Christmas canceled: Parents and media go after holiday traditions

[Drosselmeyer]

Christmas canceled: Parents and media go after holiday traditions, 'It’s getting annoying'

Parents, media and entertainment figures are criticizing many of the classic traditions behind Christmas

Published December 9, 2022 2:00am EST

 

With the holidays quickly approaching, parents, media figures and the entertainment industry are criticizing many of the traditions behind Christmas. 

Even Santa himself has come under fire. Some Gen Z parents aren’t allowing their children to believe he is real, as evidenced by the hashtag #santaisntreal which has received nearly 19M views on TikTok. Many parents cite concerns that once their children find out Santa’s magic is a myth, they’ll be "traumatized."

Mother Sierra McKenzie went viral for a video she posted to TikTok stating she wouldn’t be "lying to them [her kids] about Santa," nor would she be taking them for pictures with Santa or including any presents under the tree from St. Nick."Telling kids that Santa is real is a lie, and I don’t believe in building my kids up on a lie," McKenzie told the New York Post. "Your kids can still enjoy the magic of Christmas without believing in Santa."

Another mom, Chloe Amelle, said she also won’t be label presents as "from Santa" under her tree, because she doesn’t like "the idea of lieing [sic]" to her kids or worrying they would get "’better’ things from Santa than other kids," according to her TikTok. 

Another mother and family writer, Laura Jackel, penned a piece for MamaMia in which she detailed the six Christmas traditions she was planning on canceling this year. 

"Do my kids actually want to wear the matching festive pyjamas?" she asked. "Do I care to traipse around the shops searching for nice ones in their size so they can take part in this weird tradition sponsored by capitalism?"

Jackel also said she plans to ditch Elf on the Shelf this year and suggests parents tell their kids that "Santa recalled your elf to help with present sorting or that it... died." 

Other Christmas traditions she plans to cancel include "sending cards to anyone outside immediate family," "the forced Santa photo," and "purchasing festive snacks." 

Fox News contributor Joe Concha said he never expected parents to open a new front in the "War on Christmas … in the name of virtue signaling."  

"And thanks to the media and woke corporations, we’re stuck with this constant barrage of political correctness, and it’s getting annoying," he added. 

Other targets of the Christmas backlash include reboots of classic shows and movies. 

NBC News culture critic Ani Bundel criticized Apple TVs "Spirited" and Netflix’s "Scrooge: A Christmas Carol" for the shows’ "insistence on preaching this secular myth of the billionaire turned benefactor at a time when the news is full of stories to the contrary" which indicates "both musical adaptations hit the wrong key."

"In a year when it seems nearly every monopolistic company is laying off workers, the cathartic comeuppance of a hard-hearted billionaire makes cultural sense," she added. "But neither film is willing to even admit its cruel corporate czar is a bad person, as if the producers fear insulting the rich men who run their respective streaming services." 

The new Disney+ series "The Santa Clauses," which is a reprisal of The Santa Clause movies, stars conservative actor Tim Allen, who has been criticized over a line in the show where Santa says, "Saying Merry Christmas to all has suddenly become problematic!"The line from Allen’s character prompted a Twitter firestorm after filmmaker Scott Weinberg called the line a "truly weird thing to put in a kid's series."

"[It's] not some random campaign. it's a low-key effort to vilify anyone who doesn't celebrate this holiday," Weinberg tweeted. "in a grown-up movie I'd just groan and ignore it."

Twitter users were also quick to call out Democrat Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers for referring to the state’s Christmas tree as the "2022 Capitol Holiday Tree." 

Governor Kathy Hochul received similar backlash last year when she referred to the state’s capital Christmas tree as a "holiday tree." 

This isn’t the first year Christmas shows and traditions have come under fire. A long-running debate about the classic Christmas song, "Baby, It's Cold Outside," has garnered more attention in recent years amid the #MeToo movement.  

Many critics believe the song implies date-rape, citing lyrics like "Say, what's in this drink?," "Ya mind if I move in closer?" and "Gosh your lips look delicious."

In 2019, John Legend and Kelly Clarkson collaborated on an updated "PC" rewrite of the song, swapping the original lyrics for lines like "It’s your body and your choice" and "I want you to stay, it’s not up to me."

