I started this as a comment on KFC's article "Santa vs Satan" found at: https://forums.joeuser.com/?forumid=39&aid=139116#1082282

However, it got really long and looked like an article, so I decided to move it out of there.  Please read her article first, so that you understand this...or just throw caution to the wind and read this first

This is what was going to be the comment from me:

I haven't read all the comments, so please forgive any statements that I make that have already been written.  However, reading this made me feel like I was reading something written by Landover Baptist Church: http://www.landoverbaptist.org 

I have spent my entire life free from the confines of a certain religion.  That is not to say that I am not spiritual, that is only to say that I don't affiliate myself with a certain religion.  That being said, I spend my life trying to enlighten myself on the whole purpose of existence, which ends up teaching me a lot about traditions throughout the world.

-Santa is not Satan.  The thought of that is true humor.  Saint Nicholas was a real man.  He was also a Bishop of Myra (which is part of modern day Turkey).  The "red suite" that he wore was his bishops robes.  To this day, it is not uncommon to see bishop robes of the same red and white combination (it's an Urban Legend that the colors came from Coca-Cola, though they do work well in their marketing).

-St. Nicholas used his whole inheritance to help needy, such as two sisters who had no dowries and were about to be sold to face a life of prostitution. 

-Over time, St. Nicholas was merged with the "Father Christmas" figure that predates him.  "Father Christmas" is more common throughout the world, and "Santa" is mainly the American version. Here are some examples of Father Christmas (in alphabetical order): Afghanistan ("Baba Chaghaloo"), Albania ("Babadimri"), Armenia ("Gaghant Baba"), Brazil ("Papai Noel"), Bulgaria ("Dyado Koleda"), Chile (Viejo Pascuero), Denmark ("Julemanden"), Egypt ("Papa Noël"), Finland ("Joulupukki"), France and French Canada ("le Père Noël"), Germany ("Weihnachtsmann" or "Nikolaus"),Greece "Άγιος Βασίλης-Άyos Vasílis" Hungary ("Mikulás"), Iran ("Baba Noel"), Ireland ("Daidí na Nollag"), Italy ("Babbo Natale"), Latvia ("Ziemassvētku vecītis"), Lithuania ("Kalėdų Senelis"), Malta ("San Niklaw"), Mexico ("El Niñito Dios" ("Child God", meaning Jesus)), Norway ("Julenissen"), Poland ("Święty Mikołaj"), Portugal ("Pai Natal"), Romania ("Moş Crăciun"), Russia ("Ded Moroz"), Scottish Highlands ("Daidaín na Nollaig"), Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Deda Mraz"), South Africa ("Vader Kersfees"), Spain and some of Spanish-speaking Latin America ("Papá Noel" or "San Nicolás" or "Santa Claus" ), Sweden ("Jultomten"), Turkey ("Noel Baba"), and the United Kingdom ("Father Christmas").

- "Santa Claus" is a mispronunciation of "Sinterklass" which is what the Dutch called St. Nicholas.  They celebrate Sinterklass the night of December 5th, which is the day before St. Nicholas died.  December 6th is then "Feast Day" in honor of him.

Ok, now on to the "religion" about Christmas in general:

- December 25th is not Christ's birth, nor does it have any significance to Christianity.  The celebrations during that time predate Christianity.

- Scientists and astronomers have spent centuries trying to piece together the history around the tales in the bible.  We know that the 3 magis were following a great light.  They have extrapolated that, along with biblical accounts, and have theorized that we are a few years off on Christ's birth.  They have pinpointed a series of celestial events that would have created a great light shining to Jerusalem.  The date of that event was April 17th, 6 BC

- December 25th was when the Romans held their festival "Natalis Solis Invicti", which is the approximate date of the Solstice.  (In modern times, it now falls on the 21st or 22nd).  This festival was the "birthday of the unconquered sun".  This was a very celebrated event, and one which the Christians wanted abolished.

- December 17th to 24th was Saturnalia, another Roman holiday.  It was a time of giving, relaxing, and honoring Saturn.

- Late December to early January, "Yule" festival was celebrated by Pagans in Scandinavia.  The "Yule" log was lit to honor Thor (the god of Thunder).  And, the celebration lasted as log as it stayed lit, which was usually 12 days.  (hmmmm...12 days of "Christmas"?)

*All the above celebrations predate "Christmas" by 100 or so years.*

- The first use of December 25th as Jesus' birthday was in a reference book for Christians written in 221 AD called "Chronographiai".  Prior to that, it was March 25th.  However, that is also the date that it is thought that Jesus was crucified, which is consistent with Jews believing that prophets live an integral number of years.  Of course, they didn't want to give credibility to the Jews, so the date of March 25th was deemed invalid.

But, let's talk about "Satan".  Every Christian I know talks about Satan's powers and how his evil doing is always trying to lead us away from the truth.

Maybe that is true.  Maybe there are things that people believe are "good" but are actually Satan's handiwork.

For instance, I think that religion in general is made by "Satan" or whatever "evil" exists.  There has been no plague or natural occurrence that has caused as much pain, suffering and death as religion has.  There is nothing else that has alienated, segregated or turned humans against other humans like religion has.  How many people have died at the hands of religion?  How many wars have been fought over it?  How can we even know that the bibles that different religions use weren't created by Satan in order to pit us against each-other?

The answer is that we don't KNOW any of it.  All you can do is believe in what you believe.  Believing in Santa Claus is no different.  If it helps a sick, poor, or neglected child have hope, then it is a belief to keep.  If his symbol reminds people to quit being jerks to each-other, then it's something we should embrace.  But, if you spend your life looking for evil, all you will find is evil.  If you spend your life looking for the good in everything, then good things will pave your path.

Last night, I sat at the table with my daughter.  We sang Christmas sangs as we played a game of Dreidels (which are plastic...so the "dreidel" song really doesn't work with them....but I digress).  From where I was, I could see my statue of Buddha decked out in his Santa hat holding a shiny blue bulb.  My cat was snuggled under the tree and was batting at the snowflake ornaments and lights that adorn it.  All was peaceful and right- just like it should be.