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RSS Feed Panorama09. 12. 09. - 12:00
People should relax about the Santa vs. Christkind clash
Comment by Thomas Hochwarter
The Austrian Times news desk has been swamped by readers’ feedback regarding a recent article about an "Anti-Santa Claus group" and their activities.
While the vast majority of readers – from Europe as well as from other continents – has spoken out in support of the initiative’s views, it is remarkable how strongly the question of whether one should celebrate a "Santa Claus Christmas" or a "Christkind Christmas" seems to stir people.
The extraordinary amount of responses and their mainly emotionally-laden content confirms that the issue does matter to people all over the world.
It seems an unthinkable option for most Austrians to ditch their Christkind, the blonde angel child they have loved since childhood days which secretly lays presents under the Christmas tree. On the other hand, a stroll on the busy streets throughout the country confirms most shoppers do not mind stores being decorated with plastic Santa Claus figures and sleighs.
The importance the topic, reliably rehashed year after year as the "Pro-Christkind" group continues what has been a years-long campaign, is given by people shows certain traditions and customs do matter. The debate however also reveals a rather obscure kind of conservatism as some seem to fear an "invasion of the unknown" – a rather bizarre way of thinking which is unlikely to spring to mind while someone watches a Hollywood movie or eats out in an Asian restaurant.
While the world of today demands open-mindedness and flexibility in all fields of business and private life from everybody, a debate over subjects such as the mighty clash of Santa and the Christkind is apparently regarded as an outlet of dammed-up emotions for a considerable number of people.
The issue is arguably a negligible one as we are all confronted with more serious challenges than the "threat" of Santa Claus bidding to oust the lovely Christkind in Austria. Indulging in an emotional but fair debate over Christmas traditions should however not be regarded as a problem as long as everyone gives xenophobic tendencies the cold shoulder.
Austrian Times
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katya wrote on 11. 12. 2009 from Wien about "People should relax about..."
Just to add to the snowfall (avalanche, even?) of reader feedback on the subject of Santa Claus/Christkind, I read in yesterday's OESTERREICH (Dec 10), the following:- "Auf den Christkindlmaerkten scheint es heuer so viel Ramsch and Troedel zu geben wie nie zuvor. Das Jesuskind aus Wachs in der geschnitzten Holzkripe, Rauschgoldengeln, die Heilige Familie samt Ochs and Esel, Glaskugeln --- die Klassiker auf den Weihnachtsmaerkten --- werden an dem meisten Staenden erst gar nicht mehr angeboten." The report then goes on to detail the 'flea-market' quality of various stalls at Advent-Maerkten in Wien (Rathaus, Freyung, Am Hof, Maria-Theresien-Platz), packed with plastic, cheap, shoddy goods. I can attest, from my own experience and that of friends, over the past several years, that there has been a sad deterioration of quality and absence of Christmas-related items and some stalls in various fairs have nothing to do with Christmas at all. This can hardly be unintentional since I assume all stalls must adhere to certain requirements by those running the Advent-Markets. It is this issue, surely, which should be addressed by those who administer these Advent Markets, not that of Santa Claus vs The Christ Child. The ultimate message of Christmas --- the Incarnation as God's love for humanity --- easily embraces both Christ and His Saint. And in that spirit, I thank you all at Austrian Times for your excellent service and wish you all a Merry Christmas!
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