Santa Claus, a Fabrication !!!

The celebration of Christmas is just around the corner, the nuance of Christianity will be felt until the beginning of the turn of the year. At the corners of hotels, food court outlets, malls, to business centers, many have put up a 'tree of light' decorated with attributes typical of Christmas such as figurines and images of Santa Claus, some department stores even require their salesgirls to don Santa Claus's attributes.

Ironically, the pure Christmas celebration which supposedly is to commemorate the birth of the saviour : Jesus Christ, is being replaced by the popularity of the myth and legend of the gifts giver: Santa Claus. The figure of the Lord Jesus, as the central figure, has been marginalized by the hegemony and frenzy of commercialism endorsed by the Liberal Christian West via the chubby character dressed in all red, as well as wearing a topknotted hat.

There are several myths associated with the origins of Santa Claus. As a matter of fact, the figure of the benefactor is named Nicholas, originating from Lycia in Patara (Asia Minor). Nicholas was a bishop who was generous, who liked to help poor people. The myth of Nicholas as a bishop had also been twisted by the pagans as a figure who likes handing out gifts for the good children, as well as punishing the bad children with the power of magic. Santa Nicholas was fond of riding in chariots pulled by reindeers.

The story of the benevolent Santa was then getting more legendary. Others believe that Santa Claus was always accompanied by a negro slave: Swarte Piet. They were present every Christmas by riding flying horses that would land on the rooftops of the houses of the good children in order to distribute gifts through the chimney. As a matter of fact, that illustration demonstrates a racial discrimination, when Santa Claus is depicted as a white man who is kind, while Swarte Piet is a reflection of a cruel negro who loves punishing bad children. In 1969, the Roman Catholic Church which was led Pope Paulus VI stripped off the celebration of Santa Nicholas from the official calendar of the church.

Many Catholic Christian clergymen and activists criticized the essence of the celebration of Christmas that has been heavily polluted by commercial elements conducted by the ruling business people. From food products, beverages to clothing, they all carry the theme of Santa Claus. The celebration of Christmas revers the myth of Santa Claus more than the figure of Jesus the saviour. The celebration of Christmas, December 25, is laden with the influence of pagan legends and mythical stories. 

The Greek-Roman paganism had been adopted by Emperor Constantine in spreading the Christian religion. One of them was by declaring December 25 as the day of the birth of Jesus Christ the redeemer of sin. In truth, that date is the anniversary of the Sun God: Sol Invictus. This assignment was legalized by Emperor Constantine in 313 AD in a decree: Edict Of Milan. 

Next, Constantine assigned the solar day (sun day) as an off day of the government. No different from the Jews, the Christians actually set Saturday (Sabbath) as a holy day. The Orthodox Christians until today still commemorate the day of the birth of the Messiah on January 6. However, as a tribute to Sol Invictus, the Christmas celebration of the Savior : Jesus, was changed to every December 25. 

In general, Christmas has been dominated by the traditions of the kafir pagan. Especially with the appearance of the fictitious character of Santa Claus which in truth is the creation of the Liberal Christian West, with the aim of hegemonizing the Christians. Not only politics, economy and socio-culture, but even the realm of thought, the ways of having faith and worshipping the lord have been hegemonized. The Liberal Christian West desires to form opinions, through the creation of the figure of Santa Claus, that the West is synonymous with generosity, likes to give away presents and help the oppressed people. 

Since the building of Christian epistemology has decayed, it is no wonder that the Liberal Christian West still believes in mythology. Much different from the Islamic view, with Islamization, it would liberate people from magic, animism, mythology and traditions that drift apart from aqeedah. Thus, Islamization liberates the intellect from the doubts, suppositions, empty arguments towards a belief in the truth of spiritual, intellectual and material reality.

 Finally, it is so controversial that the figure of Jesus, identified by Christians as the redeemer of sins, is drowned out by the hysteria of the popularity of Santa Claus, which hegemonizes amidst the celebration of the birth of Jesus commemorated by Christians all over the world.