Santa a symbol of Christmas? Some Christians see red

While Santa Claus has become a universal symbol of Christmas, many Catholics think that the jolly old man is sidelining the central figure of the festival — Jesus Christ.

One of them is former principal of St Xavier’s College Fr Joseph Dias who feels that too much of importance is being given to Santa during Christmas.

Dias, who recently wrote to a suburban church to disapprove a few aspects of their Christmas celebration plans, said that Christmas has become so associated with Santa that many non-Christians think the festival is a celebration of the man in the red coat.

“People are sidelining Christ whose birthday is celebrated as Christmas and his values like simplicity, humility and selflessness,” he said.

The concerns are shared by many ordinary Catholics. Gordon D’Souza, president of lay association, the Bombay Catholic Sabha, said, “The real message of Christmas - peace and unity - is often forgotten in the media hype over the festival.”

The debate in the community about the increasing secularisation of the festival and dilution of its spiritual aspects is also being reflected in the weekly Catholic news magazine Examiner.

Fr Anil Rego, a priest at St Pius Church, Mulund, who has written an article on the subject in the latest edition, said, “More secular motifs like Santa Claus and the snowman are taking over the festival and sidelining Christ. I think we are losing focus on the real reasons behind the festival. Even children in Christian families are growing up thinking that festival is about Santa and the Christmas tree.”

Dias looks at Santa Claus as an invention made by a giant American food company to sell its products. “The festival is becoming so commercialised that Jesus is hardly mentioned. It was so in the western media and is now happening in India,” said Dias.