5 ms·

I think the person who posted this was a bit silly, but you can't be serious about Santa being non-religious, can you? He's literally a saint in every form of

by kick 7y ago

I think the person who posted this was a bit silly, but you can't be serious about Santa being non-religious, can you? He's literally a saint in every form of Christianity that has saints. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas

felixfbecker 7y ago
Are you sure Santa and Saint Nicholas are the same? In Germany we celebrate Saint Nicholas on December 6th, while Santa brings presents on December 24th (Christmas Eve).
- tomnipotent 7y ago
  The modern mythos of Santa is based on Saint Nicholas: https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/santa-claus https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/santa-claus
- goto11 7y ago
  Yes it is the same. Santa Claus comes from Sinterklaas which is Dutch for Saint Nicholas.
  - DonHopkins 7y ago
    We should be relieved that the Visual Studio Code icon didn't feature one of Sinterklaas's "Zwarte Piet" subservient, gaudily costumed, large gold earring wearing, afro-style wig sporting, red lipstick smeared, childishly clown-like acting, naughty-child-kidnapping, Spanish Moor originating, full blackface wearing assistants, whose traditionally racist hooligan fans throw eggs, shout racist insults, wield clubs and fireworks, storm peaceful meetings and protests, trespass on property, assault people, and vandalize cars, all in the name of traditional celebration of the birthday of Christ Our Lord. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwarte_Piet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwarte_Piet https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/18/netherlands-ban-blackface-makeup-zwarte-piet-black-pete-christmas-parade https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/18/netherlands-ba... https://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2019/12/open-letter-rutte-talk-to-kick-out-zwarte-piet-about-racism/ https://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2019/12/open-letter-rutte-... >The act of terrorism at our national conference (8/11), where hooligans armed with clubs and heavy fireworks barged in on the meeting, formed a dangerous and all-time low in the list of hostilities perpetrated on KOZP. The school building, which was the venue of the conference, and cars (including the car of one of the organisers) were severely damaged. We were lucky that no one got physically hurt. >[...] How would you have reacted if a group of hooligans with clubs had stormed a congress of the VVD or another political party?
txcwpalpha 7y ago
Saint Nicholas is hardly the same as "Santa", which has his own wikipedia page [1]. Modern day Santa has some partial roots in Saint Nicholas (as well as a few other figures), but other than the sometimes-used moniker of "Saint Nick", has very little to do with the actual saint. Santa is the one associated with the red hat, while Saint Nicholas has no such association. The only real link between the two is that Saint Nicholas was known for gift-giving and so is Santa, but I hope we aren't about to label gift-giving as a religious activity... 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus
- goto11 7y ago
  I'm not sure it makes sense to ask if Santa Claus is "the same" as Saint Nicholas. It is a mythic figure which have developed over time. It is like asking if Dracula is "the same" as Vlad Tepes.
onion2k 7y ago
The red hat has nothing to do with Christianity though. It was created in the late 1800s and then popularised by Coca Cola in the 1930s. If the VS Code team had put a bishop's mitre on the update cog the complaint would be more reasonable.
- goto11 7y ago
  The red hat is clearly associated with Christmas which is a Christian holiday. The complaint is silly, but we should not counter that by ridiculous claims like saying a Santa hat has nothing to do with Christmas. I think the red had originates from "Father Christmas" rather than Sct Nicolaus, but in any case it is clearly associated with Christmas.
  - atonse 7y ago
    And so what if it is (even if slightly)? What's offensive about that? Who is hurt by that? (I'm an atheist, so I’m hardly a defender of shoving religious values down people’s throats)
    - goto11 7y ago
      Honestly I think he is trolling, but if you are interested you can read the original complaint.
rrss 7y ago
Saint Nicholas, the bishop who lived in ancient Greece, is a saint, venerated in every form of Christianity that has saints. I don't think that Santa Claus, the mythological person who lives at the North Pole and has elves to make toys, is venerated by any Christian denomination.
- goto11 7y ago
  Protestants in Germany introduced the tradition of "Kristkind" (Baby Jesus) bringing gifts at Christmas because the tradition of Saint Nicholas was problematic for protestants.
  - rrss 7y ago
    Was that the tradition of St Nicholas, the saint, or "Saint Nicholas"/Kris Kringle/Father Christmas = Santa Claus, the cookie-eating guy with a red hat thatdeveloped mostly after the 18th century?
    - goto11 7y ago
      I'm not sure I understand what you are asking - are you considering St Nicolas and "Saint Nicholas" two unrelated figures? Obviously the figure developed over time.
Phylter 7y ago
Though he was a saint the symbology has been non-religious for some time. It's not just Christians that celebrate with Santa. In fact, most of the non-religious people I know celebrate with Santa. Even when you tie it to a saint the overall meaning of Santa has nothing to do with God or Christians. People like to be offended and will ruin things for other people. It's sad that we're in such a sensitive society but tolerance isn't what is practiced, sensitivity is. As a Christian I find the idea of Santa offensive, honestly. Santa and his powers (as presented in media) are a replacement for God. I'm not going to go crying to anybody because they have Santa as an icon.
- crooked-v 7y ago
  > the symbology has been non-religious for some time In the US, sure. In many other countries the related symbology is still heavily linked to "Saint Nicholas", not "Santa Claus".
  - Phylter 7y ago
    The name doesn't make it religious though, it's the people that celebrate Christmas and their use of Saint Nicholas/Santa Claus/etc.
buckminster 7y ago
Santa drives around in a grossly polluting truck delivering obesity-water to children. He's a monster, not a saint.
- spritecranberry 7y ago
  I legitimately cannot tell: is this a joke?
- duelingjello 7y ago
  And it's powered by high-sulphur diesel made from fermented reindeers and children's tears. ;) Don't forget getting children drunk on rum eggnog made from molested cows and unfertilized dinosaur descendant's ovums.

