It would not be Xmas without Santa, sporting the same look.
The spirit may be some forgotten, as retailers and others use it to their best advantage.

Those who have brilliant ideas for point-of-sale - bring them, lets see them.

So whether you like this time of year or not, everyone will be doing what they did last year and the year before that - and to a large degree what took place in similar way 20 (no 57) years ago.

It is called tradition

It's called commerce.

With white trim. And black belt. That was really clever branding, making sure a popular cultural icon appears in your corporate colours for the next century!

nonsense santa first appeared in red with white trim around 1821 many years before the coce fueled drink ever made it's debut.

Why are we substituting Christ with and X? This is the time of year we celebrate the birth of Christ. even though it has been commercialised, this still remains the reason why we celebrate it.

Exchanging gifts is just a way to remind us of the greatest gift that could ever have been given - Jesus.

Stop complaining about why it is hot or cold in sa and start concentrating on the real meaning - gifts and all.

There's only 1 reason for having Christmas in the first place, and that is Christ.

And yet, we moan about the silly things. Who cares what Santa wears in any way? Everyone celebrates in which ever way they feel comfortable!

But with Christmas being such a commercialised holiday season, everyone has lost scope of what it really means.

I'm sure the older we get the more we become fed up, especially with the music forever playing the same songs wherever we dare go. But let's not develop a phobia and give others the opportunity to cash in on the event!

I mean, where does all the turkey come from? Surely they import some of it? Or do South Africans eat lots of turkey year round?
(We never have turkey, we prefer lamb. Lamb and ham.)

It's all Coca-cola's fault! The Sundheim Father Christmas was created by Coke back in the 1940's ( I stand to be corrected on the exact spelling and date). The fat jolly bearded gentleman in the red outfit with white trim on a reindeer sled etc. Since then, the world has adopted the Coca- cola image of Christmas and used it appropriately or not, every where and any where. I have witnessed a large Nigerian gentleman on the streets of Lagos, a few weeks before Christmas in 35 degree heat and 95% humidity, sweating and panting as he rang a bell yelling Ho Ho ( with a Nigerian accent).

Personally I find it all hugely irrevant, but it seems to be how it works the world over. Having spent a number of years working in Hong Kong, I recall a Chinese Santa outside the main retailers doing similar. I think what gets us is the fact that it all starts so bloody early in the year.

I advocate that no Christmas promotions should be allowed to be advertised before December 1. I am sure the reatilers will love me for that. But, without wanting to sound too sanctimonious, Christmas is not supposed to be the massive commercial bang that has turned into. We have plainly forgotten what Christmas is all about. Maybe we should think about that a bit, and consider Christmas differently. But most importantly, we should make it relevant to ourselves and our environment. South Africa should do Christmas the South African way, Nigeria their way, the Chinese theirs etc. Gee, not that difficult to figure is it? Or is simpler to just bash out the same old expected stuff made of tradition? I guess tradition is what makes Christmas Christmas. And that is why it is the way it is.

I see that there some "hardliners" and strong belivers in the Holy Word and all its stuff. Well, how on earth did the 25th of december come along as being the official date in which Christ was born. What rubbish, I dont even think that the Roman calendar (from what our calendar originated) had 305 days back then. It is all commercial, as mentioned by somebody else, all created into thinking that we should spend money at various stores, feed the catholic church's its already over grown belly with "donations", feel bad if we don't give something to somebody else.... blah blah blah. I ask the question. How different would christmas be without the buying of presents that cost too much, from these fat cat retailers and rather give something that would mean alot more than an ipod for instance. Christmas is all about giving yes, and thats why we should buy crap so that we could give, i know i know. Its all a fat excuse to have holidays, increase prices so a greater profit margin can be made, and shaft everybody out of their bonus'. there is just nothing else to do, so why not exploit it. At least some form of humanity came out of it, helping the poor and all that. Is that the only good thing???? I think so, and yet I enjoy the holiday.

Yes, why cant we have Christmas celebrated in our own cultural way? Since we dont have snow in SA in December - retailers stcik to the dreary boring displays of a santa in a sleigh with reindeers!! I scream "BORING" at this. Its time that we celebrate Xmas the non European way .....to hell with the so called snow and reindeers... this is SA after all!! The other thing that really annoys me is that retailers full up the newspapers with those blooming inserts of them - too many competitors ...makes me not want to go out and shop at all....

its supposed to be for those who believe in jesus. finish and klaar! all this other commercial kak is quite sickening. i must admit i havent had the "christmas spirit" for years now..thank you commercialism!