h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is God and Santa Claus the same person?
They both listen to wishes, and make them come true, yea?
And we celebrate Christmas because of Jesus, and St Claus comes at Christmas, yea?
Maybe St Claus is a personified God?

Hullo Superkath!

This is not an 'official' response to your question, but you might want to look at 'Merry Saturnalia' http://www.argyll.demon.co.uk/xmas.html for one person's research on the origin of various myths surrounding the Winter Solstice.

I would also invite you to the Wiccan Forum http://www.h2g2.com/A196300 for further conversation on gods, myths, folklore, and a nice, hot cuppa tea.

Cordially,
the bluDragon
}:=8

The connection probably arose like other religious connections from the established christian belief system. Basically, these guys went through the known world stealing gods/icons from other cultures - claiming them as their own, and so making christianity more acceptable to cultures who supported alternative beliefs.

You only need to look at The Black Madonna, Pan (later symbolised as the devil, but originally simply a god of the woods), and father Christmas (traditional english saint who visited them during winter monts) for prime examples.

So how come I saw a Santa in Debenhams and in Alders? Maybe this is because there is more than one God? I dunno.

now that's what I call real polytheism...


}:=8

Correct me if I'm wrong (someone!), but Christmas originally was a .... pagan festival! However, someone, maybe the Romans (who turned VERY Christian, allowed us good old Brits to keep this festival. However, S. Claus originated from Scandinavia (Wasn't he an actual saint?) & became popular in the Victorian 'uptight' age. You're not suggesting that Jesus & Santa are the same person? Do they REALLY make wishes come true!!!?

Santa Claus is obviously the demon Mammon. He bribes and tempts us with material goods, clouding our vision of spiritual things.

Do you reckon the world is in the grip of Mammon?

Christmas was never a pagan festival, bearing in mind that Christ Mass is the celebration of the birth of Christ, unlikely it was ever celebrated by Pagans. However, pagans did, and do I believe, still celebrate the Winter Solstice 21 December or there abouts, in the Northern Hemisphere.

There are many debates within the Christian world about the validity of Christmas being in December, it is actually more likely that Christ was born around April - May. This is based on the account of Christs birth in the Bible and the fact that Shepherds do not take their sheep into the hills in the Winter.

The decision to move it to Winter to tie in with the pagan festival of Winter Solstice would have been made to change practices associated with beliefs counter to Christian teaching.

The obvious clash with the celebration of the Crucifixion and Resurrection would probably added to the motivation to not have two celebrations at the same time of the year, one celebrating the birth of Christ, the other celebrating his death and resurrection. Very confusing for your average believer.

I'm sure if I've got any of the Theology wrong some kind soul will correct me