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I came across this wonderful little letter in yesterday’s paper..
As a firm believer in Santa Claus, I find a certain absurdity in the attempt some literalists make to dissuade children from such a belief.
I shall never forgive my precocious sister who decided that the truth, as she saw it, would set me free – informing me that I was being taken for a ride, albeit a sleigh ride. Thankfully, my belief was eventually restored.
The idea of Santa Claus is not about whether or not he exists but about the truth carried in the story. That truth is about the importance of generosity, self-giving and celebration.
A distinction, that has its origin in ancient Greek thinking, is that between logic and myth. These two modes of thinking and speaking were not seen as in conflict but complementary. It is not possible to live by logic alone. Myth will always find a way into our understanding and our discourse; it is central to our imaginative engagement with the world and is crucial in the life of a child.
Both logical reasoning and myth deal with truth, but in different ways. A myth works like a parable. An example of the relationship between a parable and logical reasoning is clearly exhibited in the story of the Good Samaritan.
Following the injunction to love our neighbour, Christ is asked: “Who is my neighbour?” he does not provide a logical definition or a sociological tract but tells a story and then asks: “Who do you think is your neighbour?” The truth is not stated but embodied in the story.
Aesop’s Fables cannot be dismissed as untrue on the grounds that animals don’t speak. The truth is expressed in the fables.
Children and adults slip in and out of myth in their talk and thinking. In writing ‘Finnegans Wake’, James Joyce drew our attention to the way meaning and language slip in and out of logical sense. I have yet to engage in a pub discussion where logic is the only game in town. Real conversations weave their way through a maze of story, myth, fable, laughter, logic and reason like Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’.
Long live Santa – may his reindeers bear him safely through the night.Irish Independent
Hear, hear! :)
agreed as in Santa should be alive and well in the minds of children, but adults should grow the feck up.
The Good Samaritan that was the original Santa (in green, not red – dam you marketing people) is a good idea, not the Santa of today who only gives to their own, and not the one present like days gone by but every bloody toy they lay their eyes on.
You’re not old enough to remember when kids only got one pressie…nor am I! :P
yes i am, when i was a child we wrote down a list of what we really wanted and knew we’d only get one of them (ok ok and a surprise)
My nephew is getting 9 big things and 5 small from his parents alone, so when he’s finished getting the rest from Aunts and Uncles he will have close to a Smyths toy shop – sickening tbh.
Did you get a stocking too?
nope, i used to see some of my friends had them, i was so jealous but couldnt give out as then Santa would come back and take away my present.
God the guilt trips in the 80’s were bad.
Good heavens I thought we were poor but we usually got 5 presents each, one big one like a bike and 4 small ones, and a stocking with things like fruit and nuts in the bottom then little fun things…being a bit of a book worm I would have one or two fewer presents but a small pile of books instead.
Mind you, we never had the big pressies they have today…
yep, my big present was a bike the surprise was either a jigsaw or some other game.
One year though the cabby patch kids were sold out so i got Two main presents and a surprise.
I forgot to mention there was always a selection box at the end of the bed from Santa too.
Hmmmm this “just one present” is growing… :lol:
We should all believe a little bit in Santa, not because of the presents he brings, more because of the goodness in the myth that is Santa.
There is a constant fight between good and evil in this world…. Santa is one of the good guys :D
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