‘Tis the Season! Decorations are being hung, gifts are getting wrapped, Christmas music is taking over the airwaves, and sightings of Santa Claus are getting heavily promoted.

With such popularity surrounding the story of Santa Claus, one could argue that he is a marketing genius. Even during the 1980’s fitness craze led by Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons; Santa’s portly image was accepted.

Aided by elves and flying reindeer, Santa’s naughty or nice campaign continues to reach every corner of the world. Vividly illustrated in the 1823 poem titled “Twas the Night before Christmas,” Santa’s appeal is reflected in the billions of dollars spent worldwide leading into Christmas day.

Introduced to America in the 19th- century, the driving force behind Santa’s popularity hinges on consumers believing in him. His popularity requires that he be seen.

And so, he is! You can find multiple versions of Santa - fat, thin, short, tall, young, old, any nationality, wearing swim shorts, on skis, etc. Santa’s nostalgic mugshot with the tagline “Believe” says it all.

As Christmas day approaches, belief takes on a deeper meaning. To help put things in right order and to better understand the true meaning of Christmas, one simply needs to focus on the first syllable of Christmas.

Christ.

While belief in Santa depends on consumers seeing him in public, belief in Christ is founded on faith (John 20:29). To veer away from the naughty list, God has provided the Ten Commandments and the Bible overflows with wisdom about this subject matter (e.g. Matthew 22:36-40, Psalm 34:15, etc.)

Based on Saint Nicholas, a 4th -century Christian Bishop and Patron Saint of Children, Santa Claus is an “Ambassador of Joy” that is tied to a singular holiday.

Jesus, on the other hand, is the “Definition of Joy” that is offered to all generations for all of eternity.

God sent his beloved son, Jesus Christ, to walk among us. He did not come as a king, but as a babe. He stooped down to enter our humanity so that we could believe and be saved. No gimmicks. No hidden agenda. No imposters.

While the exchange of Christmas gifts and visiting Santa is a wonderful tradition, let us not forget that the most valuable gifts come through the birth of Jesus Christ that happened over 2000 years ago.

It is Jesus’ birth that determines our calendar year and, as such, should determine how we live. Who we believe in should be grounded in Truth and not be dependent on what is commercially promoted by culture.

As we prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate the birth of The Savior of the World on Christmas Day and into the Christmas season, the words found in John 3:16 offer us great hope. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Get prepared. Sing for joy. Share the good news and, as the 2025 jubilee year approaches, put into practice what the birth of Christ the Child offers the world.

Believe like Mary. Trust like Joseph. Hope like Shepherds. Seek like Wisemen. Worship like Angels. And, most importantly, Love like Jesus!