Source:    https://www.foxnews.com/media/christmas-canceled-parents-media-holiday-traditions-getting-annoying

 

[Black Hills Santa]

"Don't Tread On Me" is the proper response to this nonsense 

[Santa SteveKl]

If you do not want to, that is fine, but why attempt to purposely damage the hearts and minds of others by spoiling the magic of Christmas for so many. I agree "Don't tread on me!"

[Drosselmeyer]

https://www.foxnews.com/media/massachusetts-residents-speak-out-library-nixes-christmas-tree-town-supposed-be-inclusive

 

[Sundblom Santa]

3 hours ago, Black Hills Santa said:

"Don't Tread On Me" is the proper response to this nonsense

2 hours ago, Santa SteveKl said:

If you do not want to, that is fine, but why attempt to purposely damage the hearts and minds of others by spoiling the magic of Christmas for so many. I agree "Don't tread on me!"

I really wish I had a wife and children so we could share the story of Santa, wear ugly sweaters, give to the less fortunate, trim the Christmas tree, take as many photos with Santa (and each other) as we can, drink eggnog, eat unhealthy, wear matching pajamas, wish our family, friends, and neighbors (and even so-called enemies) a “Merry Christmas,” belt out Christmas carols, watch Christmas movies, and send out lots of Christmas cards (maybe even to random strangers). In short, seeking to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Heck, I’d even be willing to sing “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with my (future) wife in public. In short, don’t tread on me. If it’s not something you’d like to do, that’s fine, but don’t seek to take away anyone else’s enjoyment of the Christmas holiday season.

[Rob Thompson]

Well my foot is itching again!!!!   

[Grandpa Gus]

Because you don't wish to participate, doesn't mean that you get to impose your beliefs on everyone else. I'm so tired of sanctimonious people forcing what believe in on everyone else, I'm going to sic Krampus on them.

 

[Sundblom Santa]

42 minutes ago, Grandpa Gus said:

Because you don't wish to participate, doesn't mean that you get to impose your beliefs on everyone else. I'm so tired of sanctimonious people forcing what believe in on everyone else

New England Puritans and radical leftists—not so different when you think about it.

[AsaClaus]

My children enjoy seeing Santa. They’ve never been told to sit on his lap or give him a hug. They will if they want and Santa will respect their choice. 
PJs, snacks and the rest are all personal traditions people can do or not. Some people just don’t see the value in them and that’s fine. 
I do wonder how Christian families handle the talk of “Wait, if Santa isn’t real than is Jesus?” Seems like a hard one. 
All in all, people on every side will always think they know what is best for everyone’s kids and it’s our job as parents to patiently, and lovingly, teach our kids to think critically and for themselves. 
I know I believe in Santa and Mrs. Claus and I will never have to have the “isn't real” talk. My kids know there are non believers. 

[Sundblom Santa]

2 hours ago, AsaClaus said:

My children enjoy seeing Santa. They’ve never been told to sit on his lap or give him a hug. They will if they want and Santa will respect their choice.
PJs, snacks and the rest are all personal traditions people can do or not. Some people just don’t see the value in them and that’s fine.

And no child should be. Santa Claus will always respect a child's choice. I hope no one here would ever suggest otherwise. My point is that some people feeling a certain way about select cultural practices around Christmas hopefully doesn't mean they desire to force them on others. What a lot of us don't like is for someone to tell us we can't do something that doesn't negatively affect anybody else.

If you'd like, you can consult standard Christian texts on the value of individuals honoring and respecting the personal consciences of others (e.g., Rom. 14:1ff; 1 Cor. 8:1ff; 10:25-30). We don't desire (or shouldn't desire) to force anything on anyone. Yet, at the same time, we should be free to enjoy all of the good things the world has to offer, and which God has given to us (Christmas, and things associated with it, among them).

2 hours ago, AsaClaus said:

I do wonder how Christian families handle the talk of “Wait, if Santa isn’t real than is Jesus?” Seems like a hard one. 

