He has a magical flying vehicle, a special costume, knows who the bad people are.  But he has tons of minions which is usually a hallmark of bad guys.  Not to mention the housebreaking.  But he's doing it for a good purpose -- maybe Santa is an antihero?

Don't forget he also makes arbitrary judgements on children with no recourse to legal counsel or appeal...

I have always been a firm believer that Santa is a dark and evil being, with sick thoughts and intentions.  Definitely an evil villain.

IIRC in German folklore Santa has a helper who abducts bad children and takes them into the Black Forest to eat them.

Plus, he gives toys and candy away for free!  He's attempting to undermine toy manufacturers while promoting harmful nutrition!

And the elves aren't minions.  They're slaves!

Well those kids probably deserved it, I mean Santa did judge them to be bad.

In reply to Broceliande (msg # 6):

He wears all red, he gives children toys despite their wealth, and he has an army of factory workers. I think we all knew what he is: A Communist! Someone resurrect McCarthy, the reds are back.

I can't imagine any of us on here arguing for santa as a good guy. We are all cynical internet people.

According to my husband, 'Of course he's a hero!  If it weren't for him, I wouldn't believe I could get away with any of those things.  I mean hey, look at O.J.'

*Shaking my head*  That's from my husband, not me.

If he was a communist, he would take all of everyone's toys and give one cheap broken piece of crap toy to everyone and congratulate himself for being so generous.

Hero.  Definitely hero.  You want what I consider to be the final argument?

http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/

No villain could ever evoke such feelings.


Edited for clarity.
This message was last edited by the user at 17:14, Tue 15 July 2014.

Haven't you "cynical internet people" watched The Nightmare Before Christmas?

That was written in the 1890s.  You know what else people believed in the 1890s?  Radiation was good for you, lobotomies were a valid treatment for the mentally ill, and heroin made a great cough syrup.

In reply to swordchucks (msg # 13):

Technology changes.  Truth doesn't.

Don't forget that Santa is an anagram for "SATAN."  ;)

In reply to Misty Reynolds (msg # 14):

Spoken like a true agent of The Fat Man.

I love this line from that newspaper column:

In reply to swordchucks (msg # 16):

Yes, I work for truth, beauty, hope, a better tomorrow, and Christmas cookies.

In reply to Misty Reynolds (msg # 18):

Would you like a job?

This is all assuming there has been only one Santa Claus.

I think evidence points to at least eight, or nine, depending on the actual facts of the Lipetsk incident of 1959, which the Russians still refuse to acknowledge.

I'm not saying Santa is evil...buuuut...if you move the N to the end, Santa become Satan. Just putting it out there. *backs away slowly*

I work for cash (but I will moonlight for cookies...)

He is also the Patron Saint for Prostitutes Before he was the saint for Children.

So sex and children - sounds evil to me -

In reply to bigbadron (msg # 19):

I have one.  I'm a Mom.  I also volunteer to drive part time for people who need to go to medical appointments.

Do you have cookies?

In reply to ShadoPrism (msg # 23):

children maybe evil

no, they most definitely are

but sex is definitely not.  and if it is then you're doing it wrong

Whatch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W3kYkt38Ck

Hehehe

Shows Santa as pure evil!

It's a very very good parable for how we have stopped punishing children and and spoil them and there turning out jerks and stuff.

What with the commercialization of Christmas and people afraid to punish there kids because there worried the stuck up prissy woman down the road will say they are child abusers and have there kids taken away for spanking them.
This message was last edited by the user at 20:58, Tue 15 July 2014.

Yes. See my post, #15, above.  I mentioned the anagram.

Santa Baby, slip a sable under the tree, For me.
been an awful good girl, Santa baby,
so hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa baby, a 54 convertible too,
Light blue.
I'll wait up for you dear,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

Think of all the fun I've missed,
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed,
Next year I could be just as good,
If you'll check off my Christmas list,

Santa baby, I wanna yacht,
And really that's not a lot,
Been an angel all year,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa honey, there's one thing I really do need,
The deed
To a platinum mine,
Santa honey, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex,
And checks.
Sign your 'X' on the line,
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight.

