A woman, according to the Plymouth Herald, was recently ridiculed for referring to Santa as “Father Christmas.” Other women eviscerated the housewife in scathing comments, claiming that references to Santa as “he” is offensive to the transgender community. The imaginary character loosely based upon a historic religious figure is known for his long, white beard. But to some liberals, that’s too gender-specific.
In reality, Old Saint Nicolaus was an early Christian saint who burned down false temples and punched heretics in the face. He also had a softer side, which was to provide a little change to lower socio-economic class households so their daughters wouldn’t prostitute themselves. But that short – but manly – little fellow was not gender-neutral. If the historical accounts about him are true, he was a man’s man.
Also, for the sake of full scientific disclosure, no one in the history of mankind has scientifically been “gender-neutral,” so there’s that.
The woman said, “I’ve just been shamed [on a Facebook group] for using the name ‘Father Christmas’ and [told] that ‘Santa’ is now seen as gender neutral. I was only referring to the book below [‘Father Christmas’ by Raymond Briggs], but it’s left me a little confused/on edge about what we are [allowed] to say.”
The mother was eager to submit to the gender-based scolding, however, and said, “I have a small child and don’t really want to raise him saying ‘Father Christmas’ if it’s hurtful to some.”
And this is why Western Civilization can’t have nice things.
Interestingly enough, the name for the “Santa” figure is usually gender-specific around the world.
In France they call him ‘Pere Noel’, which similar to Italy’s ‘Babbo Natale’ and both translate to ‘Father Christmas’. In Germany the name is ‘Weihnachtsmann’ (Christmas Man) and in Hungary and Poland it’s ‘Mikulas’ and ‘Mikolaj’ respectively – both translating as Nicholas (a traditionally male name). In Russia, the name ‘Ded Moroz’ translates as ‘Grandfather Frost.’
Pulpit & Pen would encourage you this Christmas season to drop the whole Santa distraction from your Christmas traditions altogether, and celebrate the Christ child…who was circumcised on the eighth day (Luke 2:21), because he is a male.