I'm not sure whether or not I should laugh at that statement. I mean absolutely no offense, my dear brother, but if parents (not meaning children) feel threatened by Santa Claus (or the Tooth Fairy, the Easter bunny, storybooks, fairytales, pretend, make-believe, circus clowns, imagination, fun, and so forth), their problem isn't with Christ and God. It's with themselves.

Never mind that (1) I've never heard a child ever say such a thing (and supposed anecdotes aren't evidence, so let's not anybody go there) and (2) non-belief in the Creator of the Universe is purposeful and premeditated rank rebellion against God and is punishable by Divine wrath in both this life and in the next (Rom. 1:18-32). The vast majority (read: non-fundamentalist) Christian families allow their children to believe in Santa Claus (as I personally feel they should). It doesn't negatively impact those children (or the vast majority of children raised by secular parents, or parents of other religions, for that matter). At the same time, though, I'm also not going to appease fundamentalists or their counterparts, the village atheists (and, yes, that's a little play on the phrase "village idiot," if anyone's wondering—I certainly don’t mean anyone here) just because they seek to intimidate parents or children to go in any one direction (anti-Santa or anti-God, or anything else for that matter). People have to be free to make their own decisions (which includes allowing their children to believe in Santa Claus).

2 hours ago, AsaClaus said:

All in all, people on every side will always think they know what is best for everyone’s kids and it’s our job as parents to patiently, and lovingly, teach our kids to think critically and for themselves. 
I know I believe in Santa and Mrs. Claus and I will never have to have the “isn't real” talk. My kids know there are non believers. 

Major props for being a wonderful father. I'm sure some of us have heard too many stories of abusive or absentee "fathers" (and I use that word loosely). Parents need to be patient and loving. If they're not, such negligent, abusive behaviors will affect their children (whether they think it will or not). Children have to know they're loved.

Edited December 19, 2022 by Sundblom Santa

[AsaClaus]

31 minutes ago, Sundblom Santa said:

And no child should be. Santa Claus will always respect a child's choice. I hope no one here would ever suggest otherwise. My point is that some people feeling a certain way about select cultural practices around Christmas hopefully doesn't mean they desire to force them on others. What a lot of us don't like is for someone to tell us we can't do something that doesn't negatively affect anybody else.

If you'd like, you can consult standard Christian texts on the value of individuals honoring and respecting the personal consciences of others (e.g., Rom. 14:1ff; 1 Cor. 8:1ff; 10:25-30). We don't desire (or shouldn't desire) to force anything on anyone. Yet, at the same time, we should be free to enjoy all of the good things the world has to offer, and which God has given to us (Christmas, and things associated with it, among them).

I'm not sure whether or not I should laugh at that statement. I mean absolutely no offense, my dear brother, but if parents (not meaning children) feel threatened by Santa Claus (or the Tooth Fairy, the Easter bunny, storybooks, fairytales, pretend, make-believe, circus clowns, imagination, fun, and so forth), their problem isn't with Christ and God. It's with themselves.

Never mind that (1) I've never heard a child ever say such a thing (and supposed anecdotes aren't evidence, so let's not anybody go there) and (2) non-belief in the Creator of the Universe is purposeful and premeditated rank rebellion against God and is punishable by Divine wrath in both this life and in the next (Rom. 1:18-32). The vast majority (read: non-fundamentalist) Christian families allow their children to believe in Santa Claus (as I personally feel they should). It doesn't negatively impact those children (or the vast majority of children raised by secular parents, or parents of other religions, for that matter). At the same time, though, I'm also not going to appease fundamentalists or their counterparts, the village atheists (and, yes, that's a little play on the phrase "village idiot," if anyone's wondering—I certainly don’t mean anyone here) just because they seek to intimidate parents or children to go in any one direction (anti-Santa or anti-God, or anything else for that matter). People have to be free to make their own decisions (which includes allowing their children to believe in Santa Claus).

Major props for being a wonderful father. I'm sure some of us have heard too stories of many abusive or absentee "fathers" (and I use that word loosely). Parents need to be patient and loving. If they're not, such negligent, abusive behaviors will affect their children (whether they think it will or not). Children have to know they're loved.

As always my brother in red, I truly appreciate your insight and kindness!