by kick 7y ago

felixfbecker 7y ago

Are you sure Santa and Saint Nicholas are the same? In Germany we celebrate Saint Nicholas on December 6th, while Santa brings presents on December 24th (Christmas Eve).

tomnipotent 7y ago
The modern mythos of Santa is based on Saint Nicholas: https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/santa-claus https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/santa-claus
goto11 7y ago
Yes it is the same. Santa Claus comes from Sinterklaas which is Dutch for Saint Nicholas.
- DonHopkins 7y ago
  We should be relieved that the Visual Studio Code icon didn't feature one of Sinterklaas's "Zwarte Piet" subservient, gaudily costumed, large gold earring wearing, afro-style wig sporting, red lipstick smeared, childishly clown-like acting, naughty-child-kidnapping, Spanish Moor originating, full blackface wearing assistants, whose traditionally racist hooligan fans throw eggs, shout racist insults, wield clubs and fireworks, storm peaceful meetings and protests, trespass on property, assault people, and vandalize cars, all in the name of traditional celebration of the birthday of Christ Our Lord. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwarte_Piet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwarte_Piet https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/18/netherlands-ban-blackface-makeup-zwarte-piet-black-pete-christmas-parade https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/18/netherlands-ba... https://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2019/12/open-letter-rutte-talk-to-kick-out-zwarte-piet-about-racism/ https://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2019/12/open-letter-rutte-... >The act of terrorism at our national conference (8/11), where hooligans armed with clubs and heavy fireworks barged in on the meeting, formed a dangerous and all-time low in the list of hostilities perpetrated on KOZP. The school building, which was the venue of the conference, and cars (including the car of one of the organisers) were severely damaged. We were lucky that no one got physically hurt. >[...] How would you have reacted if a group of hooligans with clubs had stormed a congress of the VVD or another political party?

txcwpalpha 7y ago

Saint Nicholas is hardly the same as "Santa", which has his own wikipedia page [1]. Modern day Santa has some partial roots in Saint Nicholas (as well as a few other figures), but other than the sometimes-used moniker of "Saint Nick", has very little to do with the actual saint. Santa is the one associated with the red hat, while Saint Nicholas has no such association. The only real link between the two is that Saint Nicholas was known for gift-giving and so is Santa, but I hope we aren't about to label gift-giving as a religious activity... 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus

goto11 7y ago
I'm not sure it makes sense to ask if Santa Claus is "the same" as Saint Nicholas. It is a mythic figure which have developed over time. It is like asking if Dracula is "the same" as Vlad Tepes.

onion2k 7y ago

The red hat has nothing to do with Christianity though. It was created in the late 1800s and then popularised by Coca Cola in the 1930s. If the VS Code team had put a bishop's mitre on the update cog the complaint would be more reasonable.

goto11 7y ago
The red hat is clearly associated with Christmas which is a Christian holiday. The complaint is silly, but we should not counter that by ridiculous claims like saying a Santa hat has nothing to do with Christmas. I think the red had originates from "Father Christmas" rather than Sct Nicolaus, but in any case it is clearly associated with Christmas.
- atonse 7y ago
  And so what if it is (even if slightly)? What's offensive about that? Who is hurt by that? (I'm an atheist, so I’m hardly a defender of shoving religious values down people’s throats)
  - goto11 7y ago
    Honestly I think he is trolling, but if you are interested you can read the original complaint.

rrss 7y ago

Saint Nicholas, the bishop who lived in ancient Greece, is a saint, venerated in every form of Christianity that has saints. I don't think that Santa Claus, the mythological person who lives at the North Pole and has elves to make toys, is venerated by any Christian denomination.

goto11 7y ago
Protestants in Germany introduced the tradition of "Kristkind" (Baby Jesus) bringing gifts at Christmas because the tradition of Saint Nicholas was problematic for protestants.
- rrss 7y ago
  Was that the tradition of St Nicholas, the saint, or "Saint Nicholas"/Kris Kringle/Father Christmas = Santa Claus, the cookie-eating guy with a red hat thatdeveloped mostly after the 18th century?
  - goto11 7y ago
    I'm not sure I understand what you are asking - are you considering St Nicolas and "Saint Nicholas" two unrelated figures? Obviously the figure developed over time.

Phylter 7y ago

Though he was a saint the symbology has been non-religious for some time. It's not just Christians that celebrate with Santa. In fact, most of the non-religious people I know celebrate with Santa. Even when you tie it to a saint the overall meaning of Santa has nothing to do with God or Christians. People like to be offended and will ruin things for other people. It's sad that we're in such a sensitive society but tolerance isn't what is practiced, sensitivity is. As a Christian I find the idea of Santa offensive, honestly. Santa and his powers (as presented in media) are a replacement for God. I'm not going to go crying to anybody because they have Santa as an icon.

crooked-v 7y ago
> the symbology has been non-religious for some time In the US, sure. In many other countries the related symbology is still heavily linked to "Saint Nicholas", not "Santa Claus".
- Phylter 7y ago
  The name doesn't make it religious though, it's the people that celebrate Christmas and their use of Saint Nicholas/Santa Claus/etc.

buckminster 7y ago

Santa drives around in a grossly polluting truck delivering obesity-water to children. He's a monster, not a saint.

spritecranberry 7y ago
I legitimately cannot tell: is this a joke?
duelingjello 7y ago
And it's powered by high-sulphur diesel made from fermented reindeers and children's tears. ;) Don't forget getting children drunk on rum eggnog made from molested cows and unfertilized dinosaur descendant's ovums.