Come and trim my Christmas tree,
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's,
I really do believe in you,
Let's see if you believe in me,

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing,
A ring.
I don't mean on the phone,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight,
Hurry down the chimney tonight,
Hurry, tonight.

for Eartha Kitt   Another version is by Madonna.

Considering that the Myth of Santa is based upon the supposed exploits of Wotan, or Wodan . . . who can say?

In reply to Mystic-Scholar (msg # 29):

Where did you get That idea - he was Saint Nicholas, a Real person not an ancient god.

Actually, several of his "exploits" are/were contributed to Wodan long before there was such a person as St. Nicholas -- and there were two of those.

One quick one for you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wodan

You'll want to read the "Medieval and Early Modern Folklore" section.

You can Google for more information.
This message was last edited by the user at 22:24, Tue 15 July 2014.

And/or maybe Saturn.

Quite possibly.

Some of the "traditions" associated with Christmas (and Santa) go much further back than Christianity does.

almost every christian holiday has little to no christian roots, they where used to pull together traditions of other religions under Christianity to make converting them easier.

Hince why you got a bunny on easter and a jolly fat man on christmas.... nether making any sense what to all otherwise.
This message was last edited by the user at 00:42, Wed 16 July 2014.

Santa single handedly defeated the Martian invasion of Earth.

If that ain't a hero what is?

Hence Christianity is Evil - this thread proves it ^_^

In reply to Azraile (msg # 34):

You are correct and win a cookie! LOL

Both the rabbit and the egg are symbols of fertility, dating back to Babylon, and were associated with the Spring Equinox.

In reply to OceanLake (msg # 28):

 Santa baby, slip a Rolex under the tree, for me.
 I've been an awful good guy,
 Santa buddy, and hurry down the chimney tonight.

 Santa buddy, a 65 convertible too, steel blue.
 I'll wait up for you dude,
 Santa buddy, and hurry down the chimney tonight.

 Think of all the fun I've missed,
 I think of all the hotties that I never kissed,
 Next year I could be just as good,
 If you'd check off my Christmas list,

 Santa pally, I wanna yacht and really that's not a lot,
 I've been a sweetie all year,
 Santa buddy, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

 Santa buddy, one thing that I really do need, the deed,
 To a platinum mine,
 Santa pally, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

 Santa buddy, fill my stocking with Canucks tix, for kicks.
 Throw me on the first line,
 Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

 Come and trim my Christmas tree,
 With some decorations bought at Mercedes,
 I really do believe in you,
 Now let's see if you believe in me

 Santa poppy, forgot to mention one little thing, cha-ching,
 No, I don't mean as a loan.
 Santa buddy, so hurry down the chimney tonight,
 Hurry down the chimney tonight,
 Oh, hurry down the chimney tonight.

Personally enjoy this one by Michael Buble.

Michael Buble?  I thought that the song was originally sung and recorded in 1953 by Eartha Kitt.

In reply to Mystic-Scholar (msg # 37):

Halloween has NO Christian roots at all.

Not Christian roots perhaps; but Halloween was stolen for All Souls Night; which is a Christian festival.

Was originally Samhain, All Hallows Eve, a Celtic festival. Many religions/cultures have something similar.

In reply to Azraile (msg # 40):

Roots? The "beginnings" of Christmas have no Christian roots either.

I think you meant to say "ties." All Hallows Eve has no Christian ties.

No, it doesn't.

That's what I mean all Christian holidays were created to help convert people, mostly the celts.

Yes. Mainly from around the time Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire.

In reply to Azraile (msg # 43):

Not necessarily.

Christmas is an exact duplication of the Roman Saturnalia. The same customs and the same date. The Saturnalia ran from December 17th until December 23rd, after wihich was celebrated Sol Invictus - the "Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun," on December 25.

