There have been many tales of jolly ol' Santa Claus, but why did he become such a grand craze throughout the world? Santa Claus has been throughout the years a social icon, but did he climb through the ranks by ways of advertisement? sexual stigma? blackmail? or has the folklore behind him carried him through his years?
Some history on Santa Claus so you can know what I know and my point becomes clear.....
Santa History Santa History 2
From the sources given it seems pretty clear that folklore brought Kris Kringle some ways, but until about the 19th century when Americans brought capitalism a new outlook on advertising. Since then, there have been many songs, poems, and spin-off stories of the "jolly old elf". But is that why he stays alive in today's society?
Businesses use Father Christmas to bring along young blood to buy their products, and make it more irresistible by lowering prices, but does that drive the legend of the big man in the red suit? Parents take advantage of a child's behavior by black-mailing them that Santa won't come bring them presents for Christmas should they not behave - which gives them peace from Black Friday till December 26th. The sexiness factor of the man in the red suit is evident from such songs as "Santa Baby" and "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa".
I find Santa lives through such means, especially the black-mail of against little out-of-control kids. The tales created about Kris Kringle have simply been for entertainment purposes, as well as to make money.... But Santa Claus to me has many, many forms - from the sensual, "Come sit on Santa's lap", to the magical flying reindeer that stir sales at stores.
This is my basic outline of Santa Clauses
- Folklore of generous saint
- Advertisement to promote sales
- Black-mail to control "out-of-control" children (and so the parents have some sanity)
- Sex icon (Enzyme commercials & some suggestive songs)
- Entertainment
- Slave master (the only accepted form of slavery today)
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