The Bible's Version or Santa Claus?

[HAVE_A_HEART]

Which of the two Christmas Themes do you adher to mostly during your Christmas celebration and why?--The story of the birth of Jesus--or The story of ST. Nick?? Count me up for The birth of Jesus! Hey--what can I say--I am always a sucker for the original!

[P.A.]

I am more like the Griswold's than either of the others

[Bull]

Understandable Pickle

[Lowell Brandon]

The original does sound a lot more plausible than stuffing some poor Santa down the chimney when the fireplace is going. :)

[HAVE_A_HEART]

Amen to that Lowell! Although I have always wondered how did that aspect of the story actually get in there since I am pretty sure that fire chimneys were very well used during the time that the real St. Nick was going around town!

[Aggie]

I like Jesus!

[Jack Z]

I go for the Bible story, the advent of hope and the gift of God to his creation .... I also like the Saint Nick thing (Santa) for little kids, as an extended tradition in giving to others ................

[Joe Horizon]

The Bible story is magnificent. The St. Nick thing is just pure fun and both are purely cultural and traditional.
I take neither too seriously and don't get upset about the percieved commercialization of it. The celebration of the holy birth is 100% culture/tradition. Its a nice time of year to celebrate peace on earth and a good reminder of the hope of achieving that some fine century. Its also fun to see the surprise on the faces of small children when they open gifts.
And, I love the Griswolds version as well. I love "Its a wonderful life" and "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown" and even "Trading Places".

[D. D. Olson]

We have the Lutefisk Theme for Christmas at our house.

[HAVE_A_HEART]

What is that?

[Westerly_2]

Lutefisk:(I thought it was lye-soaked herring, but I could be wrong)

I like to hear Linus reciting the Luke version of "shepherds keeping watch...."
Most department store Santas have way-phoney beards and poorly augmented waistlines. I saw one two years ago, though, that made a believer out of me again.

[P.A.]

I saw the best looking Santa I have ever seen in Kroger yesterday and he was wearing his street clothes. No red anywhere on him.

[Lowell Brandon]

One time, a local department store had an ad that said, "Why go to so-and-so store, when the REAL Santa is at OUR store?" I thought that was kind of tacky, and wondered how confused kids would be if they saw that ad. "Mommy, what is this about? Who is the real Santa, then?"