By Steven L. Shields
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Since then, almost every American vocalist of note (and others) has made a recording of the song. Artists include Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, the Jackson 5 (Michael Jackson and his brothers), Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey and the Pentatonix.
In part, the song's lyrics read:
"You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
"He's making a list
And checking it twice
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
"He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!"
The song echoes common teachings to children that have been around for a long time. Traditions and legends of "Santa Claus" abound. There are many other names used in Europe, including St. Nicholas. Adults want children to behave.
Bribing children for their good behavior is as old as human existence. Santa Claus is one of the most popular forms of bribery in modern American society. Elaborate countdown calendars abound. There are smartphone apps and YouTube videos.
Every year, children create their Christmas wish list. Younger ones go to the department store and sit on Santa's lap to tell him what they want for Christmas.
But when they don't get what they asked for, or if the number of presents is too few, children get grumpy and pout all day. Some parents use this against their children, and probably cause all kinds of lifelong psychological damage.
The Santa Claus song is foundational to American ideas about Christmas. Of course, its wording is secular. There are no references to Christmas ― a Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe to be the supreme Savior of the world. The song has no religious feature to the lyrics. Or does it?
Somewhere in the sands of time, Santa Claus got conflated with God ― or maybe it's the other way around. Children are told to be good so Santa Claus will bring them toys. Santa Claus knows what they are doing and thinking, and will punish them for being naughty, but will reward the children who are nice.
Many Christians teach the same ideas about God. Children are scared into good behavior because "God" is watching. They pray as if God were Santa Claus. They ask for what they want, believing if they are "faithful enough" God will give them their hearts' desires.
As with Santa Claus, if they don't get their wished-for gifts, it is because somewhere along the course of the year they must have been naughty. Such experiences cause many to question their faith. "Where was God when I asked for my cancer to be cured?" Some people wonder for years what unknown sin they committed to cause God to deny their heartfelt request.
I remember the story of an airplane crash in the U.S. several years ago. The relative of a co-worker was killed in the crash. The news people interviewed the mother of one person who survived. She claimed God blessed her child because the woman was a faithful churchgoer and her child was, too.
What about all the other faithful churchgoers killed in the crash? Why weren't they "blessed"? Christians will offer evasive excuses: It was God's will. Or, God needed another angel in heaven. Or, God never gives us anything more than we can handle. Or, everything happens for a "reason." Untold psychological damage wreaks havoc on good, decent people.
Perhaps it's time for us to grow up. Christianity has too long been distorted by uninformed preachers, by charlatans and by gullible parishioners who have never progressed in their understanding of faith since children's Sunday school. God is Santa Claus? Santa Claus is God?
Christmas has too long been distorted by consumerism. Nations without a Christian majority include it on their national holiday lists. Perhaps it's time for Christians to recapture the true meaning of Christmas, and reject consumerist decorations and elaborate gift-giving, limiting their celebrations to memorializing Jesus Christ. Let there be a new, secular holiday proclaimed: Santa Claus Day ― not on Dec. 25.
Steven L. Shields (slshields@gmail.com) has lived in Korea for many years, beginning in the 1970s, again in the 1990s and into the 2000s. He served as copy editor of The Korea Times in 1977. He is a retired clergyman and vice president of the Royal Asiatic Society-Korea Branch.
