From a German spokesman for the efforts to rid us of Santa Claus:
"St. Nicholas is not Father Christmas. The values associated with the former are selflessness, charity, solidarity, giving and sharing. He is perfect for getting across the Christmas message.
"Santa Claus on the other hand is a product of a consumer society. He is a symbol of shopping and has got nothing to do with Saint Nicholas, who still teaches us today that giving does not make you poorer, but richer," said Hahne.
Not a bad sentiment but, overall, I think people over-react to the consumerism of Christmas. Yeah, it's bad, but it's merely a symptom of the general culture. What's worse, spending $400 on your kid at Christmas or buying him a new SUV when he turns 16? Both are ridiculously lavish for a world where people still don't have basic sustenance.