The early "church" started calling the Saturnalia "Christmas" in order to convert the pagan Romans, not the Celts. "They" went from the Invincible Sun to . . . the Invincible Son.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnalia

You can start there and Google the rest of the info.

This will get you started with Easter "traditions."

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/easterintro1.html

The imagery of the jolly fat man for chistmas is all thanks to coca cola.

the fat man in the red suit was part of a christmas advertising campaign.  If you look at some of the more traditional european folk santa's i think many of them are quite skinny.

When Satan was cast out of Heaven he was chained in Hell.  At first.  But God allows everyone a chance at redemption including the Dark Prince himself.

Clearly Santa Claus is Satan, in disguise, trying to re-earn a spot in Heaven by fostering Peace on Earth and good will toward men!

So technically he is Evil, but redemption is a long road and a harsh mistress so every year he must dress up, do his Ho-ho-hoing and bring cheer to generations of squalling brats one night a year for centuries on end.

Perhaps it would have been better to rule in Hell after all?

In reply to Mystic-Scholar (msg # 31):

That's fascinating.  I like reading about those historical developments and attributions.

In reply to Heath (msg # 48):

Start Googling your holidays . . . every one of them has their begins in Pagan holidays.

Except what is erroneously referred to as "Good Friday."

Christ died on Nisan 14th. And -- just like your birthday -- Nisan 14th is not always on a Friday. ;)

Yes, I am aware of the holidays.  I've studied their history a lot -- Easter is particularly interesting.  I just wasn't aware of this Santa Claus origin, which surprised me because I thought I knew most of the origin stories.

If you go back far enough, every holiday is made up. ;)

In reply to Heath (msg # 50):

Ah! Yes, "Saint Nicholas" merely built upon what was already there, including use of the "Christmas Tree."

You might find it interesting that the round cake and candles of your birthday also have their origins in the pagan customs of the ancient Greeks, among others. The round cake was an offering to the moon goddess - Artemis.

You can start here:

http://www.tokenz.com/history-of-birthday-cake.html

I'm ok with Christian holidays having pagan origins.  The Romans stole heavily from the Greeks.  Many religious groups stole things from groups that came before them. :)

Some of it was a natural process of Hellenization and the Greek sphere of influence.

Halloween is NOT a religious holiday. It is like Thanks giving or Independence day,  and is more of a local holiday/custom. We stole it from Mexico and their day of the dead holiday.

LOL It's been around way longer than the day of the dead.

It is a Christian holiday based of the Celtic harvest festivals

The bigger of the celtic festivals take place during the solstice's and equinoxes of the seasons and most had there Sabbat traditions absorbed and made into christian holidays.

The eight Sabbats:

Imbolc, the midpoint between Yule and Ēostre - This evolved into groundhog day.

Ēostre, The Spring Equinox - This even sounds like Easter x.x  lol

Beltaine, the midpoint between Ēostre and Litha - this became may-pole dancing and crowning of the May Queen, until puritan colonialist outlawed the may-pole and much associated with it from shock and horror of the sexual freedom of another group of colonist that built a settlement near by

Litha - Midsummer, The Summer Solstice ... this is the only one that was not assimilated.

Lughnasadh, midpoint between Litha and mabon and the first of the three harvest festivals - was adopted some what, but all it really involved was fixing and eating bread, candles, and prayer. It didn't last into modern times.

Mabon - Harvest Festival, Fall Equinox - celebrated by farmers still.

Samhain, The midpoint between Mabon and Yule - this is where we get halloween.

Yule, The Winter Solstice - Christmas of crose... still is called Yule time

In reply to Azraile (msg # 56):

Yes, it is very much a "religious" holiday and is very much associated with the Celts, who occupied Europe long before they occupied England, or Ireland.

In reply to iwriter81 (msg # 35):

He just did it to later conquer earth himself.

Or for his own aggrandizement. ;)

LOL