An 'atta boy' to Santa Claus

By Jon Hoornstra

December is the best month of the year. The reason is simple enough: life's usual grind of boring, sad and, sometimes, tragic news gives way to the universal power of the cherubic guy in the red suit. That's right, I'm talking of Mr. ho-ho-ho himself, Santa Claus, the one man who can put a smile on just about any face.

But a misunderstanding of what and who Santa Claus really is keeps many people, especially children, from enjoying his magic, a magic that comes just once a year at a time that coincides with the Christmas celebration.

And that's where the fear seems to cloud the Claus equation--a fear among some that Santa may actually be an agent of religion, a kind of religious Trojan horse, and not just the nice, jovial fellow he at first appears to be. Thus, schools and other government institutions write rules to protect us from "inappropriate" contact with the man in the red suit who, many wrongly believe, is a religious figure.

In fact, Santa Claus today is no more a religious figure than is the San Tomas Expressway a religious highway. No church, seminary or other religious institution recognizes Santa Claus. Christian religions have no prayers to or about him, nor do they display statues, paintings or stained glass windows with his image. Consult any major encyclopedia of religion and religious figures and you'll find no entries for Santa Claus.

The story of the happy man in the red suit dates not to a religious event or figure, but, to a boy, in a 4th-century Mediterranean coastal town called Myra. There, a lad called Nicholas loved to secretly leave gifts for needy people. His charitable nature began in his childhood and lasted throughout his life. His reputation evolved and grew to mythic proportions through storytelling. Now, some 1,500 years later, Santa and his sleigh drawn by eight tiny reindeer rank among the most recognized figures of all time.

It is true that the boy Nicholas became a priest and bishop as an adult. But our modern Santa Claus is rooted foremost in the boy's charitable and humanitarian nature as a child, not his chosen religious career as an adult.

One of the best arguments to make sure Santa's story is prominently told is his value as a role model for children. Santa epitomizes behaviors and values we say we like to see in our children, as well as ourselves.

Consider these traits: Santa is all give and no take. He will travel the entire planet each a year, spreading smiles and laughter and gifts to each and every one of us. And if "inclusiveness" ranks high on your list of important social values, Santa wins hands down. His story includes everyone, and excludes no one.

We live at a time when many role models probably aren't such good models after all. Would you rather have your child know Santa Claus, or a great basketball player like Latrell Sprewell who grabbed his coach by the throat a couple years ago? Do you go for Santa, or the recently fired Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight, a great coach who also recklessly threw metal chairs where people sat at courtside? Or maybe a baseball pro who spits in an umpire's face gets your nod over Santa.

It's time the Santa-phobes and other critics grow up and see the story of Santa Claus for what it is. It is a magnificent fictional tale that gently and happily steers children and adults to be and do good. His story is not an invitation to church, temple or mosque, nor to kneel or pray or worship.

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Jon Hoornstra: An 'atta boy' to Santa Claus

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