me this, which made me smile: THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE: 1) You believe in Santa Claus. 2) You don't believe in Santa Claus. 3) You are Santa Claus. 4) You look like Santa Claus.

"Tragic though the baby p thing is, being beaten to death by their parents is not something most children need worry about." ... You’re probably right, Maddan, but I reckon a million kids “suffering” from believing in Santa Clause can’t match the horror of what Baby P had to endure. pe ps oid "the progenitor"(link is external) "the art of tea"(link is external) "that's an odd courgette"(link is external)

What about two million kids?

Dan - funny email from your brother.

"the suffering Baby P had to endure." Yes, terrible, but introducing baby p to a discussion about Santa seems a bit random. I can already see the baby p thing turning into a kind of Godwin's law of conversations about children. Currently, that crown rests on the head of the paedophiles.

You mean the paedophiles have taken the crown from the Nazi’s? I thought it was the imminent destruction of the planet. Damn it. The tricky one is squaring 'Santa' with kids sending shoeboxes of Christmas presents to children in war-torn countries because ‘it could be the only presents they get.’ Santa comes out as a big fat coward or if they’re sent to Africa – racist. ~ www.fabulousmother.co.uk(link is external)

Not intended to be random, Enzo/Jude! Just felt it's important to get this sort of thing into perspective... and as the Baby P case is presently "topical," what better time to bring it into the discussion? However, I do see your point, Jude, about the legitimacy of asking such questions. pe ps oid "the progenitor"(link is external) "the art of tea"(link is external) "that's an odd courgette"(link is external)

Yes, but by that reasoning you can get a domestic squabble into perspective by referencing the civil war in Chad or the time I singed my eyebrow might be considered not so bad against fires in California. It's bleeding obvious, innit! But it's not apples with apples. You can't benchmark on extremes.

My daughter was playing with a globe tonight and she spotted the Arctic and asked whether that's where Santa comes from. When I replied that he does, her face lit up, then she farted.

Children farting! :))))) pe ps oid "the progenitor"(link is external) "the art of tea"(link is external) "that's an odd courgette"(link is external)